Opener Quinton de Kock smashed a rapid 90 off 46 balls, leading South Africa to a dominant 51-run victory over India in the second T20 international on Thursday, leveling the series.
De Kock’s explosive innings, featuring five fours and seven sixes, propelled South Africa to a formidable 213-4 after opting to bat first near Chandigarh.
Despite Tilak Varma’s brave 62 off 34 balls, India was bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs, allowing the visitors to bounce back after losing the series opener.
This series serves as preparation for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka scheduled for February-March.
Medium-pacer Ottneil Baartman stood out with impressive figures of 4-24.
Left-hander de Kock set the stage for victory, sharing an 83-run partnership for the second wicket with captain Aiden Markram, who scored 29.
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy bowled opener Reezea Hendricks for eight on his first delivery and later dismissed Markram after conceding two sixes to the skipper.
Turning 33 on Wednesday, de Kock appeared in command from the outset, hitting left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh for two sixes in the bowler’s initial overs.
He reached his 17th T20 half-century with a four off Hardik Pandya but fell short of a century, run out by wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma.
Axar Patel dismissed Dewald Brevis for 14, while David Miller struck four boundaries off Jasprit Bumrah in a single 15-run over, remaining unbeaten on 20.
Donovan Ferreira ended with a flourish, scoring an unbeaten 30 and hitting Bumrah for two sixes in the final over.
In response, Shubman Gill was out for a first-ball duck to Lungi Ngidi.
Left-arm pacer Marco Jansen dismissed Abhishek Sharma, caught behind for 17, and also removed skipper Suryakumar Yadav for five, putting India in a tough spot.
Varma and Axar Patel tried to counterattack with a series of boundaries, but Baartman broke through, reducing India to 67-4 within eight overs.
Baartman ended Axar’s innings at 21 off 21 balls, with Hendricks taking a low catch at cover.
Varma continued the resistance, finding support from Pandya and Sharma, but South Africa kept striking at regular intervals.
Lutho Sipamla dismissed Pandya for 20 and Sharma for 27, derailing India’s chase, with Varma being the last wicket to fall off Ngidi.
The third match is set for Sunday in the scenic Himalayan town of Dharamsala.
