With a six-wicket loss to South Africa in the second T20I in Cuttack, India conceded the three-match series to the visitors 0-2. A dismal batting performance by the hosts after being asked to bat tipped the balance in the Faf du Plessis-led side’s favour. SA’s T20I captain marshaled his troops well to bundle India out for 92 at the Barabati Stadium. Excellent fielding and a disciplined bowling performance by the opponents were the undoing of the MS Dhoni-led team, who were skittled out in 17.2 overs in the must win match.
Defending the total, Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the Indian bowlers. He claimed the first three wickets with judicious use of variations to leave the hosts on 49 for three. However, JP Duminy (30*) ensured that SA stayed on course and in partnerships with Farhaan Behardien and David Miller took the team to the target once again.
Earlier, while Shikhar Dhawan was trapped lbw by Chris Morris, two run outs at the top of the order that followed his departure had pushed India on the back-foot by the eighth over. du Plessis bowled four bowlers upfront. While Imran Tahir opened the bowling with Kyle Abott, Kagiso Rabada tested the batsmen. Morris gave the visitors their first breakthrough after conceding couple of boundaries.
With the hosts reeling on 45 for four in the ninth over, Dhoni joined Suresh Raina in the middle in an effort to revive the innings. Abott, who was back in the attack after bowling the first over, was struck by the left-hand bat to the fence releasing some of the pressure that was building on India. He then drove Tahir in the next. However, with the partnership on 22, the captain nicked Albie Morkel behind the stumps and with de Villers taking the catch close to the ground, Dhoni returned for five.
In the next over, Raina scooped a Tahir delivery straight into the hands of Hashim Amla at cover. Off the next ball, the leg-spinner sent Harbhajan Singh’s bails flying with a googly. Coming to the crease at 69 for seven, Ashwin defended the hat-trick and guided the next to the boundary.
Defending the low total, Dhoni opened the bowling with Bhuvneshwar and Ashwin. While medium-pacer was slammed to the fence by de Villiers, the bowler also asked question with his swing. The off-spinner then had Amla caught at leg-slip in the next.
Both off-spinners bowled a couple of tight overs, but du Plessis took them on in their next. However, after hitting Ashwin for a four and six, he departed attempting another big hit straight over the bowler’s head. Mohit took a good running catch to give India a vital wicket. In his next over, the off-spinner varied his pace to knock-off de Villiers’ bails and finished with three wickets.
Duminy and Behardien, who had taken the team to the finish line in the first match then played themselves in as they carried the innings forward. With match tipped in SA’s favour play was stopped due to poor behaviour from the crowd.
The visitors were ahead on D/L par score when the game was stopped but no overs needed to be reduced. With 23 required of 42 balls play was resumed after miscreants were taken off the stadium. Patel the accounted for Behardien with the arm-ball. Miller then partnered Duminy in taking the team to target with 17 balls to spare.
Man of the Match: Albie Morkel for claiming three for 12 to put SA in command.
