India vs South Africa: Pitch invaders in the Mohali T20I behind the bars

The second T20I between India and South Africa at the PCA Stadium in Mohali was marred by a minor controversy. Three pitch invaders, who halted play on Wednesday’s encounter have been put behind the bars. The intrusions occurred both during the Proteas as well as the Indian innings. The police are on their way of finding how the intruders got close to the cricketers.

To start with, Sandeep Kumar, a Virat Kohli fan, from Yamunanagar, crossed the ‘A’ Block grill and ran to the field in order to shake hands with the Indian skipper. The fan even dodged a cop, who tried to stop him front making his way to Virat. Thereafter, another supporter, named Rajesh Kumar of Churu in Rajasthan jumped the ‘B’ Block fence and entered the cricket pitch.

The invaders under remand

Pawan Kumar, the third accused, of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, was sitting in the members block when he also managed to dodge the police and was successful in going in. The three accused have been booked at the Phase-VIII police station for obstructing public servants, criminal trespass and using criminal force to stop the police.

“They have been remanded in 14-day judicial custody,” Jagdeep Singh Brar, the Station house officer (SHO) sub- inspector was quoted as saying in The Times of India (TOI).

A one-sided affair

As far as action on the field is concerned, the hosts comfortably won by seven wickets with one over to spare. After winning the toss and electing to field first, Kohli’s men restricted the Proteas 149 for the loss of five wickets in their 20 overs. Quinton de Kock (52) and Temba Bavuma (49) were the top-scorers for the visitors. For India, Deepak Chahar was the most successful with two wickets.

India’s run-chase was dominated by skipper Kohli, who played an unbeaten knock of 72 off 52 balls with the help of four boundaries and three sixes. The Delhi-born was adjudged the Player of the Match. Shikhar Dhawan also turned up with a useful hand of 40. The third match of the series is scheduled to be played on Sunday, September 22 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

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