Quinton de Kock smashed a 46-ball 90 to lead South Africa to a strong 51-run win over India in the second T20I on Thursday, leveling the five-match series 1-1.
De Kock’s attacking innings, which included five fours and seven sixes, helped South Africa post a big total of 213-4 after India chose to bowl first near Chandigarh.
India were bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs despite a fighting 62 off 34 balls from Tilak Varma. Medium pacer Ottneil Baartman starred with the ball, taking 4-24 as South Africa bounced back from their loss in the opening game.
De Kock, who turns 33 on Wednesday, set the tone early. He shared an 83-run stand with captain Aiden Markram, who scored 29. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy made an impact for India by dismissing Reeza Hendricks for eight with his first delivery and later removing Markram.
De Kock looked in full control from the start, hitting Arshdeep Singh for two sixes in his opening overs. He reached his 17th T20I fifty with a boundary off Hardik Pandya but fell short of a century after being run out by wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma.
Axar Patel dismissed Dewald Brevis for 14, but David Miller kept the momentum going with an unbeaten 20, including four boundaries off Jasprit Bumrah in one over. Donovan Ferreira added a late flourish, smashing two sixes off Bumrah in the final over to finish on an unbeaten 30.
The series serves as preparation for the T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka in February-March.
