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Heinrich Klaasen‘s splendid effort with the willow powered South Africa to a four-wicket win over India in the second T20I as the tourists took a 2-0 lead in the ongoing five-match series.
Chasing a paltry target of 149, the Proteas lost three early wickets thanks to Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s brilliant opening spell. However, Klaasen and Temba Bavuma (35) steadied the innings. Bavuma fell to Yuzvendra Chahal, but Klaasen kept hitting boundaries to keep the pressure off.
The wicketkeeper-batter went on to score 81 from just 46 deliveries, with the help of seven fours and five sixes before Harshal Patel removed him. However, it was too late as South Africa had the match in the bag. David Miller, who shined in the opening game, hit the winning runs as the rainbow nation won and finished the proceedings in 18.2 overs and with four wickets in hand.
Earlier, Dinesh Karthik‘s late strikes at the death helped India reach 148/6 in their 20 overs after being put in to bat by Proteas. Karthik finished unbeaten on 30 off 21, with the help of two sixes and as many fours.
Apart from Karthik, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan chipped in with valuable contributions at the top. Kishan smashed 34 off 21 while Iyer top-scored with 40 from 35 deliveries. For the visitors, Anrich Nortje picked up a couple of wickets for 36 in his quota of 4 overs. His partner-in-crime Kagiso Rabada bagged one scalp while giving away only 15 runs in 4 overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
🚨 RESULT | #Proteas WIN BY 4 WICKETS
A career-best 81 off 46 balls by Heinrich Klaasen propelled the team to victory in the second T20I as they chased down the 149-run target with 10 balls to spare #INDvSA #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/rB7XfTPrGi
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 12, 2022
Bhuvi opened the doors for a fight with 3️⃣ wickets in the powerplay, but Heinrich Klaasen (81 off 46) just took the game away from #TeamIndia with a blitz 😯
Onto the next one 🙌🏼🇮🇳#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/xRlA5ZMjjU
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) June 12, 2022
Despite some key players missing for India, didn’t expect that South Africa will be so good in first two matches. #INDvSA #Cricket
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) June 12, 2022
#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/KSUBTV9dPz
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 12, 2022
In 2022:
IND lost Test series to SA (1-2)
IND lost ODI series to SA (0-3)
IND trailing T20 series to SA (0-2)— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 12, 2022
Bhuvneshwar Kumar becomes the first Indian to take 4 or more wickets in a men's T20I match in losing cause.#INDvSA
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) June 12, 2022
South Africa thrash India in 2nd T20I.#INDvSA Scorecard: https://t.co/dO6P6TUFVl pic.twitter.com/U2WZ0Y4PZZ
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) June 12, 2022
South Africa win by 4 wickets and take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Heinrich Klaasen's excellent knock of 81 laid the foundation for the Proteas' victory.#INDvSA | https://t.co/If8BCKYyBG pic.twitter.com/2YOHz3ndPD
— ICC (@ICC) June 12, 2022
Top knock Heinrich Klaasen. Sensational bit of hitting out there! #INDvSA
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) June 12, 2022
A pat on the back by Hardik Pandya for a Heinrich Klaasen masterclass. pic.twitter.com/zVRPkq8rWo
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 12, 2022
Heinrich Klaasen batting himself into a 2023 @IPL contract…simply scintillating batting masterclass for the Proteas pic.twitter.com/n4mqwbAf7k
— Deon Visser (@DeonVisser10) June 12, 2022
Heinrich Klaasen Batting
Normally vs India pic.twitter.com/e7cbS29s76
— g0v!ñD $#@®mA (@rishu_1809) June 12, 2022
Heinrich Klaasen 43* (27) in Pink ODI, Johannesburg – 2018
Heinrich Klassen 81 (46), second T20I, Cuttack – 2022
SA don't really have a star player. They've a Star player born in every single game #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/hsroUcnRtQ
— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall) June 12, 2022