The Aryavarth Express
New Chandigarh (Punjab): India’s T20I campaign stumbled on Sunday as they fell to a 51-run loss against South Africa in the second match at Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. Chasing a massive 214, the hosts were bundled out for 162 — their seventh unsuccessful attempt at chasing a target of 210 or more in T20 internationals. India have still never chased down a 210+ total in the format.
South Africa’s innings was powered by a blistering 90 off 46 balls from Quinton de Kock, who hammered five fours and seven sixes to set up the visitors’ commanding score. Ottniel Baartman further tightened the screws with an impressive 4/24, dismantling India’s middle and lower order.
Apart from a gritty fifty by Tilak Varma, India’s batting offered little resistance. The top order faltered once again, with both the captain and vice-captain continuing their lean patch. The defeat allowed South Africa to level the five-match series 1-1.
De Kock was awarded Player of the Match for his match-winning knock, extending his strong run against India. Across all formats, he now has 1,914 runs in 43 matches (40 innings) at an average of 40.72, including eight centuries and a top score of 135. In T20Is alone, he has amassed 441 runs against India in 12 innings at an average of 44.10, striking at 146.51 with five half-centuries.
The wicketkeeper-batter also joined an elite list with his seventh T20I Player of the Match award for South Africa — drawing level with AB de Villiers and trailing only Tabraiz Shamsi and David Miller, who have nine each.
Reflecting on his knock and his record versus India, de Kock said, “It just happens — there are low and high scores. When I get going, I try to make it count. We play each other a lot, and on good wickets. Arshdeep (Singh) has got me out plenty of times. It was just a technical thing to be aware of, and then play naturally.”
