Batting lets SA down again as India triumph

Quinton de Kock’s tenure as T20 captain started on a low note when India soundly beat SA by seven wickets in the second T20I in Mohali.

A score of 149/5 was never going to challenge India, especially against a South African side featuring three debutants in Temba Bavuma, Anrich Nortje and Bjorn Fortuin.

It was SA’s batting that again let them down on a slow but true Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium surface.

Rohit Sharma (12) and Shikhar Dhawan (40) got India to a rollicking start with 33 off 3.5 overs.

Nortje had a rude introduction to T20I cricket with 13 creamed off his first over.

It needed an Andile Phehlukwayo (1/20) change of pace to get the first wicket when he trapped Sharma plumb in front. Virat Kohli and Dhawan embarked on a risk-free 61-run second wicket stand before Dhawan was excellently caught by David Miller at deep longon off Tabraiz Shamsi (1/19).

Rishabh Pant (four) holed out to Phehlukwayo off Fortuin (1/32) to leave India at 104/3 after 14 overs.

Kohli (72*) was still there and having won the toss to insert the visitors, completed the chase with his customary cool. SA’s innings consisted of two acts from De Kock (52) and Bavuma (49) but there was not much in between.

When SA moved to 78/1 after 10 overs, they were primed for a late assault while De Kock raised his 50 in 35 balls.

He was gone two balls after getting to his landmark when his counterpart Kohli snared an excellent catch at mid-off off Navdeep Saini (1/34).