2nd T20I: Hendricks, Shamsi star in SA’s win over India in rain-marred game
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NEW DELHI: Opener Reeza Hendricks took the Indian bowling attack to pieces, firing a dazzling 27-ball 49 as South Africa registered a comprehensive five-wicket win over India in a rain-shortened second T20I in Gqeberha on Tuesday.
After rain washed out the series opener, it once again caused a delay of almost an hour post Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadavbreathtaking fifties.But fans at the St George’s Park were then treated to a Hendricks carnage along with skipper Aiden Markram’s 17-ball 30 blitz as the Proteas chased down the revised target of 152 (15 overs) with 7 balls to spare.
With the commanding victory, South Africa took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Rinku (68 not out off 39) enhanced his credentials as a finisher with a maiden half-century while skipper Suryakumar (56 off 36) played in his inimitable way to take India to 180 for seven after being put in to bat.
In the revised chase after rain, South Africa rocketed to 67 for one in five overs. They eventually cantered to win in 13.5 overs.
As It Happened
Both Mohammad Siraj and Arshdeep Singh were taken to the cleaners upfront.
The left-arm pacer conceded as many as 24 runs in his opening over in which Reeza Hendricks (49 off 27) smashed him out of the ground with a massive strike over mid-wicket.
Spin was introduced as early as in the third over but to no avail against the rampaging batters of the home team.
After Matthew Breezke (16 off 7) departed, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram (30 off 17) went on a leather hunt. The Proteas were cruising but loss of three quick wickets gave India an opening.
However, South Africa had too much firepower up their sleeve and eventually got home comfortably.
The third and final T20 will be played in Johannesburg on Thursday. The first T20 in Durban was washed out.
Put in to bat, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) and Shubman Gill (0) for six runs before Surya led from the front and forged fine partnerships with Tilak Varma (29 off 20) and then Rinku.
Rain arrived at St George’s Park with three balls left in the innings and Gerald Coetzee on a hat trick, having got rid of Ravindra Jadeja and Arshdeep Singh. The innings did not resume thereafter.
Playing for the first time in South Africa, Rinku took his time initially before working the field beautifully. His square of the wicket shots stood out in his well paced innings including fours and two straight sixes off Aiden Markram.
Coming in at number three, Varma looked good in the middle before getting caught at deep third man in the sixth over.
What followed was a 70-run stand between Surya and Rinku. Surya played like he usually does, collecting a chunk of his runs behind the wicket.
His three sixes came as he got inside the line of the ball to send the ball over the ropes. Two were in the fine leg region and one over midwicket.
It was not the smoothest of starts for India, who lost Jaiswal and Gill in the first two overs.
Jaiswal could not control the cut shot against Marco Jansen to be brilliantly caught by David Miller at backward point.
Varma could have departed in similar fashion two balls later but Miller could not hold on to that sharp chance.
Gill was trapped in front by Lizaad Williams who got the ball to nip back from length.
Despite the initial pressure, the Indian batters kept batting aggressively.
(With inputs from PTI)