Klaasen Powers South Africa To A 4 Wicket Win Over India In 2nd T20I

South Africa now lead the five-match series 2-0 after the 2nd T20I.

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Heinrich Klaasen's powerful knock helped South Africa defeat India by four wickets in the 2nd T20I at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. 

Chasing a total of 149 runs on a tricky pitch, South Africa had a poor start as they got reduced to 29/3 inside the powerplay. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was at his lethal best with the new ball and got a bit of assist from the pitch that offered good seaming conditions. 

It wasn't easy to attack but two of the three batters in the top three got out defending their wicket while Pretorious, who was sent in as a pinch hitter, got out trying to hit a six. 

Klaasen walked in to bat at number five and added 64 runs in 41 balls with captain Temba Bavuma for the fourth wicket. While Bavuma dropped anchor, Klaasen counter-attacked. The wicketkeeper-batter, who replaced injured Quinton de Kock for in this game, scored 49 runs in 29 balls in that partnership with Bavuma, who made 15 off 12. 

Yuzvendra Chahal got Bavuma bowled but the pitch had now eased a bit and the Klaasen's inning had made sure that the new batter, David Miller, doesn't have to take chances right from the start. 

Klaasen and Miller added another 51 runs in the next 28 balls in which the wicketkeeper batter scored 32 off 17 balls to give the new batter a chance to get set. Klaasen made 81 off just 46 balls with the help of seven fours and five sixes and got out trying to hit another six. 

However, when he got out, the visitors needed just five more runs and despite losing another wicket, Miller easily finished the game with eight balls to spare. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a great game personally as he finished with the figures of 4/13 in his four overs. Chahal and Harshal Patel got a wicket each but the total was too low for India to defend successfully. 

Earlier, a top-class bowling performance by the South African restricted India to 148/6 in the first inning. 

India lost Ruturaj Gaikwad in the first over itself to Kagiso Rabada. Ishan Kishan looked good while he lasted as he scored 34 off 21 balls with the help of two fours and three sixes. Shreyas Iyer kept rotating the strike from one end but the South Africans had shut the boundaries. 

In the desperation to look for boundaries, India were down to 112/6 in 17 overs. It was Dinesh Karthik's(30 off 21) finishing skills and a good helping hand from Harshal Patel that got India close to the 150-run mark. India scored 30 in the last two overs to get to 148/6. 

Rabada had a terrific night as he finished with 1/15 in his four overs. Wayne Parnell got 1/23 in his four overs, and Dwaine Pretorious and Keshav Maharaj also took one each. Anrich Nortje picked two wickets in his four overs. 

Brief Scorecard: 

India - 148/6 (Shreyas Iyer - 40; Anrich Nortje - 2/36)
South Africa - 149/6 in 18.2 overs (Heinrich Klaasen - 81; Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 3/13)