South Africa rode on Quinton de Kock and Ottniel Baartman's heroics to thrash India by in the second T20I at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. With this South Africa levelled the series 1-1 with three match to spare.
Baartman-inspired South Africa crush India by 51 runs in 2nd T20I
Put to bat first, South Africa posted a huge total of 213/4, thanks to Quinton de Kock's blistering 46-ball 90. In reply, India looked off colour from the word go and were eventually bundled out for 162 despite Tilak Verma's brave 34-ball 62. It was Ottniel Baartman, who did thebtrick for South Africa with a solid spell of 4/24. The action will now shift to HPCA stadium in Dharamsala, which will stage the third T20I on December 14.
India's Chase Falters as Top Order Collapses
India's chase of the massive 214-run target got off to a disastrous start as key batsmen failed to fire for the second consecutive match. Both captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill had negligible impact, scoring only 5 and 0 runs, respectively. Adding to the woes, last match's hero Hardik Pandya had a forgettable all-round outing, managing just 20 runs with the bat and conceding 34 runs without taking a wicket in his three overs. The in-form Abhishek Sharma also struggled, scoring only 17, which highlighted India's vulnerability when their reliance on him is exposed.
Despite wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma attempting to accelerate alongside Tilak Varma, the required run rate proved insurmountable. Ultimately, the hosts were bowled out for a meager 162, suffering their second-biggest defeat in terms of runs in T20I history.
Quinton de Kock's blitzkrieg fires South Africa to big total
Earlier, South Africa posted a highly competitive total of 213/4 in their 20 overs after being inserted to bat in the second T20I against India at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. The innings was powered by a blistering knock from opener Quinton de Kock, who smashed 90 runs off just 46 balls. The left-hander dominated the Indian attack, demonstrating clean hitting with dazzling shots, particularly square of the wicket, striking five fours and seven sixes. He also anchored the middle part of the innings by sharing an 83-run partnership with captain Aiden Markram.
While India managed to claw back briefly by taking quick wickets, South Africa regained control in the death overs. The final surge came from an unbroken 53-run stand between David Miller (20 not out) and Donovan Ferreira (30 not out), who added the runs off a mere 25 balls, pushing the Proteas past the 210 mark.
The Indian pace attack struggled significantly under heavy dew, with Arshdeep Singh notably conceding nine wides in an expensive spell, and Jasprit Bumrah failing to execute his yorkers. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy was the standout bowler, finishing with impressive figures of 2-29, while Axar Patel also found late grip to restrict scoring with 1-27. India now face a stiff chase, though the deteriorating conditions caused by the dew could slightly favour their batters.
Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah's rough outing
The Proteas' strong start was established early, as De Kock immediately targeted a wayward Arshdeep Singh, carting him for two sixes and a four in the third over. Both De Kock and Reeza Hendricks then feasted on short deliveries, pulling a six each off Jasprit Bumrah in the following over. India secured their first breakthrough in the fifth over when Varun Chakravarthy’s quicker delivery skidded through the pitch to castle Reeza Hendricks. This dismissal extended Chakravarthy's notable dominance over Hendricks, having now dismissed the batter three times in just seven T20I deliveries. Despite losing his partner, De Kock ensured the momentum stayed with South Africa by attacking Axar Patel, pulling him for a towering six, before finding boundaries off Hardik Pandya and Chakravarthy.
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Markram appeared to finally find his groove by striking consecutive sixes off Varun Chakravarthy over long-on. However, attempting a third maximum, he mistimed the shot and was caught at deep mid-wicket, giving Chakravarthy his second wicket. De Kock's dazzling innings continued as he smashed Pandya for boundaries, but his phenomenal knock of 90 ended when he attempted a dab to the off-side. Wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma moved sharply to his left, parried the ball between his gloves, and broke the stumps to complete the dismissal. The momentum briefly swung back to India, as Axar Patel cramped Dewald Brevis for room, resulting in a top-edged pull that was brilliantly caught low down by the long-on fielder sprinting in. Nevertheless, with conditions extremely challenging for the bowlers, the experienced pair of David Miller and Donovan Ferreira combined effectively, hitting six boundaries between them in the final three overs to propel South Africa to a big total