That was a special knock
form Heinrich Klaasen to make it 2-0 for South Africa. India started off with their defense confidently with Bhuvneshwar Kumar picking three wickets in the power play. All of Reeza Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, and Rassie van der Dussen fell for single digits as SA slipped to 29 for 3 in the sixth over. But Bavuma and Klaasen steadied the ship. On a tough wicket, they held their with Klaasen, in particular, looking solid. He struck 81 from just 46 balls, his innings laced with seven fours and five sixes. Bavuma too played his part, while David Miller provided the finishing touches with 20 not out as South Africa won with 10 balls to spare. Only Bhuvneshwar shone for the hosts, his 4 for 13 ending in defeat. The spinners, in particular, were disappointing. Chahal and Axar went for 68 off their five overs combined.
David Miller:
A great win, it was a bit of a tricky wicket. We were in trouble. They bowled well upfront. Klassen’s knock was phenomenal. It was playing your game on the track, you can’t worry about keeping your wicket. [On this surface] you are never quite sure whether you have to go front or back. It was all about playing straight and not thinking too much about the wicket. It was a bit up and down. It was the coach and captain’s decision for me to go at 6. They held me back for the final 10 but Klaasen’s was a top knock. It is very tough to win in India, but we still have a lot of hard work still to do. We still want to keep going strength to strength. We are on the right track but a lot still to do.
Rishabh Pant first up:
I think batting, we were 10-15 runs short. Bhuvi and all other fast bowlers though bowled very well. We were short in the second half and things did not go our way. The bowlers started really well, but after 10-11 overs, we did not bowl well and that’s where the game changed. We thought we were going to do similar things (as the South African bowlers). The spinners have to come better into the game. Last three matches, we will look to win.
Temba Bavuma:
It was a tricky chase. They got the ball to talk with the new ball, it was tricky. I was just trying to hold in and allowed Klassen to come and do what he does best. We could have been clinical in the end but the result is what matters. []On his dismissal] We wanted someone to take it deep. It was an opportunity for me to be ruthless, but in the next game there is another opportunity and there is the learning I can take. [On the talk at the halfway mark] We knew it was not going to be an easy chase but we were quite confident, you don’t lose momentum in just two overs. We knew we have to be clinical and execute our plans. [On Miller batting at No.6] David, we can use him at five or six. Klaasen can do a lot of damage with a couple of balls. He adds a lot of value to our batting. It is about whatever your role is.
Heinrich Klassen:
Quinny (Quinton de Kock) came up to me two days back in the team bus and said he injured his wrists. I thought he is a strong character and he will be fine. But yesterday again, he said his hand is not fine. Yesterday morning, we came to training and the coach told me I might play. [On getting an idea of the surface while keeping] It always gives an indication but doesn’t make it easier. I am glad the knock came against India. I hope it extends my career longer I haven’t performed well in the last couple of years. I am very happy and confident to be here.
India vs South Africa Highlights today, Sunday 12-6-2022. 2nd T20I (N), South Africa tour of India from Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.
Toss: South Africa chose to field.
“Not too sure how the wicket is going to play, but going by the last game where the wicket became a lot better as the game went on, we prefer to chase,” Bavuma says. Two changes for South Africa. Quinton de Kock has a hand injury, and Tristan Stubbs is also out. Reeza Hendricks and Heinrich Klaasen are in.
India are unchanged. “We didn’t do anything wrong in the last match,” Pant says. “We just need to improve the execution.”
India team: Kishan, Gaikwad, Iyer, Pant (capt&wk), Hardik, Karthik, Axar, 8 Harshal, Bhuvneshwar, Chahal, Avesh.
South Africa team: Hendricks, Bavuma (capt), Dussen, Miller, Klaasen (wk), Pretorius, Parnell, Rabada, Maharaj, Nortje, Shamsi.
Form guide
(last five completed matches, most recent first)
India: LWWWW
South Africa: WWWWW
Head to Head In ODI’s: 16
IND Won: 9
SA Won: 7
Match Timings: 13:30 GMT | 19:00 Local
Umpires – Anil Chaudhary, KN Ananthapadmanabhan
TV Umpires – Jayaraman Madanagopal
Match Referee – Javagal Srinath
Reserve Umpire – Virender Sharma
Match number – T20I no. 1569
