India trail series 1-0 after losing to South Africa by five wickets in 2nd ...

The Indian men’s cricket team lost to South Africa by five wickets in the second clash of the three-match T20 series at the St George’s Cricket Stadium in Gqeberha on Tuesday.

Half-centuries by skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh helped India to 180/7 in 19.3 overs before rain halted the match. Chasing a target of 152 in a reduced 15-over innings, the hosts breezed through comfortably, courtesy Reeza Hendricks’ 27-ball 49.

The loss, after the first rubber at Durban was washed out on Sunday, means India will have to win the final fixture at the Wanderers in Johannesburg to avoid losing the series.

Put into bat first by South African skipper Aiden Markram, India struggled to cope with the lively Gqeberha pitch, with the surface offering plenty of bounce and movement to the Protea pacers early on.

Both Indian openers had to walk back to the pavilion within the opening two overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal misjudged Marco Jansen’s bounce and played one to David Miller at backward point in the third ball of the opening over. Lizaad Williams’ sharp inswinger then caught Shubman Gill leg before wicket as India were left reeling at 6/2.

Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Verma, a surprise inclusion in the playing XI on the night, however, managed to steady the ship with a nifty 49-run stand for the third wicket. Gerald Coetzee had Verma caught in the deep for 29 but Suryakumar Yadav continued playing his free-scoring game and reached his half-century in just 28 balls. He also became the joint-fastest Indian batter alongside Virat Kohli to get to 2000 runs in T20Is - in 56 innings.

Even after Suryakumar Yadav departed for 56 (26 balls) after his attempt to hoist Tabraiz Shamsi over the boundary fell to Stubbs at deep midwicket, Rinku Singh continued to find the boundary at regular intervals as India kept their foot on the gas.

Jitesh Sharma departed for just one but Rinku Singh (unbeaten 68 off 39) and Ravindra Jadeja (19 off 14) took India to 180/7 in 19.3 overs before rain stopped play. Interestingly, Coetzee was on a hat-trick when play was halted, having picked up Jadeja and Arshdeep Singh off successive deliveries.

Due to the rain stoppage, the match was reduced to 15 overs with South Africa set a target of 152 by the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method.

The hosts started their chase with a purpose. Mohammed Siraj was hit for 14 in the first over while Arshdeep Singh got taken for 24 in the second. Suryakumar Yadav brought on spin with Ravindra Jadeja in the third over and India got the much-needed breakthrough.

Matthew Breetzke was run out after a misunderstanding with opening partner Reeza Hendricks. However, it did little to stem the flow of runs as Markram came in and continued the onslaught. 

South Africa seemed to be cruising along at 96/1 before Mukesh Sharma finally broke the devastating partnership. Markram’s effort for a maximum was plucked off the air by Siraj stationed right on the edge of the boundary.

Kuldeep Yadav and Siraj then dismissed Hendricks and Heinrich Klaasen in quick succession to reduce the Proteas to 108/4 and gave India a glimmer of home. However, the early platform set up by Hendricks and Markram was too much for the visitors to overcome on the night.

Despite losing David Miller to Mukesh, South Africa crossed the finish line with seven balls remaining and five wickets in hand.

The Indian cricket team will face South Africa in the third T20I in Johannesburg on Thursday.

India vs South Africa 2nd T20 brief scores: India 180/7 in 19.3 overs (Rinku Singh 68, Suryakumar Yadav 56; Gerald Coetzee 3/32) lost to South Africa 154/5 in 13.5 overs (Reeza Hendricks 49, Aiden Markram 30; Mukesh Kumar 2/34) by five wickets. (South Africa were set a target of 152 by DLS method after rain delay)