South Africa Make Strategic Changes
The second T20 International match in New Chandigarh was of serious significance. South Africa were 0-1 down in the series. They needed a reaction, which brought about three changes in their playing eleven: Reeza Hendricks, Ottniel Baartman, and George Linde. These players would now replace Tristan Stubbs, Keshav Maharaj, and Anrich Nortje. India, detecting signs of stability, opted to remain unchanged in their lineup.
Early Conditions and Quinton de Kock Takes Charge
The early conditions were a bit challenging. There was proper swing available, and South Africa labored to 10 for no loss in the first two overs. Things turned around completely as dew started as early as in the third over. After that, the ball started skidding on, and the wicket became very fast, and Quinton de Kock did not take long to take complete control.
His plan was evident from the first flick he struck on Arshdeep – a shot that literally signaled how he was going to approach this match. The first breakthrough for India came in the fifth over, where Varun Chakravarthy was brought in as the first change. In his very first delivery of his over, he struck. Hendricks, who seemed uncertain from the very first delivery, was deceived by drift and dip, and his stumps were send packing. This was the ideal start for Varun.
De Kock’s Masterclass
De Kock, however, was aided by no such conditions in this innings. De Kock owned every delivery. Anything that was slightly shorter was swung. Anything that landed on his pads was sent into the stands. He did not back down even against Jasprit Bumrah, which in itself gives you a idea of how in sync de Kock was. Bumrah did find some swings, but de Kock continued to attack with a pertinacity that completely disrupted India’s line.
Arshdeep’s Costly Over
Things went from bad to worse for Arshdeep in the 11th over. He bowled an over of 13 deliveries, which is only second to Tim Seifert in terms of most deliveries in a over in a T20 International, conceding 18 runs of which 7 were wides.
Markram’s Struggle and Varun’s Second Wicket
Aiden Markram struggled to score fluently. His 29 came with many struggles, and it looked like this innings would never take flight as long as Markram was out there. This partnership was also broken by Varun Chakravarthy, who removed Markram in the 12th over. Markram first went hammer and tongs against him, hitting him two sixes down the ground, straight and over mid-wicket, but then slog-swept him with a third attempt, which he mistimed, handing Varun Chakravarthy his second wicket. Varun Chakravarthy, as always, lived up to India’s faith in him. He has a knack of appearing when India needs a wicket .
De Kock Nears His Century
But even with Markram back in the dugout, de Kock wasn’t finished yet. He quickly progressed into the 80s and then the 90s. De Kock was in a rush near his century, and this haste finally offered India a glimmer of hope. A sharp bit of fielding by Jitesh Sharma led to a direct hit run-out, ending de Kock’s innings of 90.
Great finish by SA and directionless bowling
Axar Patel also contributed by dismissing Dewald Brevis, making sure that India did not let their grip completely. However, the last three overs ruined all their hard work of controlling their 15th-17th overs. South Africa’s sent Donovan Ferreira first and then along with David Miller, started a fierce retaliation. India’s death over bowling went completely haywire, with many full tosses being served, and in no time, both of them scored 49 runs in the last three overs, taking South Africa’s total beyond what it seemed when it was 17 over, with a much lower total. 213-4 after 20 overs .
“The innings contained every ingredient – early swing, early dew, quality in de Kock, solidity in Varun, unpredictability in India’s seamers, and a late flourish that turned the match on its head.”
A crackling, momentum-shifting first innings performance. and a total that left South Africa with every reason to defend.
India’s Batting Collapse
Innings starts with two openers Shubman and Abhishek coming in . Abhishek showed his intent from the ball one and deposited the third ball of the innings over extra cover . Another failure for Shubman Gill. He is still finding that rhythm in the shortest format of the game. Golden duck for Shubman Gill , India needed him today and failed yet again . Great outswinging delivery by Lungi Ngidi to dismiss Gill .
Middle over Resistance
Axar Patel at 3 , the experiments aren’t ending . Jansen gets Abhishek. Again a brilliant delivery , simply unplayable for Abhishek Sharma .Test match style dismissal, the ball straightened from the middle of the wicket . India again in trouble ,19-2 after 2 overs of play . In quick successions India lost the wicket of the skipper Suryakumar Yadav in the 4th over and suddenly the win percentage went so high for Proteas as they picked 3 wickets for 32 runs .
Tilak Varma breakthrough batter
Great start from Tilak ,in contrast to his performance in the last match and reached 21 in just 10 balls ,amid the runs coming India were 4 down when Axar Patel departs as well and Ottniel Baartman got him , Baartman’s first wicket of the evening . Since then India were never settled and the required run rate kept getting higher and higher.
Hardik Pandya didn’t have the best day and had a poor outing . Even though he was dropped twice couldn’t capitalize one the chances and went for 20 runs of 23 balls and we don’t see that Hardik more often .
Tilak Varma and Jitesh Sharma had a partnership that brought some runs but it was too later for India and Game went Far away for them . Tilak Varma the one who stood and consolidated and score a comeback knock of 62 of 34 balls where we saw 5 sixes off his bat . Jitesh at the end played some shots and Later, Sipamla got him for his second wicket, which included Hardik’s dismissal.
South Africa’s Bowling Dominance
Shivam Dube at 8 couldn’t contribute much and India and the procession of wickets blowed in minutes . Baartman took 4 wickets this evening and was the one in the limelight by just giving 24 runs of his full quota of 4 overs . George Linde – the left armer bowled even against the lefties and was economical in his spell of 3 overs India was never ahead in this game and South Africa outclassed in every department here in New Chandigarh and everything went in their favour .
India bowled 16 wides whereas Proteas bowler just conceed a single run from the wide. At the end South Africa thrashed India by 51 runs .Great response to what they got in the last match at the Barabati Stadium. The series is now tied at 1-1, with three matches left to play
