XtraTime Web Desk: On the verge of losing another series to a dominant Indian side, JP Duminy led South African cricket team showed a brave performance today as they beat the visitors by 6 wickets to level the three-match T20I series 1-1, at the SuperSport Park in Centurion today. The decider will be played on February 24 at Newlands in Cape Town. Chasing a big total of 188 runs to win, Proteas star wicket-keeper batsman Heinrich Klaasen played a destructive knock of 69 runs in just 30 deliveries to help the hosts to win the game. Home skipper JP Duminy also backed him well as he remained not out on 64 along with Farhaan Behardien (16) to take the side home.
After winning the toss, the hosts sent India to bat first. The Men in Blue didn’t get a good start as their opener Rohit Sharma went back to the pavilion on a golden duck. Another opener and the hero of the last game Shikhar Dhawan (24) got a good start but failed to capitalize on it as he gave an easy catch to Proteas skipper JP Duminy from a delivery of Farhaan Behardien. After making a comeback in the blue jersey in the last game, Suresh Raina played a handy knock of 30 runs from just from 24 deliveries before giving his wicket to Phehlukwayo. Skipper Virat Kohli had an off day today as he could only manage to score 1 run today. At one stage the Men in Blue were on 90 for 4 and South African bowlers were dominating the game.
But a brilliant partnership of 98 runs between former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (52*) and Manish Pandey (79*) helped India to score a respective total of 188 runs on board at the SuperSport Park. Dhoni who didn’t fire that much ahead of the second T20I was in full flow as he hit four boundaries and three gigantic sixes. On the other hand Pandey continued his good form like the last game to remain 79 not out at the end of the innings.
While chasing a big total, the hosts didn’t have a good start as their opener JJ Smuts went back to the pavilion after scoring just two runs. Another opener Reeza Hendricks made a quick fire 27 runs before getting out. After the departure of both the openers it was all Heinrich Klaasen show. In his 69 runs knock he hit three boundaries and seven gigantic sixes to take the game away from India.Ace wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (0/64 and Jaydev Unadkat (2/42) were very expensive.