Team India locked horns with South Africa in the second T20I of the three-match series at the PCA stadium in Mohali and won the game by 7 wickets and 6 balls to spare. After winning the toss, the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli decided to bowl first citing the chances of dew in the latter half of the match. Quinton de Kock is leading the Proteas for the first time in T20Is. Both the captains scored the fifties.
The visitors had a decent start as they scored 24 runs in the first three over but, Deepak Chahar got the first scalp for India in the fourth over when, he dismissed, Reeza Hendricks. After his dismissal, De Kock and Temba Bavuma had a decent partnership of 57 runs for the second wicket before Navdeep Saini dismissing De Kock on the second ball of the 12th over owing to a brilliant catch by Kohli.
WATCH – Virat Kohli Takes A Marvelous Catch To Dismiss Quinton De Kock
After the wicket of South African skipper, Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen had to build a partnership but they failed to do so as Ravindra Jadeja dismissed the latter owing to a brilliant catch by the bowler. The Proteas were reduced to 90/3 in around 13 overs and they ever managed to get over it as they only managed to score 149/5 in their quota of 20 over with De Kock (52) being the highest scorer. Deepak Chahar was the pick of the bowler as he finished the innings with the spell of 2/22.
India had a decent start with their veteran openers, Shikhar Dhawan Rohit Sharma scoring 8 runs in the first over of Kagiso Rabada. The magic happened in the second over of Anrich Nortje as Rohit smashed him for a couple of sixes in a matter of three balls both the time with a pull shot. However, he was dismissed by Andile Phehlukwayo in the 4th over. After that, Kohli and Dhawan added 61 runs for the second wicket before the latter getting out in the 12th over of Tabraiz Shamsi owing to a mind-boggling catch of David Miller.
WATCH – Miller Pulled Off A Blunder To Dismiss Dhawan, Kohli Shocked
After his dismissal, Rishabh Pant laos got out soon, but Shreyas Iyer (16*) and Kohli (72*) made sure India chased down the target comfortably with an over to spare as the Indian skipper scored his 22nd T20I fifty.
Brief Scores:
India – 151/3 in 19 overs (V Kohli: 72*, S Dhawan: 40; T Shamsi: 1/19) defeated South Africa – 149/5 in 20 overs (Q de Kock: 52; D Chahar: 2/22, R Jadeja: 1/31) by 7 wickets and 6 balls to spare
Here is the Twitterati reacted to India’s win:
My lordy!! That flick from @imVkohli 👏👏👏
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) September 18, 2019
Pace is great, but being smart and knowing when and how to use it is even better.
Best place to learn is in the middle, and Virat and co teaching us a good lesson today.
Back with a bang in the next boys! #ProteaFire— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) September 18, 2019
Would’ve liked Iyer ahead of Pant. Batting at 4 suits Iyer more. Batting at 5 might work better for Pant #IndvSA
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 18, 2019
Shikhar’s wicket should go into miller’spocket. Watta catch #flying
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 18, 2019
Great start for men in blue at home series #INDvSA @imVkohli amazing knock !!! Well played captain innings.Leading run scorer at t20 …what a player!! What a determination👌👌💪💪👍👍👏👏👏
— [email protected] (@Veeramani686062) September 18, 2019
India start their home season with a comfortable win over the Proteas 🕺
What a knock by the skipper – 72* in 52 balls 🙌#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #INDvSA
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) September 18, 2019
Not fair on Shikhar mr miller… what an absolute blinder !!! #IndvsSA
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 18, 2019
Pretty clinical stuff from India to take a 1-0 lead. Lots to work on though for a few individuals. Dhawan will know he has to score big to retain his place. Pant will have more eyes on him. Over to Bangalore for the final T20I. #INDvSA
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) September 18, 2019
Most runs in T20 Internationals
2441 Virat Kohli *
2434 Rohit Sharma
2283 Martin Guptill
2263 Shoaib Malik
2140 Brendon McCullum#INDvSA— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) September 18, 2019
Tests, ODIs or T20s… The precision, drive and resolve of King Kohli remain unchanged. No format or even a match is insignificant to him. The best all-weather, all-season, all-round, all-format batsman of his generation. #IndvsSA
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) September 18, 2019
Most 50+ scores in T20Is:
22 – Kohli
21 – Rohit
16 – Guptill
15 – McCullum, Gayle
14 – Dilshan#IndvSA— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 18, 2019
Easy chase, feel this will be another one sided series including Tests. Pant gotta fire in next match, wasting too many chances! #INDvSA
— Yash (@nayanTarse_) September 18, 2019
India have it spot on when it comes to blooding new players. They have depth in every position. Would like to see SA give youngsters a better opportunity to prove themselves at various levels of the game here at home. #IndvSA
— Kass Naidoo (@KassNaidoo) September 18, 2019
