India vs South Africa 2nd T20I: Klaasen's masterclass guides SA to 4-wicket win, Bhuvneshwar four-for in vain

Cuttack, June 12: Heinrich Klaasen made most of the opportunity as he slammed his fourth T20I half-century and guided South Africa to an emphatic 4-wicket win over India in the second T20I at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. With this win, the visitors took a big 2-0 lead in the five-match series against a slightly inexperienced Indian side.

Chasing a sub-par 149, the Protea batters reached home with 10 balls to spare. Despite a troubled start in the powerplay, the tourists revived their innings well with captain Temba Bavuma scoring 39 and his partnership with Klaasen changed the course of the match.

On a pitch that looked difficult to bat on, Klaasen - who loves to bat against India - attacked the pacers, as well as spinners, at will and smashed a terrific 81 off 45 balls. His knock was laced with seven boundaries and five maximums.

Indian spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel were ineffective once again as they leaked 68 from their 5 overs. Indian bowlers in the middle overs failed to pick up wickets and put pressure on the opposition batters as they scored without trouble.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar put on a display of fine bowling with the new ball but no other bowler could compliment him from the other end. Bhuvneshwar returned with 4/13 but went in vain.

Having put in to bat first, the Rishabh Pant-led side could only muster 148 for the loss of 6 wickets. Shreyas Iyer (40) was the highest scorer for Indians in the game but it was Dinesh Karthik's finishing touches which helped the hosts post a sub-par total on the board.

SA captain Temba Bavuma won his second consecutive toss against India's stand-in captain Rishabh Pant and put the hosts in to bat first.

Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad failed to make a mark in the game as the right-handed batter was dismissed for 1 in the first over bowled by in-form Kagiso Rabada. Gaikwad became Rabada's 50th T20I wicket and he became the third quickest for the Proteas after Imran Tahir and Dale Steyn.

Shreyas Iyer (40) was the top-scorer, while opener Ishan Kishan (34) and 'designated finisher' Dinesh Karthik (30 not out) also chipped in to take India to a competitive score. Iyer and Ishan started cautiously and build their partnership in the powerplay but both the batters failed to convert their innings into big knocks on a surface where batting wasn't looking easy.

Captain Pant (1) and Hardik Pandya (9) were also dismissed cheaply in the middle overs as the hosts were five down inside 100. Captain Bavuma didn't use his spinners much in the game as the hosts were targeting them well but the five frontline Protea pacers did well to restrict Indians to a low total.

Anrich Nortje (2/36) was the most successful bowler for South Africa. Rabada (1/15), Wayne Parnell (1/23), Dwaine Pretorius (1/40) and Keshav Maharaj (1/12) were also among the wickets.