India’s plans to seal the series were stalled by the hosts as Duminy and Klaasen took South Africa home. The hosts managed to survive in the series by winking the all important do or die game. As India lost the match and the bowlers were the real culprit, team India is now being slammed on Twitter for not being able to seal the series.
India would have loved to seal the series by winning the second T20I but the hosts had different plans. South Africa defeated India by 6 wickets to level the series. South Africa won the toss and decided to ball first and ended up chasing the target swiftly. Having set a target of 188, India lost the game and now the stage is set for a perfect final.
Image Source: Twitter
For perhaps the first time today in this tour, it was India’s middle order that outshined the top order. In the second T20I it wasn’t about Kohli or Dhawan but about Manish Pandey and MS Dhoni. Being asked to bat first by the South African captain India lost Rohit Sharma the very first ball and India seemed in trouble.
Virat Kohli too got out early making a rare blunder. Kohli got out for just 1 while Suresh Raina played a little cameo of 30 runs. But then it was a Manish Pandey and MS Dhoni show.
Dhoni and Panday’s heroics go in vain
After the little partnership between Suresh Raina and Manish Pandey was terminated, MS Dhoni joined Manish Pandey on the crease. The two anchored the Indian innings brilliantly and took India to 188 in 20 overs. Both remained unbeaten for and shared a partnership of 98 runs between them.
The Centurion witnessed the vintage MS Dhoni after a long time and his fans were just delighted to see their kind of Dhoni back in the grove. Manish Pandey top scored for India with a brilliant knock of 79 but it was Dhoni’s half century that fans enjoyed the most.
MS Dhoni scored 52 runs from just 28 balls and his knock included 3 big sixes. This was MS Dhoni’s second half century in T20 internationals and it has got his fans going crazy in joy. Courtesy Dhoni’s and Manish Pandey’s fireworks India reached 188. But the target didn’t prove to be enough as the hosts chased it down with 8 balls to spare.
Klaasen and Duminy Steal The Thunder
It was the South African Skipper who guided his team home along with Klaasen. While JP Duminy remained unbeaten on 64 from 40 balls, Klaasen made 69 from just 30 balls. Twitter isn’t really impressed by the Indian bowlers.
Here’s how Twitter roasted team India:
Bhaiya, Klaasen ne to class le layi aaj . Chakke pe Chakka
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/sportsbloggerCK/status/966390749414780928?
South Africa have found quite a player in Klaasen
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 21, 2018
Absolute monster. Duminy dispatches into orbit and doesn’t even look. What an innings by captain. #SAvIND
— cricBC (@cricBC) February 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/AllTimeBakchod/status/966392373377978370?
Back to back sixes to win the game. Woah Duminy!
Welcome victory for South Africa #SAvIND— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) February 21, 2018
Heinrich Klaasen is the find of the summer. Time to do away with “finishers” who offer nothing more than “he can be dangerous on his day” quips from commentators.
— Siv Break (@sivbreak) February 21, 2018
When Duminy’s playing through, you know you have little chance.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) February 21, 2018
Well played Klaasen.
Injury of a struggling Quinton de Kock has proved to be a blessing in disguise for South Africa. #SAvIND— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) February 21, 2018
Chahal: DM me your number
Klaasen: 664106 #SAvIND— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) February 21, 2018
Heinrich Klaasen, a duplicate of Martin Guptill plays spin a lot better than the original Martin Guptill. #SAvIND
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) February 21, 2018
Shardul and Kohli first appealed to Umpire and then quickly appealed to Dhoni. #DRSGod #SAvIND
— cricBC (@cricBC) February 21, 2018
Someone call Police. Chahal is being murdered at Centurion. #SAvIND
— cricBC (@cricBC) February 21, 2018
