South Africa unstoppable in start-stop match against India

AB de Villers runs Virat Kohli out during the second T20I. India lost both Virat and Rohit Sharma to run outs. (Source: Reuters)

India lost the match inside 18 overs when they were all out for 92, after being asked to bat first on a pitch that made both captains a little unsure of what to expect. When the formalities were completed, the Indians left the field with boos ringing and bottles flying. The fans should have applauded the Proteas instead, for the visitors played very good cricket and richly deserved their unassailable 2-0 lead in this three-match T20 international series. After chasing down 200 at Dharamsala, they won by six wickets with 17 balls to spare here in Cuttack.

This was India’s second lowest total in T20 internationals. Two run outs had pegged them back early in their innings. Virat Kohli played the first ball he faced towards deep mid-wicket and decided to run for a second as an afterthought. Like all fast bowlers, Chris Morris had a strong arm and AB de Villiers whipped the bails in a flash. Rohit Sharma was running to the danger end and Kohli should have been smarter. He walked off cursing himself.

Poor judgment

Rohit’s run out was down to poor judgment. He ran for a sharp single despite playing an Albie Morkel delivery off the back foot. David Miller had a direct hit at the bowler’s end from cover; terrific fielding. Rohit had been on the charge right from the start in the first game. Here, on a surface that had plenty of cracks and offered variable bounce, he was biding his time. His departure was a big blow for India and they never recovered.

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Ambati Rayudu, promoted at No.5, lasted just two balls. Kagiso Rabada cleaned him up with a full-toss. Someone, who is keeping Ajinkya Rahane out of the playing XI since the ODIs in Bangladesh, played an atrocious shot under the circumstances. MS Dhoni must have a rethink.

The skipper, too, got out to a poor shot. Morkel pitched wide outside the off stump and Dhoni went for a big slash. AB took the thick edge low down.

Staring down the barrel

Suresh Raina, however, was batting well. He gorgeously drove Kyle Abbott to the deep cover fence and then dispatched him beyond point. He took another four off Imran Tahir but the leg-spinner responded by inducing Raina into a drive as the ball was held back a little. A simple catch went to Hashim Amla at cover. Tahir accounted for Harbhajan Singh with a googly in the next ball and India were staring down the barrel. Harbhajan replaced Sreenath Aravind because India decided to go with three spinners. South Africa, on the other hand, stuck to their strength and played four fast bowlers, who shared six wickets between them. Rabada was the best of the lot, hitting 150 kph at times and extracting steep bounce.

Morkel, returning to the fold after a year-and-a-half, made vital breakthroughs in the middle overs and then came back to breach Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s defence at the death. He returned with three for 12 in four overs.

Ashwin, lone fighter

A victory target of 93 in 20 overs was an easy task. But South Africa still had to get those runs. India needed wickets upfront but Kumar presented width to AB in the first over and two fours were conceded. Dhoni had to bring in Ravi Ashwin from the other end, his only wicket-taking option. And the off-spinner dismissed Amla in his first over.
Faf du Plessis sensed the danger and decided to take on India’s No.1 bowler. He hits a four and a six, but Ashwin deceived him with flight and Mohit Sharma took an excellent catch, running backwards from mid-off. AB was done in with a beauty as Ashwin bowled a straight one to hit the top of off stump. South Africa were 49 for three, but unfortunately from India’s point of view, it was Ashwin’s last over.

Only threat after that came from the stands when crowds went berserk. Play was stopped twice. But Saffers retained their composure, although they lost Farhaan Behardien after the second stoppage. But by then the game had been done and dusted with.