IND vs SA: Proteas lead series 2-0 as Heinrich Klaasen’s heroics power team to 4-wicket win in second T20I
IND vs SA: South Africa beat India by four wickets in the second T20I of the five-match series at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday, thanks to Heinrich Klaasen‘s (81) stunning performance.
On the field, India struggled with the bat on a challenging surface, and despite Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s heroics in the powerplay, they were unable to maintain the momentum, giving the Proteas a 2-0 lead. South Africa’s chase for 149 got off to a shaky start. In the first over of the match, pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave India an early boost by removing starter Reeza Hendricks for for four runs.
Dwaine Pretorious, an all-rounder, was called to the crease to produce some major hits for his team. He couldn’t go on for much longer. After dismissing Pretorious for four with a Kumar delivery in the third over, the bowler got the last laugh when the batter was caught by Avesh Khan at backward square leg.
Temba Bavuma, the captain, was summoned on the field as a result. Dussen and Bevuma attempted to resurrect their side, but they were unable to do so for long, as Kumar dismissed a struggling Dussen for 1 of 7 balls after dislodging his off stump. Kumar claimed his third wicket, reducing the Proteas to 29/3.
With Bavuma (20*) and Heinrich Klaasen (0*) at the end of six overs, SA was struggling at 29/3. India had fully dominated the powerplay, gaining early momentum by controlling the run flow and capturing early wickets.
After the powerplay, Yuzvendra Chahal was brought in to add some spin to the assault.
Following that, after three early wickets, Klaasen and Bavuma began to rebuild the innings. Klassen went for the Indian bowlers in particular, hitting Chahal for four and a six in the seventh over and Harshal for a six in the next.
South Africa were 57/3 at the end of 10 overs, thanks to Bavuma (25*) and Klaasen (23*). With three of their batters out, the Proteas still had a mountain to climb. They needed 92 in the remaining 10 overs.
The pair continued to rebuild, scoring 13 runs in Hardik Pandya’s next over. Axar Patel’s following over proved to be costly, as Klassen struck him for 4,6,4. The over cost 19 runs and resulted in a 50-run partnership between the two.
Bavuma greeted Chahal with a four in the next over, but Chahal broke the partnership with the next delivery, sending Bavuma to to the pavilion for 35 of 30 balls. The 64-run stand between him and Klassen came to an end with this shot to the middle stump.
David Miller came up next, and he was in fine form. Klaasen quickly followed with his fourth T20I half-century in 32 balls, his second against India.
Even when he became fifty, Klaasen continued to perform admirably. Miller joined the party in the 16th over, smashing a stunning six off Chahal’s delivery. Klaasen followed up with a few more in the same over.
Klassen finally dismissed for 81 runs off 46 balls by Harshal Patel on the final delivery of the 17th over. However, India was too late, as only five runs were required in the final three overs.
Kumar removed Parnell for the fourth time in the match with the final ball of the 18th over.
With Miller (20*) and Rabada (0*), the Proteas were able to finish the chase at 149/6 in 18.2 overs.
India’s leading bowler, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, took 4/13 in eight overs. Harshal Patel took a wicket as well.
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, with a cameo from Dinesh Karthik, drove India to a good score of 148/6 in the first innings of the second T20I against South Africa on Sunday at the Barabati Stadium.
Anrich Nortje grabbed two wickets for South Africa, while Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius, and Keshav Maharaj each took one wicket.
With only three runs on the board, India got off to a poor start, with Kagiso Rabada sending Ruturaj Gaikwad back to the dugout on the fifth ball of the innings.
Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan took the crease and tried to anchor the innings for a while, smashing 42 runs in the powerplay.
In the seventh over, Ishan caught by Rassie Van der Dussen on Anrich Nortje’s delivery. And departed after hitting 34 off 21 balls for the Proteas. Shreyas followed by skipper Rishabh Pant, who fell victim to Keshav Maharaj’s spell in the 10th over after scoring five runs, leaving India’s total at 68/3.
It followed by Hardik Pandya’s departure in the 13th over, when Wayne Parnell bowled him. After scoring 40 runs off 35 balls, Dwaine Pretorius led Shreyas the way to the dugout in the next over. With India’s score at 98/5.
Axar Patel and Dinesh Karthik joined hands at the crease. But the partnership did not last long, as Patel knocked out in the 17th over by Nortje. Harshal Patel entered the crease and, along with a good partnership with Karthik, shifted the game’s momentum.
At the end of the first innings, Karthik hit 31 runs off 21 balls. While Harshal scored 12 runs off 9 balls, bringing India’s total to 148/6.
Brief Scores:
India 148/6 (Shreyas Iyer 40, Ishan Kishan 34, Anrich Nortje 2/36)
South Africa 149/6 in 18.2 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 81, Temba Bavuma 35, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4/13)
The post IND vs SA: Proteas lead series 2-0 as Heinrich Klaasen’s heroics power team to 4-wicket win in second T20I appeared first on CricTelegraph.