South Africa vs India, 2nd T20I - 5 Talking Points

South Africa were beaten black and blue in their opening encounter at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. While India oozed confidence ahead of the second game, the Proteas were desperate to win and keep their hopes alive in the three-match series T20 International series.

However, they brushed aside the visitors by six wickets at the SuperSport Park in Centurion and drew level in the series. On a soggy afternoon, JP Duminy elected to bat first. The decision didn’t backfire as their bowlers strangled India and nipped out early wickets.

Nevertheless, Virat Kohli’s men stormed back and managed to score a daunting 188 runs. The Proteas stuttered at stages, however, some blistering batting from their middle-order helped them to the much-needed victory. In our article, we take you through the five intriguing moments of the encounter.

1. Dhawan blazes away after early stutter

Shikhar Dhawan, initially, struggled to hit his straps in the first over against Chris Morris when he played out a maiden-over. Meanwhile, he survived an almighty scare as Morris trapped in plumb in front. However, to Dhawan’s relief, the decision was overturned as replays showed a spike when the ball passed the bat. He tried to clear leg-side, however, strained to make a proper connection.

However, the Delhi cricketer smacked the leather and notched 20 runs off Morris’ second over. He scorched a couple of boundaries and sixes each to inject momentum into the Indian innings. He played some dexterous pull strokes and set the ball rolling for India. The opener eventually perished to JP Duminy’s part-time off-breaks when he unsuccessfully attempted to clear mid-on.

2. Junior Dala rocks India

Junior Dala was expensive in his debut game at the Wanderers, however, he also picked up a couple of wickets to display his class. The pacer bowled exceptionally in the second game and was South Africa’s standout bowler. He started on a grand note when he pinned Rohit Sharma for a golden duck in his very first delivery. Thereafter, he inflicted a body-blow by dismissing Virat Kohli for one run.

He generated steep bounce from the wicket and found Virat Kohli’s outside-edge off the gloves. His fiery opening spell of 3-0-17-2 set the cat amongst the pigeons in the Indian camp. Though he was taken for 11 runs by MS Dhoni and co in his final over, it didn’t spoil Dala’s efforts in his opening spell.

3. Pandey and Dhoni’s rescue act

Manish Pandey and MS Dhoni’s partnership took charge when India were reeling at 90/4 in 10.4 overs. However, the stand racked up 98 runs off 56 balls and dragged India out of a precarious position. Pandey started slowly, however, his knock gained momentum as the innings progressed. He was severe on the leg side and smashed quite a few runs between the square-leg and mid-wicket region.

Pandey eventually scored 79 runs off 48 balls, which included six boundaries and three sixes. Meanwhile, MS Dhoni also exhibited fluency and notched his second fifty in T20Is. The Jharkhand cricketer didn’t blaze away but displayed his wide array of strokes. The shots from his blade kept disappearing out of the ground and he managed to score 52* runs off 28 balls.

4. Heinrich Klaasen floors India

Heinrich Klaasen has previously shown tremendous with the willow. He displayed his prowess with the willow and smashed the Indian bowlers. He commenced his knock with a couple of humungous sixes off Jaydev Unadkat. Thereafter, the swashbuckling batsman laid into Yuzvendra Chahal and neutralized his leg-breaks. He racked up his half-century in 22 balls and looked ominous for India.

However, Unadkat got rid of the big fish with an off-cutter around the wicket. Klaasen struggled against the left-arm seamer’s slower deliveries and he fell prey to his wily slower deliveries. The Proteas batsman eventually scored 69 runs off 30 balls, which included three boundaries and seven monstrous hits into the stands. After Klaasen’s dismissal, South Africa required 58 runs off 41 balls at 8.48 rpo.

5. Yuzvendra Chahal’s off-day

Yuzvendra Chahal has been stupendous thus far for India in the limited-overs fixtures. He has been able to bamboozle batsmen with his leg-breaks. However, he struggled bowling with the wet ball and dished out loose deliveries at regular intervals. The likes of Heinrich Klaasen and JP Duminy laid into him as his figures worsened with every passing delivery.

He flighted ball churned out half-trackers and subsequently was punished by the Proteas batsmen. The tweaker conceded 64 runs off four overs and was taken to the cleaners. He also conceded seven sixes, which is the most by an Indian bowler in T20 Internationals and the joint-most overall. The spell was also an Indian bowler’s worst figures in T20Is.