The second T20I between India and South Africa got underway on Sunday at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. South African captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and invited India to bat first on the ground that has been historically a low-scoring one. Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul walked out to the middle to give a blazing start to the Indian team.
The openers looked in fine form as they played in India’s new brand of cricket, showing intent right from the word go. KL Rahul, who was heavily criticized in the first T20I for his slow knock, answered the critics in some style. After being watchful early on, Rahul unfurled some majestic shots from his armoury and began plundering the ball all around the ground.
He got great support from captain Rohit Sharma, who also took on the attack on the opposition after being cautious early on in the innings. The openers brought up their 50-run partnership in 33 balls and became the pair with most 50+ stands in T20 internationals.
The openers put up 96 runs for the first wicket in 9.5 overs. The partnership ended with Rohit’s dismissal which brought Virat Kohli to the crease. Kohli also continued his good form as he played some scintillating shots early on. India lost another wicket after Rahul was dismissed with the scoreboard on 107/2.
Suryakumar Yadav came onto the pitch and went berserk from ball one. Both Kohli and Yadav ripped apart the South African bowling attack, who didn’t have an answer to their aggressive approach. The duo added 102 runs in just 40 balls for the third wicket. India managed to reach a massive total of 237 in their allotted overs.
The Indian defence began in dramatic style as Deepak Chahar started with a maiden over. Arshdeep Singh, once again, brought South Africa under pressure straight away as he picked up a couple of wickets in the second over of the innings.
South African batting fell behind the required run rate but couldn’t do much against a relentless Indian bowling attack. Aiden Markram tried his best to bring his team back into the game but fell prey to Axar Patel, who dismissed him for 33 off 19 balls. Quinton De Kock, at the other end, looked like a pale shadow of himself as he couldn’t find his rhythm at all.
David Miller tried his best to keep South Africa in the game but it was too much work left to be done. De Kock and Miller tried to keep South Africa’s hopes alive by adding 100 runs for the fourth wicket. Miller kept playing shots from one end but De Kock struggled at the other end.
Miller went on to bring up his century in the final over as he continued the attack on the Indian bowlers. India managed to win the match by 16 runs in the end. But several questions were raised on the Indian bowling attack that let South Africa come back into the match.
India took an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match series with this win and won the first T20I series against South Africa at home. Here’s how Twitter reacted to India’s win:
Rohit back on field and the calmness, domination back too. Rahul will never be good a choice as a captain. #indvsSa
— Brian Dcosta (@BrianDcosta4) October 2, 2022
Why harshal Patel is in main squad for World cup ? while deepak chahar is in reserves ,Harshal is bowling pathetically in India he doesn't have any pace and batsman are reading his variations easily. Deepak would be better choice in Australia the harshal #INDvsSA
— Sachin Raghav (@sachinrghv2) October 2, 2022
India will win the match but @DavidMillerSA12 and #Dekock won the hearts ! What entertaining match for ? lovers ! #INDvsSA #SAvsIND
— Praffull Sarda™ (@prafful_sarda) October 2, 2022
Watching #IndVsSA #PakvsEngland
— Saahib Butt ?? ? (@Saahib70149930) October 2, 2022
Aj India ko jitna hai kyuki it's against SA who insulted #MahatmaGandhi & today being #MahatmaGandhiJayanti India has to win that's the prayer my mom did b4 the match started. That's her love when it comes to #India #Indians & #Cricket#IndvsSA
— ??YAREE?? (@yaree_dilse) October 2, 2022
The quality of bowlers we’ve, we’ve to score 250 in each T20 WC matches to win the title. #indvssa #T20WC2022 #T20WorldCup @BCCI
— Deepak Raghav (@DeepakRaghavv) October 2, 2022
Surya na hota aaj to ye match gaya tha. #INDvsSA
— Atheist AF (@atheist__af) October 2, 2022
Reason we need to practice to defend totals
The target is 238
Despite 2 early wickets, opposition is scoring at 10rpoNot even 200 is safe if we have such bowling attack#IndvsSA
— Priya ?? (@priya_jajoo) October 2, 2022
Well played @DavidMillerSA12 ??
Seriously india should look on improve our bowling anyway congratulations ? #TeamIndia #IndVsSA— ??.???????????????? (@vetrislr) October 2, 2022
Just 1 match away from world-cup.. Still Indian bowling lineup is a concern..#INDvsSA
— Krish?? (@sai_krish18) October 2, 2022
The acceleration which resulted out of that Kohli – SKY partnership proved to be the difference!
SKY is on a different level and Kohli plays the perfect percussion to SKY's song!#INDvsSA— Sandeep Kumar Boddapati (@sandeepskb128) October 2, 2022
India have a real issue on their hands – the death over bowling is now a full blown crisis. You can't expect the batters to score 237 every time…. this is an issue! #INDvsSA #Crickettwitter
— AAD!3 (@1_3Aadz) October 2, 2022
This is good in a way. At least now, I am certain India doesn't stand a chance in the T20 World Cup. So absolutely zero hopes. ? #INDvsSA
— Tracer Bullet (@WhispererMarket) October 2, 2022
Killer Miller always in beast form
What a half century by him @DavidMillerSA12 #INDvsSAT20I pic.twitter.com/XYVG1pkKaw— Sanjay Chauhan (@Sanjay_officel_) October 2, 2022
