New Delhi: Apart from a snake in the field and the ‘Maharaj’ of South Africa, nothing could slow down the Indian batsmen during the second T20 International in Guwahati on Sunday. However, South African players David Miller and Quinton de Kock were also up for the challenge.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl after the spinners were disappointed during the previous match, with an extra fast bowler in the squad. India’s high score of 237 was met with competition from the two most experienced players from the other side – Miller and de Kock. In a match where a total of 458 runs were scored, South Africa lost by only 16 runs. The men in blue ensured the country’s first T20I series win against South Africa at home.
ThePrint looks at some key talking points from another T20I.
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Strong start from Rohit and Rahul and partnership of 96 runs
Tripled their power play score from the previous match in Thiruvananthapuram, the openers posted a mighty 57/0 in the first six overs, giving the Indians the start they needed. KL Rahul, who was criticized for his slow Powerplay innings last time, scored 50 runs in just 24 balls.
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50 for Rahul, 50 for Sky, 49 for Kohli; 50 for Rabada, 50 for Parnell, Ngidi . 49 for
While Virat Kohli was one short of 50, he had the best seat to watch Suryakumar Yadav’s 61 off 22. The Kohli-Yadav partnership was 102 in just 43 balls. Meanwhile, the veteran South African pace attack failed completely, with all the fast bowlers bowling their full quota of 4 overs giving away around 50 runs each.
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South Africa’s ‘Maharaj’ once again the only one to fight with the ball
At a time when Rohit and Rahul were looking invincible, Keshav Maharaj got both the wickets, scoring 10 runs per over. The lone spinner of the South African team bowled four overs in the first 12 overs of the innings. Maharaj conceded only 23 runs in a high scoring innings of 230.
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Miller and de Kock beat struggling South Africa’s batting
The de Kock-Miller partnership of 174 runs was South Africa’s highest and highest ever partnership for a fourth wicket partnership in an international T20I. South Africa got off to a slow start as Bevuma and Rossouw went for back-to-back duck outs, but the star of the show was Miller, who scored 106 off 47 balls. This was Miller’s first 50 plus score in 11 completed T20 Internationals.
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India’s death bowling not tested in Bumrah’s absence
The Indian bowling attack dominated the powerplay, with Arshdeep Singh taking two wickets in his first over, and 3 no-balls in the subsequent overs. But as in the previous match, India’s concerns about their death bowling were not put to the test. Indian bowlers conceded 78 runs in the last 5 overs alone.
While South Africa will focus on the last match to correct their form, there is a lot of positivity in de Kock and Miller’s innings ahead of the big T20 World Cup. Even though the Indian batting was at its best, the bowlers conceded 221 runs.
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