When a team fails successively, with each failure, the expectations of the fans from the next game naturally takes a dip. Such was the case when South Africa stepped on to the SuperSport Park to face India for the second T20I. With India being dominant throughout the ODI series and the first T20I, South Africa were under pressure to square the series. The Proteas were sure to come all guns blazing for this game. There was a lot of rain leading into this game, but we were fortunate to witness a full game, after the women’s T20I got washed out earlier. The Proteas were on top of their game, especially with the bat, and won convincingly in the end with eight balls to spare, to take the series into the deciding, third T20I.

The rain affected ground had made both the captains change their minds about the toss. Duminy won the toss and decided to bowl, knowing the damp conditions will support the quicks. Duminy’s decision looked like the right one at the start of the innings. Dhawan struggled to get off the mark and consumed the entire first over by Morris without scoring. Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck, as he couldn’t read the incoming delivery by Dala and completely missed it. However, Dhawan didn’t succumb to the pressure of conditions and an early dismissal. He got off to a flying start with some solid pull shots and a six over third man.

Suresh Raina, who once again came in at number 3, also displayed some cracking cut shots and leg glances. Together, they put up a partnership of 44 runs before Dhawan was caught by Behardien at mid-on, off Duminy’s bowling. South Africa were on the happier end of a rare sight in this series, when Virat Kohli failed and got out scoring just one run. Once again, it was the young bowler, Dala, who got rid of India’s skipper. Raina & Manish Pandey worked their way around for a bit in the middle overs, and the run-rate took a hit for a short period. Eventually, after a solid partnership of 45 runs, Raina missed a delivery, looking to swipe across the line, only to get trapped.

Pandey, who struggled to score a boundary in the first T20I, was superbly timing the ball in this match. His intention was clear and visible throughout his innings of 79 runs off just 48 balls. The pressure was on India, who were 90 for 4 when Raina was dismissed. Pandey, however, dared to play big shots to shift the pressure back on the South African bowlers. With Dhoni walking in after Raina’s dismissal, the pressure on Pandey’s shoulders was relieved to a certain extent. Their unbeaten partnership of 98 runs included some confident and powerful big hits. Dhoni’s unbeaten knock of 52 runs off 28 balls included 4 fours and 3 sixes. He needed this kind of innings to show that he’s still one of the best finishers in the squad. It was beautiful to see the combination of experience and young talent on the pitch, both scoring adequately to take Team India to a very good total of 188 runs, which seemed difficult to chase at one point of the game.

The South African innings started somewhat like India’s. They struggled to time the ball in the first over bowled by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar. Smuts couldn’t make any impact in this match either. Hendricks continued his good form from the last match and scored some essential boundaries, but his innings was halted by a catch at deep square leg by Hardik Pandya off a Shardul Thakur slower one.

Klaasen’s partnership with Duminy was something the Proteas were missing all this while. It was an unbelievable innings by the wicket-keeper-batsman which took the match away from India. South Africa were 38 for 2 after 5 overs when Klaasen came on the crease and when Klaasen got out, South Africa were 131 for 3 in 13.1 overs. By the time he got out, he had taken away the entire pressure with his 30-ball 69, which included 7 massive sixes and 3 fours. Chahal experienced his worst match-figures so far in his career, as he was hit for 64 runs in his four overs, and he couldn’t take a single wicket. It was a completely contrasting game for him considering the success he had in the ODI series.

Duminy, being the captain of the side, made sure he was there till the end. He took the responsibility and completed the game with two towering sixes. He knew the importance of playing a big innings; not only for this game, but also in the context of this series. He gave an assurance that the team can put up such performances with ease. His 40-ball, 64 moved from a supporting hand at the start, to a dominating one at the end.

The contest has come to life once again as the Proteas found answers to the questions that troubled them. They will be riding high on this confidence for the final game. The sides will compete with all their might to seal the series. The stage for a grand finale is set, as the final game of this series and the tour for Team India is on 24th February at Newlands, Cape Town, right where the tour began.