woah, game over with a massive six! Jadeja bowled short and quick on middle and leg, as Phehlukwayo transferred his weight on to the back foot and hammered a pull shot over deep square leg
South Africa vs India, 2nd T20I at Gqeberha, SA v IND, Dec 12 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary
South Africa won by 5 wickets (with 7 balls remaining) (DLS method)
With that, we come to the end of our coverage of the second T20I. India need to hit back in the third as they can, at best, only level the series after South Africa's superior performance today. In case you missed any of it, here's Firdose's report from tonight, as it captures all the action. Rinku and Suryakumar's fifties go in vain for India, as the series now shifts to Johannesburg. Join us for the third T20I in two days' time. Until then, take care!
Here comes Aiden Markram: "Nice start. Great crowd pulled in here tonight. I thought the wicket was initially on the slower side. From the batting point of view, it skid on a bit. The rain helped us a little bit. The bowlers tried hard, and bowled incredibly well. They come up with their own plans... Hendricks has been fantastic. He's adopted a bit of a leadership role in the batting. Ultimately you want to pick form players for the World Cup, so from the selection point of view, there might still be a few places up for grab. That healthy competition means a lot for us."
Tabraiz Shamsi is the Player of the Match: "I packed that celebration away, but the kids keep asking me to bring it about - so can't disappoint them! It's about putting the balls in the right area... to be able to do it against India under pressure is particularly pleasing. SKY's a wonderful player, and he showed it again today. The changes Aiden Markram had on the field were brilliant. The positive and nice thing has been that since Rob has come in, he has allowed us to bring our families... you can see that everyone's happy and trying to win games."
Suryakumar Yadav speaks first: "I think it was a par score, but they batted beautifully in the first five-six overs. That's the brand of cricket we were talking about. The message was loud and clear. It was a little tough [to bowl], but I told my boys were out of our comfort zone. Mood in the camp is always happy, and full of cheer, because I've said whatever happens on the ground, leave it on the ground. Really looking forward to the third T20I."
Time for the presentations
Deepak: "Who will be MOM? Rinku?" --- Hendricks should take it away, I'd think
8.55pm South Africa go 1-0 up in the series, hunting down the revised target of 152 with more than an over to spare. The ball and the outfield were both wet with rain, and the repeated wiping of the ball by the Indians showed how difficult it was. But take nothing away from Hendricks, Markram and Breetzke, who blazed their way to set a solid platform for their side. The first nine overs saw 108 runs knocked off, and although India hit back with an occasional wicket or two, the target was never out of reach for South Africa. Hang around for the presentations.
clipped behind the wicket, as he stepped down
short and outside off. Slapped to deep point
reverse swept over the short third fielder! He got a top edge there, but the ball was timed well nevertheless. It was bowled full and angled in, as Stubbs played it from middle and off
Shahab: "Looking forward to see the winning runs with a tough fightback from India"
on the shorter side on the stumps, and pulled to deep square leg
Around the wicket to Phehlukwayo.
A run a ball needed. Here comes Jadeja, with India an over behind the required over rate.
quite full, and just outside off. Driven along the ground to long-off
Phehlukwayo
taken at deep backward square leg! This is almost like a cat-and-mouse game. Each time South Africa get closer, they lose a wicket, although they are still in the driver's seat here. Mukesh bowled a full toss, angling it across, as it ended outside off. Miller swung again, losing his bottom hand, and failed to clear even the shorter side of the ground
excellent shot! Almost like a left-handed Dhoni playing the helicopter shot. Hangs deep in the crease, and swings this very full ball around leg stump over deep square leg, by getting his front leg out of the way
good bowling now. A full toss, but quite low, as Stubbs pushes this to long-on
good running there. It was a low full toss on off, which Stubbs drilled down the ground. The man at long-on moved to his left but fumbled, and they pinched two
Free hit
fires a yorker on middle and off as he goes wide of the crease. Miller hoicks it to deep midwicket. But, but... the third umpire says it's a no-ball
a loud and confident appeal for lbw by Mukesh, but it's not given. Surya has a discussion with Jitesh, and reviews. Miller was standing deep in the crease, as the ball angled across to land bang on his pads, with him missing his attempted flick. There's no inside edge, but he seems to be hit outside leg. Yup, the impact is outside leg, and the on-field decision stands
South Africa another 24 away, as Mukesh returns
Mitan: "With the amount of dew and relatively new bowling line up, I think India have done a tremendous job till now."
Time-out
on a length, and moving away towards middle. Clipped to deep midwicket
Mukesh runs and tumbles to his left from long-on, risking himself on wet outfield. Siraj bowled a full toss which was angling across, as Miller whipped from outside off
Hippu: "India need a wicket here"
good stop by the backward point fielder Jadeja, as he dives to his right to cut that off. It was bowled on a good length in the channel outside off, as Stubbs flashed at it with a flat bat
Siraj wiping the wet ball off
steps out early, and Siraj bowls it on the shorter side on middle and off. Punched to mid-off eventually
fuller length, and the ball moves away again to finish on sixth stump. Swung away to long-on
Slip moves wider now
and the ball flies just past slip! On the shorter side of a length just outside off, as it angles across. Miller half-stabs at it with a flat bat, getting an outside edge just wide of the fielder
They need 33 from 24 balls, and Siraj will finish off. A slip for Miller.
clips this aerially, and wide of long-on, as this length ball arrives around sixth stump
ahh, this keeps low off a short of a length, while turning into the stumps. Slapped to cover
Over 14 • SA 154/5
South Africa won by 5 wickets (with 7 balls remaining) (DLS method)