SA vs IND, 2nd T20I, Review: Heinrich Klaasen and Duminy help South Africa level the series

South Africa defeated India by six wickets in the must-win encounter at Supersport Park in Centurion on Wednesday. It was a heroic knock from Heinrich Klaasen who smashed Yuzvendra Chahal out of the park more often than not. Even the skipper JP Duminy was exceptional as he led from the front and finished the game for his side. However, it was an off day for the visitors as they were beaten by the brilliance of Klaasen and the class of Duminy after MS Dhoni and Manish Pandey had helped them post a mammoth total on the board.

South Africa won the toss and opted to field first citing the threat of the rain later in the game. While they played the same eleven which lost to India in the opening T20I, the visitors had to make a forced change with Jasprit Bumrah injured. Shardul Thakur who impressed in the last ODI at the same venue replaced him.

Rare top order failure

Team India got off to the worst possible start as Rohit Sharma bagged a golden duck as Junior Dala’s dream start to the international career continued. Suresh Raina continued to bat at number 3 as he added 44 runs with Shikhar Dhawan. But the latter was dismissed on 24 by the skipper JP Duminy off a harmless delivery. The man-in-form Virat Kohli endured a rare failure as he was snaffled by Dala for just 1 as India slipped 45/3. The scoring rate dipped as Manish Pandey and Raina looked to resurrect the innings

Pandey-Dhoni stand rescue India

Both added 45 runs for the fourth wicket and just when they were set to launch an assault, Raina was nipped in front by Andile Phehlukwayo in the 11th over. The arrival of MS Dhoni, however, brought the much-needed calmness to the Indian innings. Pandey was looking in great touch as the veteran concentrated on giving him the strike and also got set in the process. The duo played some delightful strokes in the death overs as the inexperienced bowling attack crumbled under pressure.

While it was Pandey early on take the charge, it was Dhoni special on offer today for the spectators. Meanwhile, Manish Pandey notched up his second half-century in T20 Internationals and looked like he was struggling at the fag end of his innings. That is when the best finisher in the world cricket steeped up as he was itching to have a go at the bowlers. He took the onus on him in the last couple of overs and smashed the ball all over the park. He was on 18 off 15 deliveries early on and finished the innings with a great flourish to remain unbeaten on 52 off just 28 balls.

His back foot shot over cover for six was the shot of the day as India posted a mammoth total of 188 runs for the loss of four wickets. Pandey too remained not-out on 79 off 48 balls with 6 fours and three sixes. Junior Dala was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts as he returned with the figures of 2/28. But the others went for runs in the final overs.

Thrilling run-chase

South Africa, much like their opponents, lost an early wicket of JJ Smuts who was scalped by Jaydev Unadkat. Even Reeza Hendricks was dismissed in the fifth over as the hosts were looking to equal the par-score with the threat of rain around. However, the things changed dramatically when Heinrich Klaasen strode out to the middle. He took up the challenge of winning the game for his team and played a blinder of a knock. He took a special liking to Yuzvendra Chahal who has been the nemesis for the home side in the limited overs.

He smashed the leggie for sixes and befuddled him completely along with the Men in Blue. Duminy and Klaasen added 93 runs in just 8 overs as the latter was dismissed for 69 off just 30 deliveries with 3 fours and as many as seven sixes. But the fall of his wicket once again put pressure on them as David Miller‘s poor run of form continued. But Duminy was keen on taking his team until the end and played sensibly to notch up a half-century off 38 balls.

Fittingly, he finished the game and made sure that they didn’t slip in the end. He remained unbeaten on 64 off just 40 deliveries with four boundaries and three excellent sixes. Klaasen was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match for his trailblazing knock. The series has been levelled now and the decider will be played on Saturday in Cape Town.

Brief Scores

India 188/4 after 20 overs (M Pandey 79*, M Dhoni 52*; J Dala 2/28, JP Duminy 1/13)

South Africa: 189/4 after 18.4 overs (H Klaasen 69, JP Duminy 64*; J Unadkat 2/42)

Result: South Africa won by 6 wickets

Man of the Match: Heinrich Klaasen