Hendricks inspires a win for Proteas in second T20

South Africa managed to take a 1-0 lead in the three match T20 series with visiting India after the first match was rained out without a ball beimg bowled. Reeza Hendricks led from the front with a brilliant 49 from just 27 balls to lead South Africa to a five-wicket victory against India in the second T20 International against South Africa at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday night. Chasing a DLS revised target of 152 in 15 overs South Africa eased to victory after an astonishingly fast start which saw Hendricks and opening partner, Matthew Breetzke (16 from 7 balls) take 38 runs from the first two overs including 20 from Arshdeep Singh’s first.

South Africa finished on 154-5 from 13.5 overs in reply to India’s 180-7 from 19.3 overs.

Breetzke was run out in a horrible mix-up but captain Aiden Markram maintained the momentum with 30 from 17 balls until he was caught on the midwicket boundary.

Hendricks, in glorious form with eight fours and a six, drove spinner Kuldeep Yadav to extra cover seven balls later and Heinrich Klaasen (7) was caught at long on three balls after that as the Proteas slipped from 96-1 to 108-4 in 13 balls.

David Miller’s 17 from 12 balls calmed the nerves allowing Tristan Stubbs (14*) and Andile Phelukwayo (10*) to finish the job in style with seven balls to spare.

Earlier India posted 180-7 from 19.3 overs after being asked to bat first before a rainstorm drove the players from the field for over an hour until the ground was made playable again.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav compiled an innovative and entertaining 56 from just 36 balls to help his team to a competitive total of 180-7 and Rinku Singh was in even more impressive form with an unbeaten 68 from only 39 balls (9×4, 2×6) which transformed the innings from an acceptable one to an exceptional one on a pitch offering assistance to both seamers and spinners.