Mohali T20I: India beat South Africa by seven wickets powered by Kohli masterclass

MOHALI: India defeated South Africa by seven-wicket in the 2nd T20I at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali today as Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan showed brilliance with the bat. India now leads the three-match T20I series 1-0 with one match to play.

Rohit departed after hitting two sixes but Dhawan remained unfazed as he targeted Proteas bowlers aggressively.

Dhawan was joined by Kohli and then it was a smooth chase for India. Rishabh Pant joined Kohli later on after Dhawan got out, but didn’t had any impact.

Virat Kohli remained undeterred and excelled towards his 22nd T20I fifty with classy drives and flicks. The Indian skipper did not stop there as he accelerated despite losing Dhawan and Rishabh Pant on a quick succession.

Earlier, South Africa set a below-par score of 150 as the target in their 20 overs of batting.

Skipper Quinton de Kock and debutant Temba Bavuma played impressive knocks but India were able to contain South Africa to 149 for five in the second T20 International here on Wednesday.

Newly-appointed captain de Kock (52 off 37) led from the front, while Bavuma (49 off 43) too impressed in his first limited-overs appearance for South Africa in almost two years.

But South Africa did not get the final flourish they were looking for and ended up with a below-par total.

India bowled well in the death overs, conceding only 24 runs in the final four.

Pacer Deepak Chahar was the pick of the bowler with two wickets for 22 runs from his four overs.

India captain Virat Kohli sent a new-look South Africa into bat with the visitors picking three debutants in Anrich Nortje, Bjorn Fortuin and Bavuma.