IND vs SA 2nd T20I: South Africa have chased down 152 in just 13.5 overs with five wickets in hand to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. In the rain-curtailed match, Reeza Hendricks (27-ball 49) and Aiden Markram (17-ball 30) chased down the target with ease. Earlier, India ended their innings at 180/7 in 19.3 overs. Rinku Singh remained unebaten on 39-ball 68 while Suryakumar Yadav slammed 36-ball 56. However, with rain curtailing the match, Proteas got a revised target of 152 on DLS method.
Earlier, sent to bat, India were off to poor start. But SKY and Rinku Singh helped steady the ship after Tilak Varma played a crucial knock of 29.
11:20 PM IST: Reeza Hendricks & Matthew Breetzke are off to a blazing start. Even though a few boundaries have come off edges, the runs have kept coming. South Africa are 38/0 after just two overs.
11:10 PM IST: Reeza Hendricks & Matthew Breetzke begin 152-run chase for Proteas. They need over 10 per over.
11:05 PM IST: The target is 152 in 15 overs and teh powerplay will be of 5 overs.
11:00 PM IST: Here you go, the match will resume at 11:10 PM and it will be a 15-overs-a-side match. India won’t bat again.
10:55 PM IST: The covers are coming off and it does not look like India will complete their innings. India were 180/7 in 19.3 overs. But it’s Indian bowlers who are warming up and marking their run-ups. An official update is awaited.
India got off to a horrible start after Yashasvi Jaiswal departed for a duck & Shubman Gill soon followed as India lost both their openers early. Gerald Coetzee then struck to dismiss the deadly Varma who looked in red-hot form as India ended powerplay on 59/3. SKY then continued to lead the charge to hammer his fifty. Tabraiz Shamsi then got the prized wicker as he scalped SKY. Rinku Singh continues his grand form as he slams his maiden T20I half-century.
Earlier, South Africa had won the toss and tasked India to bat first. India has ventured into the game without the likes of Shreyas Iyer as Tilak Varma takes his spot. Kuldeep Yadav starts ahead of Ravi Bishnoi while Ruturaj Gaikwad is out of the game owing to illness.
India Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar
South Africa Playing XI: Matthew Breetzke, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen (w), David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Gerald Coetzee, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi
“Very happy to be here and happy to know there’s some cricket around. We were confused what to do, but now we are very happy to bat first. It’s an opportunity for everyone playing this game. World Cup is still 5-6 months away. Just enjoy yourself is the message to the team,” said Suryakumar Yadav at the Toss.
The first T20 match of the series in Durban on Sunday was a washout, and now, as India gears up for the second T20I against South Africa at the Dafabet St George’s Park Cricket Stadium in Gqeberha on Tuesday, rain clouds loom once again. This IND vs SA weather uncertainty could not only impact the ongoing T20 series but also hinder India’s preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in June.
With only five matches remaining to evaluate the young side and finalize the playing combination, the rain threat is particularly concerning for India. The team has been keen on promoting a brand of fearless cricket played by the emerging talents, including Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh Sharma.
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