Centurion, Feb 21: The second Twenty20 international between India and South Africa was a perfect reminder of the rain-truncated Pink ODI - Heinrich Klaasen exploding runs, Yuzvendra Chahal leaking runs and India ended up losing the game.
Match Scorecard; Series Schedule and results
Klaasen, 69 off 30 deliveries, slammed his T20I career's maiden half-century and skipper JP Duminy played an inspiring knock of 40-ball 64 to help Proteas chase a challenging target of 189 and defeat India by 6 wickets in the second T20I here at Supersport Park.
Brute power, ice cool temperament, hit good balls for sixes, seems to play spin well, Heinrich Klaasen is a real find for SA.#INDvsSAt20
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 21, 2018
A day to forget for Yuzvendra Chahal
In a game that saw constant drizzle - though the match wasn't stopped at any stage - Indian bowlers leaked runs, specially Yuzvendra Chahal, and failed to prevent the hosts from overhauling the target in 18.4 overs.
Chahal leaked 64 runs from his quota of 4 overs and it was his poor outing in the middle with the wet ball which proved to be a big reason for India's defeat. Chahal had a forgettable evening as he claimed the unwanted figures by becoming the costliest India player in a T20I game. Prior to this Joginder sharma (57 off 4 overs) was the previous worst by an Indian bowler in T20I.
Heinrich Klaasen vs Yuzvendra Chahal: (All formats)
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) February 21, 2018
Runs - 110
Balls - 74
Dismissals - 1
S/R - 148.65
Fours - 6
Sixes - 8#SAvIND
Klaasen played a fabulous knock of 69 runs which was studded with 3 boundaries and 7 sixes. The talented right-handed batsman made a mockery of Chahal once again as he started targetting the wrist spinner from the word go.
He also stitched a match-winning partnership of 93 runs with skipper Duminy. Duminy was acting as a second fiddle to Klaasen as long as the latter was batting. Together the duo ensured South Africa never fell short of the asking rate and kept their team in the game.
Bhaiya, Klaasen ne to class le layi aaj . Chakke pe Chakka
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 21, 2018
The Proteas also were off to a shaky start as they lost their first wicket in opener JJ Smuts in the fourth over and the scoreboard read 24. Smuts was dismissed for 2 by Jaydev Unadkat and caught by Suresh Raina.
India soon got rid of dangerous Reeza Hendricks in the very next over when he was removed by debutant Shardul Thakur for 26 off 17 balls.
David Miller (5) was the fourth wicket that the Proteas lost as he once again failed to perform against India. The two teams will now face each other in Cape Town in the third and deciding T20I on February 24.
Earlier, after being invited to bat first on a pitch, that was bound to favour the chasing side, India posted a challenging 188/4 in the stipulated 20 overs.
Riding over superb unbeaten half-centuries from Manish Pandey and Mahendra Sing Dhoni India posted a decent total after losing three key wickets in the first power play itself.
Rohit Sharma (0), Shikhar Dhawan (24) and Virat Kohli (1) were dismissed cheaply. Young Junior Dala gave the visitors their first jolt when he trapped Rohit leg before on the very first ball of his spell.
With Dhawan looking dangerous again, host skipper Duminy brought himself into the attack and it worked instantly for the Indian opener was dismissed in his first over itself.
Dala then got the biggest success of the innings by surprising the Indian skipper Kohli with his pace and bounce. It was a perfect delivery from the youngster and he earned the prized wicket of Kohli. India were in trouble after Kohli's departure cheaply for there were only 45 runs on board and the onus to take the team to a decent total was now on the middle-order, which didn't disappoint.
Pandey and Raina first steered the side from the troubled waters and put up a vital 45-run stand before the latter was dismissed for 30. Veteran MS Dhoni was in the middle after Raina was trapped in front by Andile Phehlukwayo in the 11th over.
Together Dhoni and Pandey put up an unbeaten 98-run stand for the fifth wicket and took India to a respectable total. The duo first started with ones and twos and later shifted gears in the death overs.
Last 4 overs 55 . Hathyar chalana nahi bhoolein, Special hits from a special player , Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Great effort from Pandey as well. Best wishes to the bowlers to defend 188
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 21, 2018
Pandey batted exceptionally well as he notched up his best T20I figures and his second fifty of the shortest format of the game. If was criticised for his slow batting in the previous game, Pandey made most of the opportunity in this game as he scored at a strike rate of 169. He struck 8 fours and three sixes in his stay at the crease.
Back foot over cover for 6! Off a fast bowler! Shot of the day from Dhoni. Guess last over is his territory!!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 21, 2018
Dhoni, on the other hand, was at his vintage best for he constructed his innings in his trademark way i.e. rotate strike initially and explode in the final overs. In doing so, Dhoni also slammed his career's second T20I half-century. By the end of the innings, the 36-year-old had hit four boundaries and three brilliant sixes.