India Vs South Africa: Klaasen, Duminy power hosts to series-levelling win - See Pics

Centurion, Feb 22: Young Heinrich Klaasen made a mockery of Yuzvendra Chahal's bowling and played a blinder of an innings while skipper JP Duminy led from the front with an unbeaten half-century to hand South Africa a series-levelling six-wicket win in the second Twenty20 International, here on Wednesday (February 21).

Match Scorecard; Series Schedule; Dhoni lambasts Pandey

Chasing a challenging target of 189, South Africa rode on local boy Klaasen's 69 off 30 deliveries and skipper Duminy's unbeaten 64 off 40 balls to chase down the score in 18.4 overs.

The Indian bowlers, especially leg-spinner spinner Chahal, found it difficult to grip the bowl with constant drizzle pouring in for the most part of the South African innings.

South Africa made a modest start to their chase with openers Reeza Hendricks (26) and Jon-Jon Smuts (2) sharing 24 runs for the opening wicket. But left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat (2/42) broke the partnership when he induced a leading edge in the fourth over from Smuts and it was gleefully accepted by Suresh Raina.

To make matters worse for the hosts, Hendricks departed in the final ball off the next over when he was holed out by Hardik Pandya at deep square leg off Shardul Thakur.

However, credit should go to Klaasen and Duminy who brought South Africa back into the match with a blazing 93-run stand for the third wicket which came off just 49 balls after they were down to 38 for 2 at one stage.

Klaasen used the crease to perfection and struck three boundaries and as many as seven sixes during his fiery knock in front of his home crowd.

Duminy played the second fiddle and gave Klaasen the perfect support from the other end as the wicket-keeper batsman went hammer and tongs. After bringing South Africa in sight of victory, Klaasen finally departed when he top-edged a Unadkat delivery straight to Dhoni behind the stumps in the 14th over. But skipper Duminy took the side home and ensured the hosts do not lose any more wickets.

Earlier, Manish Pandey and Mahendra Singh Dhoni slammed quickfire half-centuries to guide India to a challenging 188 for four. While Pandey remained unbeaten on 79 off 48 balls, veteran Dhoni made 52 off 28 deliveries.

The duo shared 98 runs for the fifth wicket in just 9.2 overs to take India to the commanding total.

Sent into bat, India were dealt a severe blow in the first ball of the second over when Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan (24 off 14) and Virat Kohli (1 off 5) were dismissed in the first powerplay.

Raina (31 off 24) played a crucial knock and recovered the side along with Manish Pandey after the departure of top three. The duo added quick 45 runs off 31 balls for the fourth wicket to take India forward. But the dangerous-looking partnership was broken by Andile Phehlukwayo in the 11th over when he had Raina LBW.

After Raina's dismissal, Pandey and Dhoni mixed caution with aggression to take India forward. The duo took time to settle down but once they got their eyes set, they clobbered the South African bowlers to all around the park.

While Pandey struck six boundaries and three sixes during his knock, Dhoni was not far behind his younger partner as he found the fence four times and over it thrice.

Here are the images from the 2nd T20I:

Rohit Sharma departs for golden duck

India were dealt a severe blow in the first ball of the second over when Rohit Sharma was caught plumb in front of the wicket for a duck by Junior Dala. Rohit was facing his first ball of the game and the ball came right into the slog.

Dhawan departs for 24

Shikhar Dhawan (24 off 14) came to the party and clobbered Chris Morris for two fours and as many sixes in the third over over to up the ante.

With his pacers going for runs, skipper Duminy brought himself on to the attack in the next over but was welcomed by Dhawan with an exquisite pull to the mid-wicket boundary.

Duminy, however, got his man in the next ball as Dhawan hit a full toss straight to Farhaan Behardien at mid-on.

Kohli departs for 1

India received a big blow in the next over when skipper Virat Kohli gloved a rising Dala delivery straight to Klaasen behind the stumps.

Suresh Raina plays a utility innings

Suresh Raina and Manish Pandey added quick 45 runs off 31 balls for the fourth wicket to take India forward. But the dangerous-looking partnership was broken by Andile Phehlukwayo in the 11th over when he had Raina LBW for 31 off 24 balls.

Manish Pandey slams breezy fifty

Manish Pandey played a superb knock of 79* off 48 and propelled India to 188/4. The right handed batsman hit some sensational shots in his stay at the crease. It was his second T20I fifty.

Dhoni slams his 2nd T20I fifty

MS Dhoni displayed his vintage self as he smashed 52* off 28 balls. The crowd witnessed some power hittings from the 36-year-old and enjoyed the veteran play some of his trademark shots.

Dhoni-Manish 98-run partnership

The pair of MS Dhoni and Manish Pandey shared 98 runs for the fifth wicket in just 9.2 overs to take India to the commanding total.

Smuts departs for 2

Debutant Shardul gets his first T20I wicket

Dangerous looking Reeza Hendricks departed in the final ball off the next over when he was holed out by Hardik Pandya at deep square leg off Shardul Thakur.

Klaasen shines with classy 69

Young Heinrich Klaasen reminded of his sensational knock during the Pink ODI, which South Africa won due to his blitzkrieg, as he smashed Indian bowlers all round the park. Klaasen finally departed for 69 off 30 when he top-edged a Unadkat delivery straight to Dhoni behind the stumps in the 14th over.

A day to forget for Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra 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 most expensive India bowler in a T20I game. Prior to this Joginder sharma (57 off 4 overs) was the previous worst by an Indian bowler in T20I.

Captain Duminy hits the winning runs for SA

JP Duminy led from the front with an unbeaten half-century to hand South Africa a series-levelling win.

Duminy took the onus on himself to guide South Africa home and together with Farhaan Behardien (16 not out) shared unconquered 48 runs for the fifth wicket to seal the series-levelling victory.

The left-handed batsman was cool as cucumber as he never panicked after Klaasen's dismissal and finished off the chase in style with two consecutive sixes of Unadkat.