After a disciplined performance by the bowlers, Virat Kohli scored a brilliant half-century as India beat South Africa by seven wickets in the second T20I match at Mohali on Wednesday. It was India’s first win against the Proteas in the T20I at home. The team met each other twice in 2015 when South Africa toured India and were victorious on both occasions. However, this was not the case on Wednesday as India dominated the proceedings from the start and were able to end the encounter.
Quinton de Kock made his debut as South Africa’s Twenty20 captain as they explore leadership options before the 20-overs World Cup next year. The left-hander top-scored with 52 and Temba Bavuma contributed 49 but the subsequent South African batsmen could not capitalise on the decent start.
Deepak Chahar drew first blood when he dismissed Reeza Hendricks for six after Kohli won the toss and elected to field. De Kock and Bavuma helped South Africa overcome the early setback with a fluent partnership.
De Kock raced to his fifty before Kohli produced a magnificent piece of fielding, running to his left from mid-off to take a tumbling one-handed catch and send back the skipper.Ravindra Jadeja caught Rassie van der Dussen off his own bowling to peg back South Africa who found boundaries hard to come by.
Bavuma, making his Twenty20 debut along with Anrich Nortje and Bjorn Fortuin, fell just short of his fifty, foxed by Chahar’s slower delivery. The touring side milked 16 runs of the final over but fell short of the 150-mark.
India’s chase began rapidly as Rohit Sharma greeted Nataraj with two sixes in the first over.
Rohit was dismissed by Andile Phehlukwayo before Kohli and Dhawan effectively hit the contest, with Kohli hitting three sixes in his 52-ball innings. The captain of the Indian cricket team looked in tremendous form as they dominated the Proteas bowlers and, along with Shreyas Iyer, extended the game with six balls to go.
Bengaluru will host the third and final match on Sunday before the teams clash in the three-Test series next month.
