South Africa clinch second T20I, hand India 51-run defeat

NEW CHANDIGARH: South Africa won the second T20I match against India. Chasing the huge target of 214 runs set by South Africa, India were bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs. The Proteas won by 51 runs. Tilak Varma was the only Indian batter who performed well, scoring 62 runs off 34 balls. South African bowler Ottniel Baartman, who took four wickets, was named Player of the Match.

India’s chase started poorly. Vice-captain Shubman Gill was out for 0 off 1 ball. When Abhishek Sharma (17 off 8) and captain Suryakumar Yadav (5 off 4) also fell, India were struggling at 32/3. Promoting Axar Patel to No. 3 proved to be a wrong experiment as he scored only 21 runs off 21 balls. Hardik Pandya managed just 20 off 23, adding to India’s troubles in a big chase. Jitesh Sharma scored 27 off 17 before getting out, while Shivam Dube (1 off 2), Arshdeep Singh (4 off 3) and Varun Chakravarthy (0 off 2) contributed little.

Earlier, after losing the toss and batting first, South Africa posted 213/4 in 20 overs. Opener and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock was the top scorer with a brilliant 90 off 46 balls, hitting seven sixes and five fours. Except Varun Chakravarthy, all Indian bowlers were expensive.

Reeza Hendricks (8 off 10) was the first to fall, bowled by Chakravarthy on his very first ball. Captain Aiden Markram scored 29 off 26 before getting out. De Kock was run out just 10 runs short of a century. Dewald Brevis scored 14 off 10 before giving his wicket to Axar Patel.

In the final overs, Donovan Ferreira (30* off 16) and David Miller (20* off 12) accelerated the scoring, together hitting four sixes and three fours. For India, Varun Chakravarthy took two wickets and conceded only 29 runs in his four overs, while Axar Patel took one wicket.