Highlights, India vs South Africa 2018, 2nd T20I in Centurion, Full Cricket Score: Proteas win by six wickets

JP Duminy, South Africa captain: At the toss we spoke about this being a semi-final and taking the series to Cape Town. The way we started with the ball was exceptional. They gained momentum with the last five overs but our batsmen showed composure. Pretty easy win in the end. We tried our utmost to keep with the DLS system. In the end, it worked in our favour because it gave us the freedom.

The look after scoring a match-winning 69 off 30 balls. Amazing innings @Heini22 #KFCT20 #SAVIND #MOM pic.twitter.com/MeSITlDtto

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) February 21, 2018

Heinrich Klaasen wins the Man of the Match for his destructive 30-ball 69! 

Klaasen: Pretty special, especially at my home ground, something I didn’t dream of as a young kid. (On reverse sweeps) I won’t say its a keeper thing, but you got to put the bowler under pressure, and show your skills. I feel comfortably with the way my game is right now. Im enjoying my cricket for a year and a half now.

Virat Kohli, India captain: It was a tough one for the bowlers. I think we were looking for 175 but Raina and Pandey batted well and then Pandey and MS. It was a hard day for the bowlers, they tried their best. But Klaasen and Duminy batted well. (On how the umpires didn’t stop the game despite constant drizzle) It was good from the spectators’ point of view. Once the game was continued in the first innings, we knew it would in the second too. There was constant drizzle but wasn’t drastic at any stage. They deserved to win. Nicely set up (for the third T20I). We expect them to come out with hard performances.

Well, that was some beating Indian bowlers took. What a whirlwind knock from Klaasen and well judged innings by Duminy. But they have to shrug it off for this series lives until the last day. 1-1 in the T20Is with the final game to go… India will have to raise their intensity one last time.

Most sixes for South Africa in T20Is:

62 – JP DUMINY*

60 – AB de Villiers 

45 – David Miller

After 18.4 overs,South Africa 189/4 ( JP Duminy (C) 64 , Farhaan Behardien 16)

Behardien pulls the ball towards the leg side for a double, with keeper Dhoni trying to slap the ball onto the striker’s stumps in vain. ide off the next, with Behardien setting off for a single off the second legal delivery. That is before Duminy finishes things off in style with two mighty hits — the second one disappearing high into the stands over long-on to bring the 2nd T20I to an end!

South Africa win by six wickets, as the series heads to a decider at Cape Town!

SIX! WHAT A WAY FOR SOUTH AFRICA TO LEVEL THE SERIES! Stand-and-deliver by Duminy, slogging it high over the long-on fence for a HUUGGEEE SIX! South Africa level the T20I series 1-1, with the series now going to a decider! SA 189/4

South Africa win by six wickets!

SIX! The ball might have slipped out of Unadkat’s hand, and Duminy doesn’t waste this chance, shuffling forward and smashing it beyond the midwicket fence! SA 183/4

Unadkat to bowl the penultimate over of the South African innings. The Proteas need 16 off the last 12 balls.

After 18 overs,South Africa 173/4 ( JP Duminy (C) 52 , Farhaan Behardien 13)

Thakur bowls his final over. Duminy pulls the ball towards deep square-leg, where Pandya cuts the ball off with a slide. Behardien runs the ball towards fine-leg for a double off the next ball. Duminy goes aerial towards sweeper cover, where the ball lands just short of Bhuvneshwar. Duminy gets an inside-edge off the last delivery, with the ball running away to the fine-leg fence for a four, bringing up Duminy’s fifty. 10 off the over.

Most 50-plus scores for South Africa in T20Is:

10 – AB de Villiers, JP DUMINY* 

8 – Faf du Plessis

7 – Hashim Amla

February, 2017: Yuzvendra Chahal recorded best bowling figures for India in T20Is. (MS Dhoni scored his first T20I fifty)

February, 2018: Yuzvendra Chahal conceded most runs for India in a T20I match. (MS Dhoni scored his second T20I fifty)

FOUR! Duminy brings up his 10th T20I fifty with a shot that he wouldn’t quite be proud of — an inside-edge that runs away to fine-leg! Takes 38 deliveries to get to the milestone! SA 173/4

February, 2017: Yuzvendra Chahal recorded best bowling figures for India in T20Is. (MS Dhoni scored his first T20I fifty)

February, 2018: Yuzvendra Chahal conceded most runs for India in a T20I match. (MS Dhoni scored his second T20I fifty)

Thakur brought back one last time in this match in the 18th over.

After 17 overs,South Africa 163/4 ( JP Duminy (C) 46 , Farhaan Behardien 9)

Bhuvneshwar returns to the attack. Duminy collects a double off the first ball, before bringing Behardien back on strike with a single off the next delivery. Duminy guides the ball down the ground for a double off the fourth delivery. Dot off a bouncer off the penultimate delivery, with the SA captain collecting a single off the last ball. Seven off the over. The hosts need 26 off the last three overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar brought back into the attack in the 17th over of the innings.

After 16 overs,South Africa 156/4 ( JP Duminy (C) 40 , Farhaan Behardien 8)

Chahal is brought back for his final over, and Duminy starts off by smacking the ball through the extra-cover region for a boundary. Stumping chance missed off the next ball as Duminy shuffles down the pitch, with Dhoni fumbling with the ball after it brushes past the batsman’s thigh. Behardien gets on strike for the first time, and smacks the ball beyond midwicket for a six off just his second delivery. DROPPED! Behardien lobs the ball in the direction of the bowler, with the ball passing through his hands, and allowing the batsman a double. 13 off the over, as Chahal signs off with figures of 0/64.

Yuzvendra Chahal has now conceded most runs (64) in a T20I match among Indians. The previous most was 57 by Joginder Sharma against England at Durban in 2007.

Yuzvendra Chahal becomes the first Indian player to concede 50-plus runs on two different occasions in T20Is.

150 up for South Africa… their game to lose now… Chahal is back in the attack… brave call.

SIX! Slogged away towards the midwicket fence by Behardien, as he opts not to waste time at the centre. Brings up the 150 for the Proteas. SA 153/4

FOUR! Cut away powerfully by Duminy through extra-cover to collect his third boundary. Just not Chahal’s day! SA 146/4

India went to South Africa hoping to develop that rare breed; a batting all-rounder who bowls seam-up. Pandya's batting may not have grown as much as hoped but he has taken serious strides as a bowler.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 21, 2018

Chahal brought in one last time in the 16th over.

After 15 overs,South Africa 142/4 ( JP Duminy (C) 36 , Farhaan Behardien 0)

Pandya is brought back for his final over, and keeps it relatively quiet for the first four deliveries, giving away five runs. Miller goes for a hook off a short ball, and ends up top-edging it in the direction of Thakur at fine-leg. Duminy collects a single off the last ball. Six runs and a wicket off the over, as Pandya signs off with figures of 1/31.

OUT! Miller tries to go big off a back-of-length delivery, and ends up miscuing it to Thakur at fine-leg! That’s another big-hitter sent back in no time! SA 141/4

Miller c Thakur b Pandya 5(6)

Pandya brought back for his final over. India sniff a chance after the dismissal of Klaasen.

After 14 overs,South Africa 136/3 ( JP Duminy (C) 33 , David Miller 2)

Unadkat returns to the attack, and delivers straightaway as he gets Klaasen caught behind off the very first delivery of the over. The left-arm pacer keeps it tight in the remainder of the over, giving away just five runs. Fine over from Unadkat against the run of play.

Klaasen gone now… Unadkat with the breakthrough… Could there be another dramatic turn?

OUT! Unadkat finally gets the man, as Klaasen’s destructive knock comes to an end! Gets an edge that carries all the way to the keeper! Animated celebrations from the keeper follow, with the Indians deriving some hope from the big wicket. SA 131/3

Klaasen c Dhoni b Unadkat 69(30)

Jaydev Unadkat brought back into the attack in the 14th over. It’s now or never for the visitors.

After 13 overs,South Africa 131/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 31 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 69)

23 runs conceded by Chahal off his third over — it’s almost as if Klaasen and Duminy are punishing him for all the torment that he and Kuldeep had caused in the ODI series. Klaasen smashes back-to-back sixes off the first two balls, before reverse-paddling the next ball over short third man for a four. Duminy joins the act with a slog over the midwicket fence for his first six.

Absolute carnage… 23 off Chahal and the game has turned South Africa’s way.

SIX! Now Duminy joins the party! Gets down on one knee, and slogs this one towards the midwicket fence for his first big hit! SA 131/2

Both wicket-keepers scoring 50-plus runs in a T20I:

Brendon McCullum – Jos Buttler, Hamilton, 2013

Denesh Ramdin – Luke Ronchi, Wellington, 2014

Jos Buttler – AB de Villiers, Joburg, 2016

Mohammad Shahzad – Gary Wilson, G Noida, 2017

MS DHONI – HEINRICH KLAASEN *

FOUR! Klaasen’s breathing fire at the moment. Reverse-paddles this one over short third man, and ends up collecting his third boundary! SA 124/2

SIX! Back-to-back sixes for Klaasen! Smashed this one in the direction of the fielder at midwicket, and Pandya, the man stationed in the deep, merely watches the ball sail over his head. SA 120/2

SIX! Chahal’s nightmare continues as Klaasen gets down on one knee, and smashes the ball into the grass bank beyond the midwicket fence! SA 114/2

Heinrich Klaasen’s fifty from 22 balls today is the fastest by a South African player against India in T20Is. The previous fastest was in 24 balls by Morne van Wyk at Durban in 2011.

After 12 overs,South Africa 108/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 25 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 52)

Duminy collects a single at the start of the 12th over as Pandya returns to the attack. Klaasen hooks a short one from Pandya off the next delivery to collect his second boundary, and more importantly bring up his first-ever half-century in international cricket in style! Eight off the over, including a quick double off the last delivery by the SA captain.

FOUR! Hooked away towards the fine-leg fence by Klaasen, and what a way for him to bring up his maiden international half-century! Brings up the milestone in just 22 deliveries, smashing five sixes and two fours! What a move his promotion has turned out to be today! SA 105/2

Pandya brought back into the attack in the 12th over of the innings.

After 11 overs,South Africa 100/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 22 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 47)

Chahal is brought back into the attack in the 11th over of the innings, with Klaasen continuing his destructiveness as he smashes two sixes off it — the first one bringing up the fifty-stand, with the second one coming off a reverse-sweep. Duminy collects a single off the last delivery to bring up the 100 for SA. The Proteas need another 89 to win off the last 9 overs. Meanwhile, the drizzle seems to have stopped at the SuperSport Park.

SIX! Klaasen would make ABD proud with this slog off a reverse-sweep, clearing the backward point fence! SA 98/2

SIX! Klaasen makes room for himself, and smashes it towards the extra-cover fence for a big-one, bringing up the fifty-stand for the third wicket with Duminy in the process! SA 91/2

Chahal brought back for the 11th over. India desperately need a wicket now.

After 10 overs,South Africa 84/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 20 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 33)

Big appeal for caught-behind off the second delivery, with Duminy getting cramped for room, this the noise was that of the ball brushing past his pad. Singles exchanged between Duminy and Klaasen off the next two deliveries, with Klaasen getting a thick inside-edge towards short fine-leg off the fourth delivery. Four off the over. The Proteas very much are in the chase at the halfway mark in their innings.

The last four T20s played at SuperSport Park, Centurion have been won by teams batting second.

Thakur brought back into the attack in the 10th over.

After 9 overs,South Africa 80/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 18 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 31)

Wide conceded by Pandya off the second delivery, this one being called by the umpires for height. Klaasen guides the ball down the ground for a double off the penultimate delivery, before whipping the ball away towards the wide long-on fence off the last delivery for a four. 10 off the over, and SA are ahead of the DLS par score right now!

FOUR! Klaasen’s playing a classic innings right now! Smacks the ball towards the wide long-on fence off the last delivery of the ninth over! SA 80/2

After 8 overs,South Africa 70/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 16 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 24)

Chahal is introduced for the first time in the eighth over. Klaasen and Duminy exchange singles off the first two deliveries, before the former tees off towards the cow-corner fence off the third. Gets an outside edge off the next ball that runs away to third man, allowing him a double. Singles collected off the last two deliveries. 12 off Chahal’s first over.

Klaasen in a tonking mood on his home ground… third six… and SA have drawn level of DLS score…

SIX! The Klaasen gamble is working well for the Proteas so far, as he smashes this one over the cow-corner fence off Chahal! SA 67/2

Spin introduced into the attack for the first time in the eighth over, with Chahal getting introduced into the attack.

After 7 overs,South Africa 58/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 14 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 14)

Pandya brought back into the attack in the seventh over of the innings, and Duminy welcomes him with a slash towards the third man fence for a four. Pandya keeps it tight for the remainder of the over, with four runs coming off the remaining deliveries. Klaasen gets a thick outside edge that sends the ball flying in the direction of Thakur at third man, though the ball lands well short of him. Eight off the over. SA two short of the par score right now.

FOUR! Slashed away by Duminy towards the third man fence! SA 54/2

Another bowling change, as Pandya is introduced from the Pavilion End after the conclusion of powerplay.

After 6 overs,South Africa 50/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 9 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 12)

Klaasen walks out to bat ahead of Miller, and collects his first six off just his second delivery, smashing it beyond the midwicket fence. Unadkat collects a couple of dots after that, both off slower deliveries. Another six, this time off the penultimate delivery, as Klaasen connects once again to smash it beyond the midwicket fence. 12 off the over.

Slow start from SA… especially Smuts but two wickets later and Klaasen is bringing them level… two monster hits for six. Unadkat has looked off colour in both games.

With the possibility of rain around, this piece of paper would be valuable for both teams and their fans. 

Public service announcement... DLS sheet for tonight.... #SAvInd pic.twitter.com/A46eyiZiK7

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) February 21, 2018

SIX! Klaasen smashes this one over the midwicket fence with ease for the second time in this over! Brings up the team 50 in style! SA 50/2

SIX! Klaasen collects his first six in just the second delivery that he faces! Pulls this one towards the midwicket fence! SA 44/2

Klaasen walks out to bat ahead of Miller. His clean-hitting abilities, with the drizzle around the SuperSport Park, might be a factor behind this.

After 5 overs,South Africa 38/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 9 , )

Thakur’s brought back into the attack in the fifth over. Duminy smacks the ball towards wide long-on off the first delivery that he faces, getting off to a confident start. Collects doubles off the next two deliveries, before collecting a quick single off the fourth. Hendricks’ luck shines off the penultimate delivery, as a thick edge sends the ball flying over short third man for his fifth boundary. Hendricks however, perishes off the last delivery after skieng the ball towards deep square-leg after a mishit, with Pandya holding on to the ball at deep square-leg. 14 runs and a wicket off the over.

JP Duminy is the highest run-scorer for South Africa in T20Is. It’s vital for him to play a captain’s knock today.

OUT! Boy will India be glad to see the back of the in-form Hendricks early! The opener mis-hits off the last delivery of the fifth over, and skies the ball towards deep square-leg, where Pandya latches on with a safe pair of hands. SA 38/2

Hendricks c Pandya b Thakur 26(17)

FOUR! Not the best of shots from Hendricks, who gets a thick outside edge off a slower ball from Thakur, and this one flies over short third man! SA 37/1

FOUR!  Duminy slaps the ball away towards the wide long-on boundary! Confident start for the Proteas skipper!  SA 28/1

Change of ends for Shardul Thakur, as he is brought back from the Pavilion End.

After 4 overs,South Africa 24/1 ( Reeza Hendricks 22 , JP Duminy (C) 0)

Unadkat is introduced into the attack in the fourth over, and is welcomed with boundaries off the first two deliveries. Smuts tries to boost his scoring rate with an ambitious lofted drive, with the ball landing well short of mid-on after a mishit. Gets a leading edge off the next ball, with the ball lobbing over to short cover where Raina holds on to the chance. Nine off the over.

OUT! Smuts is surprised by extra-bounce while advancing down the track, and gets a leading edge that lobs the ball over to short cover, where Raina takes a good, running catch! SA 24/1

Smuts c Raina b Unadkat 2(9)

FOUR! Smacked away through extra-cover by Hendricks, and this isn’t the best of starts for Unadkat! SA 23/0

FOUR! Hendricks is looking sharp today, appearing to have carried his form over from the previous game. Welcomes Unadkat into the attack by slashing the ball towards third man! SA 19/0

India make the first bowling change — bring Unadkat in from the Hennops River End in place of Thakur.

After 3 overs,South Africa 15/0 ( Reeza Hendricks 13 , JJ Smuts 2)

SA finally get going in their third over, as Hendricks decides to attack Bhuvneshwar to collect a couple of boundaries, moving to double-figures. 11 off the over, with three singles coming off it aside from the two boundaries.

FOUR! Lofted over the mid-on fielder by Hendricks! Collects his second boundary! SA 14/0

FOUR! Hendricks pushes for the boundary before the run-rate starts touching worrying levels, slashing this one behind square. Thakur gives the ball a chase running in from third man, and is unable to prevent the boundary. SA 8/0

After 2 overs,South Africa 4/0 ( Reeza Hendricks 3 , JJ Smuts 1)

Thakur bowls from the other end. Hendricks pats the ball wide of the keeper, and sets off for his second run. Smuts gets off the mark with a single off the third delivery. Tight over from Thakur, with three coming off it. SA off to a sedate start in their reply.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar became the first Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in all the formats of international cricket by picking up a five-for in the first T20I match.

Shardul Thakur bowls the second over from the Hennops River End.

The highest target successfully chased by South Africa in T20Is is 206 which they chased against Windies at Johannesburg in 2007.

After 1 over,South Africa 1/0 ( Reeza Hendricks 1 , JJ Smuts 0)

Bhuvneshwar starts off for the Indian attack at the beginning of the South African innings. It takes Hendricks five deliveries before he gets the first run on the board for SA, collecting a single. Smuts dabs the ball towards point for a dot off the last delivery. One off the over.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar prepares himself to bowl the first over, with Jon-Jon Smuts and Reeza Hendricks opening the innings for South Africa once again. Let’s see if the Proteas put up a fight better than the one at Johannesburg, and manage to level the series or not.

Highest 5th wicket stands for India in T20Is:

102* – Yuvraj Singh/ MS Dhoni v Australia, Rajkot, 2013

98* – MANISH PANDEY – MS DHONI*

85 – Rohit Sharma – MS Dhoni, Durban, 2007

This is just the second fifty of MS Dhoni’s T20I career. MS Dhoni’s fifty from 27 balls today – the joint fastest by an Indian batsman against South Africa in T20Is. Shikhar Dhawan scored a fifty in 27 balls in the last T20I.

50 off 27 balls for Dhoni… whattay class… India have exceeded 170 and finished with 188… South Africa on the backfoot all over again.

After 20 overs,India 188/4 ( Manish Pandey 79 , MS Dhoni (W) 52)

Pandey collects a single at the start of the over. Dhoni then, goes berserk, smashing a six and two fours off the next three deliveries. Collects a double off the penultimate delivery, coming back for a second run to bring up his second T20I fifty in just 27 deliveries! Whips the ball towards the wide long-on boundary for a single off the last ball. 18 off the over, with the fifth-wicket stand remaining unbroken at 98 as India finish on a strong total of 188/4!

FIFTY for MS Dhoni — only his second in T20Is! Gets to the milestone with a slog towards wide mid-off, and comes back for a second run! Takes just 27 deliveries to get to the milestone! IND 187/4

FOUR MORE! Dhoni gets a thick inside-edge that runs between short fine and backward square-leg! IND 185/4

FOUR! Smashes this one towards the leg side, finding the vacant square-leg fence! IND 181/4

SIX! Flattest of sixes from Dhoni’s willow, as this one’s slashed over the cover fence! IND 177/4

Paterson to bowl the final over of the innings.

After 19 overs,India 170/4 ( Manish Pandey 78 , MS Dhoni (W) 35)

Morris misses a yorker off the second delivery, and Dhoni is only happy to smack a low full toss towards the on-side boundary for a four. Morris keeps it tight for the next two deliveries, giving away only singles. Dhoni pulls the ball towards the midwicket fence off the penultimate delivery, with the ball bursting through Dala’s palms before landing beyond the rope for a six. Unfortunately for the fielder, that will count as a drop. 13 off Morris’ final over, as he signs off with 0/42 — with his first over being a maiden.

Crowd chants Dhoni Dhoni… he obliges with a huge pull… Dala messes up a catch to further oblige the crowd and it goes for six… It’s all happening here…

Manish Pandey now holds the record of scoring most runs in a T20I innings among Indians in South Africa going past Gambhir’s 75 runs (v Pakistan at Johannesburg in 2007)

SIX! Pulled away towards the midwicket fence by Dhoni, and this one passes through the hands of Dala near the boundary, and beyond the rope for a six! IND 170/4

FOUR! This one crashes into the fence between square-leg and midwicket, as Dhoni swats a low full toss going down leg! Morris attempted a yorker, and missed it. IND 162/4

Morris to bowl the penultimate over of the innings.

This is Manish Pandey’s highest score in T20Is. His previous highest was 51* against Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS) in 2017.

After 18 overs,India 157/4 ( Manish Pandey 76 , MS Dhoni (W) 24)

Pandey hooks a short ball from Dala towards the long-leg fence., coming back for a second run. Pandey slices the ball towards the square boundary on the off side off the next delivery. Makes it back-to-back fours off the fourth delivery, hooking a short one towards the fine-leg fence. 11 off the over, with Pandey on 76 at the end of the over.

FOUR! Another short ball from Dala, and this one’s hooked away towards the fine-leg fence! IND 156/4

FOUR! Pandey brings up the 150 for the visitors with a heave towards the point boundary! IND 152/4

Dala brought back for his final over, bowling from the Hennops River End.

After 17 overs,India 146/4 ( Manish Pandey 65 , MS Dhoni (W) 24)

Five runs collected off the first ball, with Morris needlessly throwing towards the non-striker’s end that results in four overthrows. Four runs collected off the next delivery, this one coming off a thick outside edge off Dhoni’s bat. A single collected off each of the remaining deliveries of the over, with 13 coming off it.

50-partnership for Dhoni and Pandey… driving this Indian innings forward. They have breached the par-score here and now need to get some bonus runs on. 170 should still be on.

The average score batting first at SuperSport Park, Centurion is 170.50. India are well on their way to post more than that.

FOUR! Thick outside edge off Dhoni’s bat, and this one runs away to the third man fence! IND 142/4

Dane Paterson brought back in the 17th over.

After 16 overs,India 133/4 ( Manish Pandey 58 , MS Dhoni (W) 18)

Morris returns to the attack in the 16th over, with Pandey smacking the ball towards the midwicket fence for his third six off the first delivery. Much better discipline from Morris in the remainder of the over, giving away just three singles off it. Nine off the over, with four remaining in the Indian innings.

SIX! Stand-and-deliver from Pandey, as he slogs it into the grass bank beyond the midwicket fence, where had already hit twice before this shot! IND 130/4

Chris Morris brought back into the attack from the Hennops River End.

After 15 overs,India 124/4 ( Manish Pandey 50 , MS Dhoni (W) 17)

Eight off the 15th over, as Phehlukwayo returns to the attack for his second over. Gives away eight off it, none of which are collected off boundaries. Pandey collects a single off the last delivery to bring up his second T20I half-century.

FIFTY for Manish Pandey — his second in T20Is! Takes 33 deliveries to get to the milestone!

Phehlukwayo returns to the attack in the 15th over, with Duminy rotating a plenty of bowlers around now.

Most sixes by wicket-keepers in T20Is:

68 – Mohammad Shahzad

58 – Brendon McCullum 

44 – MS DHONI*

43 – Jos Buttler

After 14 overs,India 116/4 ( Manish Pandey 48 , MS Dhoni (W) 11)

Pandey advances down the track, and lofts the ball down the ground towards long-on, where the ball lands perilously close to the fielder. Dhoni shuffles down the track off the next ball, and lofts it over the bowler’s head for a straight six. Collects a single off the next ball. Pandey smacks the ball down the ground off the penultimate delivery, but only gets a single. 10 off the over.

Dhoni gets into the act with a six off Smuts… trying hard not to say ‘winding back the clock’… but a good innings here would shut up a lot of his critics.

SIX! Dhoni finally expresses himself, moving down the track and smashing it straight down the ground for a straight six! IND 113/4

After 13 overs,India 106/4 ( Manish Pandey 46 , MS Dhoni (W) 3)

Pandey smacks back-to-back boundaries off the first two deliveries, before collecting a single to move to 46. Dhoni gets surprised by the extra bounce off the last ball, lobbing the ball up in the air, though it is well short of Dala. Nine off the over.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Pandey, and he is starting to ruin Dala’s excellent figures! Gets a thick outside edges that flies towards third man! IND 105/4

FOUR! Smacked away towards the midwicket boundary by Pandey off Dala, bringing up the 100 for India! IND 101/4

Dala brought back for his third over, bowling from the Pavilion End.

The last time Manish Pandey batted at Centurion in T20s, he smashed a century while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Deccan Chargers.

After 12 overs,India 97/4 ( Manish Pandey 37 , MS Dhoni (W) 3)

Smuts gets introduced into the attack in the 12th over, and keeps it relatively quiet, conceding five off it, including a double. India’s run-rate is currently a shade above eight.

And after Pandey’s resurgence… Raina’s wicket pegs India back again. 92/4 after 11 overs… Dhoni walks in to bat. There is a lot to do here.

JJ Smuts, left-arm spinner, introduced into the attack from the Hennops River End.

After 11 overs,India 92/4 ( Manish Pandey 33 , MS Dhoni (W) 2)

Phehlukwayo brought into the attack for the first time in the innings, and he gets lofted off an inside-out shot by Raina off the third delivery. Phehlukwayo, though, hits back off the next ball, trapping the southpaw leg-before to end the 45-run fourth-wicket stand. Dhoni walks out at No 6, and gets off the mark with a thick inside-edge that thankfully doesn’t disturb the stumps. Seven off the over.

OUT! Phehlukwayo snaps the building momentum by trapping Raina leg-before! The bowler appeals vociferously, and the umpire raises his finger after a pause. Raina consults Pandey, and decides to walk off, though replays show the ball might have been travelling down off. IND 90/4

Raina lbw Phehlukwayo 30(24)

Manish Pandey in his element… just as run-rate was starting to lag…19 off the over… more a natural setting for Pandey this. Middle overs, wickets in hands, he can take his time and build a partnership…

FOUR! Raina makes room for himself, and carves the ball over mid-off to collect his fifth boundary! IND 90/3

Andile Phehlukwayo brought into the attack for the first time in this innings, bowling from the Pavilion End.

After 10 overs,India 85/3 ( Suresh Raina 26 , Manish Pandey 32)

Shamsi bowls his second over, and Pandey starts off with a slog towards the square-leg fence after getting down on one knee. Gets a double off the next delivery. Smacks back-to-back sixes off the fourth and fifth deliveries, smashing it into the grass bank beyond the midwicket fence on both occasions. 19 off the over, exactly the kind of over that India were looking for to bring themselves back in the game after a couple of big wickets.

SIX! Think of this as a replay of the previous delivery, as Pandey once again clears the midwicket fence with a slog. IND 84/3

SIX! Pandey gets down on one knee once again, and goes even bigger on this occasion, as the ball lands amidst the spectators in the grass bank beyond the midwicket fence! IND 78/3

FOUR! Pandey gets down on one knee, and slogs a full delivery from Shamsi towards the square-leg fence! IND 70/3

After 9 overs,India 66/3 ( Suresh Raina 26 , Manish Pandey 13)

Paterson returns to the attack. Pandey sets off for a risky single after guiding the ball towards mid-off, and would’ve run out by a mile had Miller, the fielder involved, got his throw accurate. Pandey opens the face of his bat off the fifth delivery, and runs the ball towards the third man fence. Eight off the including, with four singles coming off it apart from the boundary.

FOUR! A boundary after ages for the Indians, and a much welcome one indeed! Pandey opens the face of his bat, and runs the ball through the vacant slips down to the third man fence! IND 65/3

Paterson brought back into the attack, this time from the Pavilion End.

After 8 overs,India 58/3 ( Suresh Raina 24 , Manish Pandey 7)

Shamsi into the attack now. Pandey swings his bat towards the square-leg fence off the second delivery, not quite getting the kind of connection that he was looking for, and contending himself to a double instead. Five off the over, with two singles and a leg bye coming off it aside from the double.

Another bowling change. Duminy brings Shamsi into the attack from the Hennops River End, holding Dala back for now.

After 7 overs,India 53/3 ( Suresh Raina 23 , Manish Pandey 4)

Duminy bowls his second over, and concedes eight off it, with Raina and Pandey choosing not to take any risks at this stage, instead collecting runs in ones and twos. South Africa, meanwhile, sense the opportunity of restricting India to a manageable total right now.

Huge wicket for Dala. Virat gone for a first low score in this limited overs’ leg. Extra bounce just getting tall on him. Game on!

1 by Virat Kohli today is his lowest score in an innings across format on this South African tour.

After 6 overs,India 45/3 ( Suresh Raina 20 , Manish Pandey 0)

Dala is reintroduced for the final powerplay over from the Hennops River End, and walks away with a wicket maiden — getting the prized wicket of Kohli in the process! The Proteas are right back in the game, with Raina and Manish Pandey finding themselves in a position of bother right now. India collect 45 from their first six overs, although the loss of three wickets will wory them.

OUT! Dala gets Kohli early! The Proteas are right back in the game already! Surprises the Indian captain with extra bounce, and the latter gloves it to Klaasen! IND 45/3

Kohli c Klaasen b Dala 1(5)

Dala brought back from the Hennops River End for the final powerplay over.

Virat Kohli needs to score 18 runs to become the third batsman with 2000-plus runs in T20Is.

After 5 overs,India 45/2 ( Suresh Raina 20 , Virat Kohli (C) 1)

Duminy bowls the fourth over of the innings, and his first two deliveries couldn’t be any more contrasting. While he gets smashed for a four off a half-tracker at the start of the over, he gets Dhawan caught at mid-on off a low full-toss off the next, bringing his Indian counterpart Kohli out at the crease. Kohli gets off the mark with a single off the second delivery that he faces. Five runs and a wicket off the over, with Duminy being the pick of the South African bowlers as the fifth over.

Duminy drops short. Smacked for four. Full toss next ball, Dhawan out caught.  What is even happening here… Probably the worst two-ball play on this tour.

OUT! No big score for Dhawan, as Duminy gets rid of him! The southpaw advances to a low full-toss, and smacks the ball straight down Behardien’s throat at mid-on. IND 44/2

Dhawan c Behardien b Duminy 24(14)

FOUR! Dhawan rocks back, and smacks the ball towards the midwicket fence off Duminy’s first ball! IND 44/1

Another change of bowling, this time JP Duminy introducing himself in place of Morris.

After 4 overs,India 40/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 20 , Suresh Raina 20)

Paterson gets introduced into the attack in the fourth over of the innings, replacing Dala, and concedes a boundary off his second delivery, making room for himself and cutting it towards the boundary behind square. Guides the ball off the next delivery towards Behardien at mid-off, where the latter seems to have copped a blow on his wrists while collecting the ball. Raina smacks the ball for back-to-back boundaries off the last two deliveries. 12 off the over.

FOUR! Fuller delivery from Paterson, and Raina tickles this one down towards fine-leg. IND 40/1

FOUR! Fuller delivery from Paterson, and Raina tickles this one down towards fine-leg. IND 40/1

FOUR! Superb flick of the wrists from Raina, as he targets the midwicket fence on this occasion! IND 36/1

Most ducks for India in T20Is:

4 – ROHIT SHARMA* 

3 – Ashish Nehra, Yusuf Pathan

Morris bowling one over too many at the start? Dhawan with two well-timed pulls, four and six, and India are away fine again. As I type this, another boundary… 14 off 3 balls… Make it 20… 2 sixes and 2 fours… all of short stuff… nonsense bowling from South Africa again. And this is fodder for an in-form Dhawan who loves to cut and pull.

FOUR! Raina makes room for himself, and cuts the ball behind square, where the ball flies away to the boundary, beating a diving fielder in the process. IND 32/1

Change of bowling. Dane Paterson replaces Junior Dala from the Hennops River End.

After 3 overs,India 28/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 20 , Suresh Raina 8)

Morris bowls what turns out to be an over that couldn’t be any different from his first, as he concedes 20 off it, including two sixes and as many fours. Dhawan was struggling in the first over, and decides to make his bat talk on this occasion. Looks like Dhawan’s carried his form over from Jo’burg.

SIX! Slower bouncere from Morris, and this time well outside off! Nice swing of the bat from Dhawan, as he hooks the ball over the long-leg fence. Second six of the over. IND 28/1

FOUR! Morris is having an over that is the polar opposite of the previous one. Back-of-length and outside off, Dhawan cuts this one away to the point fence. IND 22/1

SIX! Morris bangs this one short, and Dhawan responds with a pull towards the boundary behind square! IND 18/1

FOUR! Dhawan finally gets off the mark, getting the kind of connection that he had been looking for inn the first over. Pulls this one towards the midwicket fence. IND 12/1

After 2 overs,India 8/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 0 , Suresh Raina 8)

Dala bowls from the other end, and gets South Africa their first breakthrough by trapping Rohit leg-before for a golden duck. Raina once again walks out at 3, and gets the first runs on the board for India with a drive that fetches him a couple of runs. The southpaw gets his first boundary the very next ball, getting a thick edge that flies wide of the second slip fielder. Excellent straight drive off Raina’s bat off the last delivery, with the batsman getting a couple of runs off it. Eight runs and a wicket off the over.

FOUR! Raina gets a bottom-edge that flies wide of the second slip fielder, and away to the third man fence! IND 6/1

Indian openers to bag a golden duck in T20Is:

Murali Vijay v South Africa, Gros Islet, 2010

Ajinkya Rahane v Pakistan, Dhaka, 2016

Lokesh Rahul v Zimbabwe, Harare, 2016

ROHIT SHARMA*

Suresh Raina in again at No 3… another LBW shout first ball and Dala has sent back Rohit Sharma… lively start from South Africa this.

OUT! South Africa get their first breakthrough in just the second over! Dala gets the ball to angle into Rohit’s pads, and traps him in front of middle and leg. Rohit decides against reviewing it, and walks away for a golden duck. IND 0/1

Rohit lbw Dala 0(1)

Dala bowls from the Hennops River End.

After 1 overs,India 0/0 ( Shikhar Dhawan 0 , Rohit Sharma 0)

Morris successfully appeals for an lbw first ball after the all-rounder gets a generous amount of swing first up. Dhawan goes upstairs straightaway, and is going nowhere after UltraEdge shows a spike with the ball travelling close to the inside-edge of the bat. More inside-edges follow in the next two deliveries, with Dhawan struggling to connect. Terrific first over from Morris, as he walks away with a maiden — something that bowlers highly cherish in this format.

Action on the very first ball… Dhawan opts for DRS after being given out LBW and is saved by the edge. Morris though making things happen… Interesting change.

Rohit Sharma’s batting average of 81.00 in South Africa in T20Is is the second highest for any batsman with a cut-off of 150 runs scored in South Africa in T20Is.

The players are out at the SuperSport Park, with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan opening for the Indians as usual. For a change, it is Chris Morris who will be bowling the first over of the day, doing so from the Pavilion End.

Teams batting first at SuperSport Park, Centurion have won five out of six T20Is till date.

Same pitch as the sixth ODI. Interesting that India still not playing the second spinner. Looks a good rolled wicket, should be good for batsmen again but will it be as good as Wanderers on Sunday? Not sure. 180 will still be par. 179 is average score batting here first. Under lights though it’s 142.

Pitch report: This pitch hasn’t got that sheen. With overcast conditions, it may swing. There is a bit of grass cover but it is all brown and the ball should come onto the bat. Think it is a good T20 wicket, will carry a bit early on but it will flatten out after that, says Shaun Pollock at the inspection.

South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl… Obvious call given the rain around. India would have liked to bowl first too. One change for India… Abdominal strain for Bumrah and Shardul Thakur replaces him. No second spinner again. South Africa are unchanged.

“We would have liked to bowl first with the weather around,” says India captain Virat Kohli. 

One forced change: Bumrah isn’t exactly in the best of health, and Thakur replaces him.

IND XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli (c), Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal.

“Will be a pretty even surface, so we think we can get a couple of early wickets,” says SA skipper JP Duminy,  who adds that his team is treating this game as well as the third T20I at Cape Town as a semi-final and a final respectively. 

South Africa are playing the same team as the first T20I.

SA XI: Jon-Jon Smuts, Reeza Hendricks, JP Duminy (c), David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Dane Paterson, Junior Dala, Tabraiz Shamsi

TOSS: South Africa win the toss, and captain JP Duminy opts to field first again.

But hellos from a dry Supersport Park… The covers are off here. Both teams out warming up… we are on schedule for the toss and match is expected to start on time as well. Looks like India will be unchanged. 

Enroute to Centurion and there’s a lot of rain expected tonight…. 

Good news!

South Africans in a huddle on one side and the Indians knocking a football around. Music is picking up. All on course it would seem #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/UPsmuNKZXZ

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) February 21, 2018

An hour to go for the first ball and it’s looking okay 🤞#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/XwpGV0F2br

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) February 21, 2018

Rohit Sankar talks about the state of South African fielding, which seemed to have hit an all-time low in the 1st T20I at Johannesburg. Click on the link below to read the full article.

India vs South Africa: Once the gold standard for fielding, Proteas’ aura in the field quickly diminishing- Firstcricket News, Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Chetan Narula bats in favour of Suresh Raina, who made his comeback in Indian jersey after more than a year after getting picked for the 1st T20I. Read the full piece by clicking on the link below.

India vs South Africa: Suresh Raina is visitors’ best bet at No 3 in T20Is, Johannesburg knock shouldn’t be judged harshly- Firstcricket News, Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

India vs South Africa: Proteas’ attack needs to be more proactive, says pacer Junior Dala ahead of 2nd T20I- Firstcricket News, Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Read our preview of the second T20I between India and South Africa at Centurion by clicking on the link below.

India vs South Africa: Virat Kohli has rare record in sight as Men in Blue look to wrap up T20I series in Centurion- Firstcricket News, Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s coverage of the 2nd T20I between India and South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

India are 1-0 up in the three-match series at the moment, and judging by the momentum that they have gained with their recent victories, as well as the relative inexperience in the South Africa ranks, it is safe to say that Virat Kohli and company are favourites going into this clash.