India captain Suryakumar Yadav praised the Proteas batting unit despite the team’s loss to South Africa, saying that the hosts’ excellent batting in the opening five to six overs of the chase put the game beyond the visitors’ reach. In the second Twenty20 International in a three-game series at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa defeated India by five wickets after chasing down the amended goal of 152 runs in a match that was postponed due to rain on Tuesday. Against India, South Africa won spectacularly to take a 1-0 lead. The majority of South African batsmen got off to quick starts, including Reeza Hendricks, who hammered 49 off 27 balls, as the hosts breezed over the finish line without much difficulty. They were only troubled in the second inning when they lost three wickets in succession, Heinrich Klaasen and Hendricks among them.
“They batted beautifully in the first 5–6 overs and took the game away from us. It was the brand of cricket we were talking about—just go out and express ourselves. It was tough with the wet ball, but we would face similar situations in the future, and it’s a good learning experience for us,” Suryakumar Yadav said during a post-match presentation.
Even though India made some progress in the middle order, South Africa’s batting order was in command from the first ball onwards. However, Andile Phehlukwayo hit the winning six. With Hendricks’ fifty-nine-run innings, Tristan Stubbs’ perfect 14-run cameo, and Gerald Coetzee’s three-trick haul, South Africa defeated India by five wickets using the DLS technique. Suryakumar and Rinku Singh, who batted for India, were the stars of the first inning, smashing 56 and 68 runs, respectively, to lead their side to 180/7. On Thursday, the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg will host the third and final Twenty20 International between South Africa and India.
