South Africa v India, 2nd T20I Review: Hosts Come out Top Riding on Brilliant Knocks by Klassen and Duminy
South Africa defeated India by six wickets to level the series. Credits: BCCI

It was not the same old tale in the limited overs format as hosts South Africa made a comeback and kept the 3- match T20I series alive. Riding on sensational knocks by wicket-keeper batsman Heinrich Klassen and captain JP Duminy, South Africa registered a 6 wicket victory to keep the 3 match series on a balance. After being out in to bat by JP Duminy, India posted a competitive score of 188/4 in their allotted 20 overs.

It was Junior Dala who removed opener Rohit Sharma for a golden duck in the 1st delivery of the 2nd over. Suresh Raina was promoted up the order again and he struck some delightful shots. Shikhar Dhawan on the other hand also played some wonderful shots and kept the scoreboard ticking. However, the visitors lost two quick wickets. Dhawan and skipper Kohli was dismissed in quick succession as India was reduced to 46/3.

Suresh Raina played some good shots but after a brief partnership with Manish Pandey, the southpaw departed of the bowling of Andile Phehlukwayo. It was former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who came out in the middle to join Pandey and played a blinder of a knock. He raced his way to his 2nd T20I fifty and shared a brilliant stand with Pandey.

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South Africa v India, 2nd T20I Review: Hosts Come out Top Riding on Brilliant Knocks by Klassen and Duminy
Credits: BCCI

Pandey who hasn’t been consistent enough showed his prowess and played some extraordinary shots. He smashed 6 fours and 3 sixes en route to 79 of 48 deliveries. However, it was Dhoni who smacked the sixes and the fours during the final couple of overs. His unbeaten knock of 52 came in 28 deliveries which were studded with 4 fours and 3 hits over the fence. The visitors eventually finished on 188/4 in their 20 overs.

The hosts got off to a relatively sedate start but Reeza Hendricks played some good shots to get them going, It was Jaydev Unadkat who provided with the maiden breakthrough in the form of JJ Smuts. Hendricks was dismissed after making a well made 26 of 19 deliveries. He was scalped by Shardul Thakur.

From there on it was carnage on display by Heinrich Klassen and skipper Duminy. It was Klassen who started taking on the leg-spinner and connected on most occasions. He struck 4 sixes in Chahal’s two overs. The leggie who had a sensational tour before this eventually finished with horrendous figures of 0/64 in 4 overs.

South Africa v India, 2nd T20I Review: Hosts Come out Top Riding on Brilliant Knocks by Klassen and Duminy

After making a sensational 69 of 30 deliveries, Heinrich Klassen was bamboozled by a slower delivery from Unadkat. It gripped and took Klassen’s outside edge as Dhoni completed a straightforward catch behind the stumps. Despite his wicket, Duminy was there and he made sure that he completed the job for the hosts.

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The southpaw remained unbeaten on 64 of 40 deliveries which included 4 fours and 3 sixes. Duminy finished off the game with consecutive sixes of the bowling of Jaydev Unadkat. Eventually, the hosts completed a 6 wickets victory which helped them keep the series alive. The final T20I will be an interesting contest and the victory for South Africa will keep the series in a wonderful shape.

South Africa v India, 2nd T20I Review: Hosts Come out Top Riding on Brilliant Knocks by Klassen and Duminy

Brief Scores

India 188/4 in 20 overs (Manish Pandey 79*, MS Dhoni 52*, Junior Dala 2/28)

South Africa 189/4 in 18.4 overs (Heinrich Klassen 69, JP Duminy 64*, Jaydev Unadkat 2/42)

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Enjoying my cricket at the moment, suggests Man of The Match Heinrich Klaasen

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