Match Report
South Africa pipped India by five wickets in a rain-curtailed match to gain a 1-0 lead after the second T20I of the three-match series played at the St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Monday.
South Africa wins by five wickets!
Jadeja with the penultimate. Phehlukwayo on strike. Easy single on offer on the leg side. Stubbs on strike now. Attempts a reverse sweep. Top edge and dribbles away for a four. Short from Jadeja and Phehlukwayo launches it over the leg side fence for a six and seals the win for his side.
SA 140/5 in 13 overs
Mukesh Kumar with the 13th. Starts with a low full toss which hits Miller on the pads. India reviews it more out of hope. Impact outside the leg stump and the review is wasted.
Mukesh Kumar oversteps and South Africa now has a freehit. Stubbs hits one to long on for a double off the freehit. Full and on the pads from Mukesh and Miller whips it away for a six. A low full toss next and Miller manages to find Siraj in the deep. Another wicket falls.
David Miller c Mohammed Siraj b Mukesh Kumar 17 (12b 1x4 1x6)
SA 128/4 in 12 overs
Siraj over the wicket against Miller. Angling across the leftie. Outside edge and it flies past the slip fielder. FOUR!! Miller hits one to deep mid wicket to add a couple of runs..
SA 119/4 in 11 overs
Last over of the day for Kuldeep. Starts with a dot ball. Kuldeep seems to have gained control after an expensive start. Brilliant over from him to close up things. Just three runs from the over.
SA 116/4 in 10 overs
Siraj swings one past new-batter Stubbs’ inside edge. But it flies over the stumps and past a diving Jitesh to bounce away for a four. FOUR BYES!!
Short from Siraj now and Stubbs picked it early. Pulled away for a four!!
One More!
Siraj with a cross-seamer. Klaasen can’t middle it this time. Easy catch for Jaiswal in the deep.
Heinrich Klaasen c Jaiswal b Mohammed Siraj 7 (5b 0x4 1x6)
SA 108/3 in 9 overs
Short from Kuldeep to start with and Hendricks pulls it away easily. Four and that is South Africa’s 100. Full from Kuldeep and Klaasen launches it over deep mid wicket for a six.
Full on the off against Hendricks and he tries to smash it over the infield. Straight to SKY at extra cover.
Reeza Hendricks c Yadav b Kuldeep Yadav 49 (27b 8x4 1x6
Markram falls!
South Africa has slowed down a bit. Mukesh Kumar now with the ball. Three singles to start the over. Low full toss from Mukesh now and Markram gets underneath the ball and creams it. HUGE SIX!!
Short from Mukesh and Markram goes after it. It is high and Siraj circles under it at the fence. Great catch.
Aiden Markram c Mohammed Siraj b Mukesh Kumar 30 (17b 4x4 1x6)
SA 96/2 in 8 overs
SA 87/1 in 7 overs
Jadeja with the seventh. He starts with a leg side wide. Straighter one now. Inside edge from Markram and it goes past the keeper for a four. India feels the ball needs to be changed and the umpire agrees to the demand after an inspection.
SA 78/1 in 6 overs
Arshdeep with his second over. Slower one. Hendricks guides it behind point for a four.
Fuller one next up and it is whacked away over extra cover for an emphatic four!!
SA 67/1 in 5 overs
Kuldeep Yadav into the attack. Markram continues his onslaught. Slices it behind point for another four. Half-tracker from Kuldeep now and it is put away for a four.
SA 56/1 in 4 overs
Mukesh Kumar with his first over of the day. Short of the length and Markram guides it to the mid wicket fence with an effortless shot. FOUR! Full now from Mukesh and Markram thumps it over mid on for another four. Length ball on the off and Markram crashes it through covers. HAT-TRICK OF FOURS!!
December 12, 2023 23:24
RO
First strike!
SKY turns to Jadeja for some control. South Africa starts with three singles from the over. Hendricks steps down next ball, but can’t get the ball past mid one. Hendricks pushes one to the leg side. Breeztke calls for a double and sets off. Bad running from the opener and he is caught well outside the crease.
Matthew Breetzke run out (Tilak Varma/Jadeja/†Sharma) 16 (7b 1x4 1x6)
SA 43/1 in 3 overs
SA 38/0 in 2 overs
Arshdeep from the other end for India. Wide one from him and Breetzke flays at it. at extra cover gets his hands on it. But it still races away to the fence. On the pads from Arshdeep and flicked away by Breetzke for the first six of the innings. On the pads again. Clips off Hendricks’ pads and it is another four for South Africa.
Length ball against Hendricks and it is swung away, with ferocity. OUT OF THE GROUND!!! SIX!!
SA 14/0 in 1 over
Breetzke and Hendricks begin the chase for South Africa. Siraj with the new ball for India and he draws an outside edge from Hendricks first ball. It runs away for a four.
Full from Siraj now and Hendricks leans onto the cover drive. FOUR MORE!! More action from the over. Slightly short on the off side and Hendrick gets lucky with the edge. Runs away for another four.
Restart at 11:10 PM
It will be a 15-over chase for South Africa and the target is 152.
News from the middle!
Covers are coming off! Indian bowlers are shown rolling their arms over. A resumption seems imminent.
First of many 50s for Rinku?
IND 180/7 in 19.3 overs - Rain stops play
Coetzee to bowl the last over of the innings. Jadeja tries to slog, the ball goes high in the air but is safe. Tries to slog sweep on the second ball and is caught in front. Jadeja is given out. He reviews it. Three reds and Jadeja is OUT. Arshdeep Singh walks in at number eight. He’s out on the first ball. Chips it straight to short third.
The players are walking back due to rain. Three balls remaining but umpires decide to pause the game.
IND 178/5 in 19 overs
Markram to bowl the penultimate over. Rinku charges on the first ball but can only take a single. A single on the second ball as well. Rinku is beaten on the third ball trying to slog sweep. A double on the fourth ball. Rinku once again charges and this time times superbly for a SIX over long on. Same shot and same result. Two sixes to end the over.
IND 162/5 in 18 overs
Shamsi into his last over. Two dots in first two balls. A single on the third ball and Rinku is at the crease now. A quick single on the fourth ball. Good over so far. Just four runs from the over.
IND 158/5 in 17 overs
Coetzee into the attack. Just one run in first three balls. Short ball on the body and Jadeja pulls it for a SIX! Terrific timing. Nine runs off the over.
IND 149/5 in 16 overs
Markram is back. OUT! Jitesh comes down the track and but hits the ball straight to the deep midwicket fielder. Ravindra Jadeja is the new man in. Gets off the mark with a single. Rinku Singh reaches his fifty in 30 balls with a single. Jadeja cuts and gets a boundary.
IND 141/4 in 15 overs
Williams back into attack and Rinku smacks it over point for four on the first ball. Follows it up with another cut past point for four. A review by South Africa against Jitesh. Umpire gave it wide initially. Wasted, a huge gap there. Jitesh is off the mark with a single. Back of the length and Rinku pulls it behind square leg for four.
IND 125/4 in 14 overs
Shamsi for his third over. OUT! Suryakumar charges down the track and is caught at long off. Didn’t quite middle it there. Jitesh Sharma at the crease. Three runs and a wicket in that over.
IND 122/3 in 13 overs
Phehlukwayo is back and Rinku smacks him towards behind square leg for a four. Another shot in the same region results in same result. Two fours back-to-back. A down the leg delivery and Rinku gently places it past the keeper for another boundary. 15 runs off the over.
IND 107/3 in 12 overs
Aiden Markram into the attack now. Four runs in first three balls. Rinku attempts another reverse sweep, is beaten and by the looks of it, is caught in front. He has reviewed it. He has gloved it. Rinku survives.
December 12, 2023 21:24
50
IND 101/3 in 11 overs
Jansen is back, Rinku mistimes, and the ball goes straight in the air but falls in no man’s land. On the pads, back of the length and Surya scoops it over fine leg for a SIX! Typical Surya shot. Takes a single and reaches his fifty in 29 balls. Rinku gets on the up and smacks it over mid-off for four. Follows it up with a cut for four towards deep third.
IND 84/3 in 10 overs
Shamsi continues. Surya attempts two sweeps on first two balls: on first he was beaten, and almost swept to deep square leg fielder on the second. A stumping appeal against Rinku on the third ball. He was attempting a reverse sweep but got beaten. He’s not out, foot grounded inside the crease. Surya now times his sweep perfectly and gets a boundary to finish the over.
IND 76/3 in 9 overs
Suryakumar scoops the first ball after the break for a four towards fine leg off Phehlukwayo. Another decent over so far, just six runs off the first four balls. Another seven run over.
Suryakumar Yadav completes 2000 T20I runs
As players take a drinks break, Suryakumar equals Virat Kohli’s record
India’s Suryakumar Yadav went past 2000 T20I runs during his side’s match against South Africa in Gqeberah on Tuesday, becoming the join-fastest Indian to reach the landmark.
IND 69/3 in 8 overs
Tabraiz Shamsi into the attack. Rinku attempts a reverse sweep but is beaten. Just three singles in that over.
IND 66/3 in 7 overs
Andile Phehlukwayo comes into the attack. Welcomed with a four by Suryakumar on the second ball. A wide ball and Surya cuts it past short third. However, a decent first over, concedes just seven in it.
IND 59/3 in 6 overs
Coetzee continues. A good three balls to start. Only one run coming from it. OUT! Tilak is caught at deep third. Attempts an upper cut but didn’t find enough power. Rinku Singh smacks a four on the first ball and finishes the PowerPlay.
IND 53/2 in 5 overs
Tilak starts the Williams over with a ramp shot over keeper for four! A single and a dot on the next two balls. Surya smacks the fourth ball towards square leg but only for a single. Surya ends the over with a pick up shot over midwicket for a SIX! Glorious hitting this.
IND 40/2 in 4 overs
Gerald Coetzee into the attack now. A yorker to start with to Suryakumar Yadav who plays it well. Full and Suryakumar beautifully drives it on the up past the extra cover for four! SIX! Classic Suryakumar shot. Back of the length and Surya scoops it over fine leg. Follows it up with brilliant cover drive.
IND 25/2 in 3 overs
Jansen bowls it on the pads and Tilak picks it over square leg for a SIX! Nice way to start the over. Now Jansen bowls a half-tracker wide and Tilak hits it over point for four. On the pads, full, and Tilak flicks it towards square leg for four to end the over. It was a no-ball and Tilak smacks it in the same region for another boundary. 19 runs off the over.
IND 6/2 in 2 overs
Lizaad Williams for the second over. Back of the length, Tilak attempts a pull but misses it. Similar delivery, similar shot by Tilak, this time gets a top edge but the ball lands safe despite both short fine leg and keeper running behind it. Gill faces first ball of the day and drives straight to point for a dot. OUT! Gill is caught in front. Ball held its line, and Gill is beaten by the pace. He has reviewed it though but for no use. Three reds show Gill the way back to pavillion.
IND 3/1 in 1 over
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill come out in the middle. Marco Jansen with the new ball. First ball, on the up, Jaiswal drives but straight to the extra covers, a dot to begin the proceedings. And then a back of the length delivery that Jaiswal misses. OUT! Jaiswal is caught at point! Back of the length, Jaiswal slashes it straight to the fielder. India loses first wicket without scoring a run.
Tilak Varma at the crease. First runs on the board for India with a wide ball. DROPPED! Same ball, same shot but this time Miller can’t get hold of it. Tilak cuts it past point for one. Three runs and a wicket in that over.
All set for play
We start with National anthems: first of visiting team India followed by South Africa’s.
Gaikwad not available today
Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad was left out of the squad today due to illness.
Teams
India - 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 - Matthew Breetzke, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Gerald Coetzee, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi
Suryakumar after the toss
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.
Markram after the toss
We are going to bowl first, been under the covers for most of the day, so I would assume it would move around a bit. Each game becomes important for us to fine tune things before the 2024 T20 WC, hopefully we can start well today. From my point of view it’s about understanding if someone needs a rest. No debuts today.
Toss Update
Aiden Markram wins the toss and elects to bowl first.
SQUADS
South Africa squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Beuran Hendricks, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs and Lizaad Williams.
India squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, and Deepak Chahar.
Bad news from the middle!
Also Read - Smriti Mandhana laughs off ‘senior Test player’ tag
Smriti Mandhana is among the few ‘senior’ players in Tests having played four. She happily notes how much times have changed for the women’s game over the years ahead of the only Test between India and England in Navi Mumbai.
Streaming Info
The India vs South Africa T20I series will be telecast on the Star Sports Network and streamed online on Disney+ Hotstar.
Preview
After a washout in the series-opener robbed the auditioning Indian youngsters of valuable game time, the think tank will be hoping for clear weather in the second T20I against South Africa on Tuesday.
Even the toss could not be held in Durban on Sunday and there is a rain forecast even for the second game of the three-match series. Now, only five games are left in the build up to the T20 World Cup in June and the management has a very small window to try out players.
In the current scenario, form in the IPL will carry a lot of weight for selection in the Indian team bound for USA and Caribbean.
READ MORE
