Cuttack: Heinrich Klassen's 46-ball 81 helped South Africa register an emphatic win over India in the second T20I at Barabati Stadium here on Sunday.
South Africa lead India 2-0 in a five match T20I series.
Klaasen tore apart India's spinners, especially Yuzuvendra Chahal (1 for 49) against whom he has been merciless in the T20Is. In 28 balls he has faced Chahal in his career, he has smashed 74 runs and not even once has he given away his wicket to the Indian spinner.
Klaasen turned the complexion of the game as he smoked Chahal for 13 runs, a boundary off Harshal Patel (1 for 17) and three more off Hardik Pandya (31 in 3 overs) before a 19-run over off Axar Patel (19 off 1 over). The counter-attack saw South Africa needing 60 off 48 and Klassen looking ominous on an unbeaten 49 off 29 balls.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4 for 13) bowled splendidly well, reducing visitors to 29 for 3 within the powerplay.
He picked up Reeza Hendricks (4), Dwaine Pretorius (4) and Rassie van der Dussen (1) in quik succession.
However, Klassen walked in and poured water on the hopes of India by sewing up a match-winning 64 runs partnership with Captain Temba Bavuma (35 off 30 4x4 1x6) for the fourth wicket.
Klassen took his time before cutting loose against Indian spinners who leaked far too many runs. Chahal conceded 49 runs in 4 overs, while Axar Patel gave 19 runs in an over.
Klassen was caught by Ravi Bishnoi off Harshal Patel.
It wasn't a great day either for Indian batsmen. They could only get 148 for 6. At one point it did not look like getting to that total, but Dinesh Karthik's power-hitting at the death pushed India's total close to the 150 mark.
Earlier, Karthik's late flourish helped India plunder 30 runs off the last two overs and pushed India close to the 150-mark.
At one stage it did not look possible that India would reach 148 for 6 as they struggled to bat on a two-paced wicket. Their batsmen could not manage to get even a single boundary in 24 balls.
India might feel they have posted a challenging total, thanks to Ishan Kishan who made 34 in 21 balls with two boundaries and three sixes. Shreyas Iyer (40 off 35 2x2 2x6) dropped anchor and Karthik (30 no off 21 2x2 2x6) gave the required finish.
South Africa, on the other hand, would be feeling that they have frittered away 15 runs too many towards the end.
Sending India to bat, Kagiso Rabada bagged his only and wicket number 50 in T20Is after Ruturaj Gaikwad (1) fell in his first over.
Kishan walked back to the dugout after playing a breezy knock. The southpaw went late on the pull of Anrich Nortje (2 for 36) and offered a dolly to square leg.
India were soon 68 for 3 in 9.1 overs after Keshav Maharaja outsmarted Captain Rishabh Pant (5) who mistimed his slog to the sweeper cover fielder.
SA Captain Temba Bavuma did not employ spin for the first 8 overs. Tabraiz Shamshi was introduced in the ninth, but went for 14 as Iyer skipped out and smashed a four past wide long and then launched a six straight over his head.
Middle overs has been a dilemma for India as they could manage only 29 runs between 7-10, especially after losing Pant.
Bavuma made a good bowling change by bringing in Wayne Parnell (1 for 23) and he immediately delivered just when India were streaming through against spin. Parnell came round the wicket and got a ball to come in that kept low and knocked Hardik Pandya's (9) stumps.
India received another body blow in the form of Iyer who nicked the ball of Dwaine Pretorius (1 for 40).
Karthik's cameo took India 148 for 6. (UNI)
