South Africa thumped India by six wickets at Centurion to tie the three-match T20I series at 1-1 in style on Wednesday.
In a must-win game for the hosts, the Proteas chased down India’s mammoth target of 189 with an over to spare in the end on the back of some explosive hitting by Heirich Klaasen.
Here, we look at the player ratings on a day where batsmen prospered at the SuperSport Park.
INDIA
SHIKHAR DHAWAN – 6
The Indian opener has been on fire in the limited-overs clashes and he was looking supremely confident once again today before losing his wicket to probably the worst delivery of the match.
ROHIT SHARMA – 4
It was just not meant to be for India’s deputy skipper on Wednesday and Junior Dala produced an unplayable delivery in the very first ball he faced.
SURESH RAINA – 6
The left-hander, like Dhawan, was looking impressive an fluent in his short stay at the crease and he will be kicking himself for not cashing in after racing away to 31 off 24 deliveries.
VIRAT KOHLI – 4
It was a rare failure for the India skipper in what has been an extraordinary tour of South Africa personally. Like Rohit, he too was on the receiving end of an absolute peach of a delivery from Dala at the start of his innings.
A rare failure for the India skipper.
MANISH PANDEY – 9
The middle-order batsman batted like a man possessed after struggling for boundaries in the previous match. He ensured India never lagged behind with their scoring rate and then formed a match-winning partnership with Dhoni on the way to an unbeaten 48-ball 79.
MS DHONI – 9
The former skipper was back to his very best with the bat as he rewound the clock to more explosive times. He smashed a quick-fire fifty in half as many deliveries as he gave the large contingent of Indian fans at Centurion their money’s worth as chants of ‘Dhoni, Dhoni’ rang around the stadium.
HARDIK PANDYA – 7
The all-rounder wasn’t required in the batting department and he more than held his own with the ball despite the result. He returned with figures of 1-31 off his quota of overs, a remarkable job in the context of the game.
BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR – 7
Like Pandya, Bhuvneshwar was excellent on his part and there can be no complaints over his bowling as he went for only run-a-ball in the three overs he threw down.
YUZVENDRA CHAHAL – 2
A night to forget for India’s leg-spinner who has had a wonderful limited-overs series otherwise. He just couldn’t cope with the onslaught delivered by Klaasen and went for a staggering 64 runs in his four overs while going wicket-less.
4-0-64-0. Yuzvendra Chahal Beats Joginder Sharma (57) To Become Most Expensive Bowler For India In T20I. 🙃😬🙈#SAvIND #INDvsSA #INDvSA #SAvsIND #Chahal
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) February 21, 2018
SHARDUL THAKUR – 6
Thakur too was not too shabby and delivered an economical spell after replacing the injured Jasprit Bumrah. He finished with the same figures as Pandya. It was Chahal’s spell where India lost the game.
SOUTH AFRICA
REEZA HENDRICKS – 6.5
The half-centurion from Wanderers stared in the same fashion as he scored some quick-fire runs at the top but he was unable to capitalise on his start this time around.
JON-JON SMUTS – 3
Hendrick’s opening partner simply could not come to terms with the pace of the pitch. As the dot balls piled up, so did the pressure and he was ultimately deceived by a slower delivery in the search of quick runs.
JP DUMINY – 9
The South Africa skipper played the perfect foil to Klaasen’s uber-aggressive innings, playing a steady and watchful hand as he kept the scoreboard ticking over.He took up the responsibility to see his side home and duly delivered, registering an assured fifty in the process.
HEINRICH KLAASEN – 10
The indisputable match-winner and how! He completely took apart the Indian bowling, being particularly punishing on Chahal whom he smashed for four sixes. A maiden T20I fifty was just reward for the wicket-keeper batsman who is making a mockery of Quinton de Kock’s absence through injury.
Brute power, ice cool temperament, hit good balls for sixes, seems to play spin well, Heinrich Klaasen is a real find for SA.#INDvsSAt20
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 21, 2018
DAVID MILLER – 4
The left-hander didn’t last long despite Klaasen getting the hosts to the verge of victory and skied an attempted pull into the hands of Thakur.
FARHAAN BEHARDIEN – 7
The middle-order batsman delivered where Miller failed by finishing the job for South Africa with a handy cameo towards the end.
ANDILE PHEHLUWAKYO – 7
The all-rounder was only required for his bowling duties and did well extremely well in delivering two quiet overs. He also picked up the crucial wicket of Raina.
TABREZ SHAMSI – 5
The leg-spinner bowled just two overs but was taken for runs as Pandey took a liking to his bowling. He conceded 24 runs in two overs and was quickly taken off the attack by Duminy.
JUNIOR DALA – 8
The young pacer was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers and he produced two absolutely unplayable deliveries on the day to dismiss Kohli and Rohit. He finished with excellent figures of 2-28 from his four overs.
Dala produced two snorters on the day to fetch two wickets.
CHRIS MORRIS – 5
The senior Proteas pacer started off with a maiden over but that was as good as it got for him. He went for 42 runs in his remaining three overs as Pandey and Dhoni went after him towards the death.
DON PATERSON – 4
It was another wretched day for the pacer who went for a lot of runs in the first T20I as he once again delivered an expensive spell. He was carted for 51 runs off his four overs and didn’t have the saving grace of picking up a wicket either.
