South Africa defeated India by 51 runs in the second T20I at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, on Thursday. The Proteas posted 213/4 before bowling India out for 162 in 19.1 overs, registering their largest victory margin in T20Is against India.
The win also made South Africa the most successful T20I side against India, with 13 wins in 33 meetings.
Opting to bowl first, India struggled to restrict South Africa on a batting-friendly surface. Quinton de Kock set the tone with a blistering 90 off 46 balls, hitting five fours and seven sixes. He was run out in the 16th over by Jitesh Sharma, falling short of a century against India. De Kock has now accumulated 441 runs in 12 T20I innings against India at an average of 44.10, including five half-centuries.
Praising de Kock and the bowling unit, Markram said:
“Obviously we started off with a special knock from Quinny (de Kock) and some really good contributions at the end that got us to a really good total. I thought the bowlers were good in the first game and even better this evening, so they’re definitely trending in the right direction, which is great to see. And naturally, from a fielding point of view, the first two games have gone wonderfully.”
De Kock attributed his consistency against India: “It is just happening, low and high scores. When I do get going, I try and make it count. I think it is because we play each other so many times, and on good wickets. Arshdeep (Singh) got me out plenty of times. It was just a technical thing to be aware of, and then play naturally.”
Arshdeep Singh had an expensive outing with multiple wides, conceding 16 runs in the 19th over. India’s top order collapsed early, with vice-captain Shubman Gill falling for a golden duck to Lungi Ngidi and captain Suryakumar Yadav dismissed for 5 off 4 balls by Marco Jansen.
Suryakumar admitted the batting unit fell short.
“Me, Shubman and a few other batters should have taken it (responsibility). I think it would have been a smart chase. But then it’s okay, Shubman got out on the first ball. But yeah, I should have taken that responsibility, batted a little deeper. But yeah, as I said, we learn, we try and do better in the next game to come.
Tilak Varma top-scored for India with a fighting 62 off 34 balls, striking two fours and five sixes. But the chase derailed in the end overs as Lutho Sipamla, Ottneil Baartman and Ngidi shared India’s last five wickets – Varma, Jitesh Sharma, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy – for just five runs.
South Africa will look to maintain their momentum, while India face questions over their top order and lineup balance.
The third T20I will be played at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on December 14.