NEW DELHI: South Africa secured a five-wicket victory against India in a rain-affected second T20I, taking a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-match series. Despite the hosts needing to chase down a revised target of 152 in just 15 overs, they managed to achieve the victory with seven balls to spare.
India's innings concluded with three balls remaining due to rain, posting a total of 180/7 in 19.3 overs. South Africa responded aggressively after the rain break, with their top order setting the tone and maintaining the required run rate throughout the powerplay.
Opener Reeza Hendricks impressed in South Africa's successful chase, scoring 49 off 27 balls. Former South African pace great Dale Steyn praised Hendricks' technical prowess, especially his cover drive, comparing it to the elegance of former India captain Virat Kohli.
"He played so beautifully, technically correct but he also has an incredible power game and he is a wonderful timer of the ball. We talk about Virat Kohli having the classical beautiful drive, Reeza Hendricks is right up there in playing that shot," said Steyn on Star Sports.
"You saw tonight how well he played. He read the game well, took it on when it needed to be done. It was a superb knock."
1/10:2nd T20I: South Africa beat India, take 1-0 lead in the series
Reuters
2/10:Rapid fifties for Surya & Rinku
Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh hit rapid half-centuries for India but South Africa chased down an adjusted target to win the second Twenty20 international by five wickets.Getty Images
3/10:Revised target for South Africa
India, sent in to bat, were 180 for seven when rain ended the innings with three balls remaining in their 20 overs. After a delay of almost an hour, South Africa were set to make 152 off 15 overs.PTI
4/10:South Africa's resilient chase
Led by a hard-hit 49 off 27 balls by opening batsman Reeza Hendricks, South Africa won with seven balls to spare.AP
5/10:Favorable conditions for hosts
South African captain Aiden Markram admitted that the conditions favoured his team.Reuters
6/10:Suryakumar's heroic knock
Indian captain Suryakumar hit 56 off 36 balls and Rinku Singh was unbeaten with a career-best 68 off 39 deliveries.PTI
7/10:Early wickets for India
Suryakumar went out to bat with the total on six for two after two overs. Both openers, Yashavi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, were dismissed without scoring.Reuters
8/10:Varma &Surya's partnership
The precarious situation did not deter the captain and Tilak Varma (29) from going on the attack against some erratic bowling. They added 49 off 25 balls.Reuters
9/10:Shamsi's economical bowling
Player of the match, Tabraiz Shamsi, bowled economically for South Africa with figures of 1 for 18 in four overs.Reuters
10/10:Gerald Coetzee's late wickets
Gerald Coetzee took three for 32, taking wickets with what proved to be the last two balls of the Indian innings.ReutersAcknowledging Hendricks' bit of luck in the game, Steyn noted, "India were a little unlucky. They found the edge of his bat once or twice at the start. He rode his luck and batted really well at the end of the day."
The series now stands at 1-0 in favor of South Africa, with the third and final T20I set to take place on Thursday.
