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New Delhi: Quinton de Kock’s vintage form turned out to be too much for India as South Africa won the second T20I in Mullanpur on Thursday with a 51-run margin to square the five-match series 1-1.
India had won the series opener in Cuttack at a canter but the tourists hit back in the second game with veteran de kock showing them the way.
The 32-year-old bludgeoned to a 46-ball 90 on way South Africa’s 213/4 once India won the toss and opted to field.
But none of the Indian batters could produce the fireworks ala de Kock needed to chase down the huge target, managing to be bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs.
Against the swinging new ball, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav (5) and his deputy Shubman Gill’s (0) lean phase in 20-over cricket continued.
Top-ranked Abhishek Sharma perished cheaply too as India were reduced to 32/3 inside four overs, and despite Tilka Verma’s battling 62 off 34 balls, were never quite in contention during the chase.
Ottneil Baartman (4/24) was South Africa's most impressive bowler.
Earlier, de Kock’s smooth 90-run knock off 46 deliveries boosted South Africa’s healthy 213 for four.
The left hander is a sight when in the mood and he was at his fluent best, lifting Indian bowlers for six all over the ground after South Africa were sent to bat.
Majority of his seven over-boundaries was over the deep square leg region, as he struck five fours too in a blistering knock.
Not too long ago, de Kock wasn’t sure of his international career after retiring from ODIs. But once he regained his focus to continue, he reversed his retirement from 50-over format.
In T20Is too, he remains as potent as ever as India bore the brunt with days before the Indian Premier League mini auction.
Franchises could take note of his punitive innings and might engage in a bidding war for the clean hitter.
De Kock was severe on Arshdeep Singh, who bowled seven wides in a 13-ball over, the lengthiest by an Indian and joint longest in T20Is, lofting him for six off before a pull over deep mid-wicket.
Jasprit Bumrah also went for runs in his second over as Varun Chakaravarthy (29) made inroads.
De Kock looked set for his second T20I century but was run out due to a sharp attempt from keeper Jitesh Sharma.
After de Kock's dismissal, Donavan Ferreria (30 not off 16) and David Miller (20 not out off 12) scored briskly in the death overs as Bumrah conceded 18 runs in the 20th over.
South Africa scored 123 runs in their last 10 overs.
