Parnell Hardik web ST

Picture Credit: Twitter

After claiming victory in the 1st T20I, South Africa made an impressive start to the second T20I as well. Temba Bavuma called it right at the toss once again and invited India to bat first. Kagiso Rabada drew first blood in the first over itself as he got Ruturaj Gaikwad caught at point. Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer did hold the fort for a while with the former playing some eye-catching shots. Kishan hit a couple of beautiful sixes to Anrich Nortje but perished to the same aggressive intent as he was blinded by a venomous short ball from the same bowler.

Rishabh Pant could not create much trouble for South Africa as he handed an easy catch to the sweeper cover fielder with a mistimed shot. With the ball getting older, the pacers started using cutters and the duo of Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer were finding it hard to time the ball. Eventually, Pandya succumbed to Wayne Parnell as the left-arm bowler cleaned him up. Parnell then followed it with a special celebration.

After sending Hardik’s leg-stump for a toss, Parnell joined the fingers of his both hands to make a ‘heart’ sign and celebrated the wicket.

Watch the video here:

India manage 148!

With wickets falling at regular intervals and the pitch slowing down, it became difficult for India to score big runs as they could only get to 148/6 in their 20 overs. Dinesh Karthik scored 30* off 21 balls with the help of two boundaries and two sixes. He was ably supported by Harshal Patel in the last three overs as the duo stitched a 36-run partnership in 18 balls. Patel chipped in with 12* off 9 balls to give India something to fight with. Earlier, Shreyas Iyer scored 40 off 35 balls while Ishan Kishan departed after a brisk 34 off 21 balls.