Heinrich Klaasen hit 81 runs off 46 balls as South Africa beat India by four wickets with almost two overs to spare in their second T20 international Sunday.
The Proteas took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Klaasen’s innings, including seven fours and five sixes, turned the game after South Africa struggled against the new ball. The visitors finished at 149-6 in 18.2 overs in reply to India’s 148-6.
Put in to bat, India lost Ruturaj Gaikwad (1) in the first over. He was caught off Kagiso Rabada who returned 1-15 in four overs.
Ishan Kishan (34 off 21) and Shreyas Iyer then put on 45 runs for the second wicket. But it was a slow partnership, off 35 balls, on a tricky batting wicket.
Anrich Nortje (2-36) provided the breakthrough, with Kishan out caught. He hit two fours and three sixes in his innings.
Iyer top-scored for India with 40 off 35 as South Africa’s bowlers squeezed the middle overs. He only added 20 runs with captain Rishabh Pant (5), who was caught off Keshav Maharaj (1-12).
Wayne Parnell bowled Hardik Pandya (9) before Iyer was caught behind off Dwaine Pretorius (1-40).
India were reduced to 98-5 in 13.5 overs before Dinesh Karthik steadied the innings. He scored 30 not out off 21 balls, including two fours and two sixes, but it was still a sub-par total for India. Only three batters for India crossed 20.
In reply, South Africa were reduced to 29-3 in 5.3 overs.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s burst of 3-10 in the powerplay overs pegged back the Proteas.
He bowled Reeza Hendricks (4) in the first over and Rassie van der Dussen (1) in the sixth over.
Skipper Temba Bavuma held anchor with 35 off 30, while Klaasen eased the pressure with some fierce hitting.
South Africa reached 57-3 at the halfway stage but Bavuma released the pressure with three fours off Hardik (0-31).
Klaasen took on the Indian spinners and brought up his half-century off 32 balls.
The duo added 64 runs off 41 balls for the fourth wicket before Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Bavuma.
Klaasen then teamed up with David Miller (20 not out) as the pair took 23 runs off Chahal’s 17th over to turn the game in South Africa’s favour.
South Africa won the first game in Delhi by seven wickets. India did not make any changes Sunday to their team from that game. South Africa made two changes. Quinton de Kock missed out due to a hand injury, and Tristan Stubbs was left out.
The third T20 is at Visakhapatnam Tuesday.
Source: United News of Bangladesh