New Delhi: Sanju Samson might have slammed his second successive century in the series opener but India would seek their other top-order batters to be amng the runs too in the second T20I against South Africa in Gqeberha on Sunday.
Samson’s bludgeoning 107 run off 50 balls led India to a 61-run win in the first T20I but India would need other batters to join the party too if they have to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
Opener Abhishek Sharma’s string of low scores after his 47-ball ton against Zimbabwe earlier in the year wold be a concern as would be Tilak Verma’s inability to convert starts into big scores.
Verma scored 33 off just 18 balls in the first match but couldn’t press on and with many contenders for a spot in the middle order, he needs to make each opportunity count to cement his place in the team.
Despite presence of many talented indiciduals, India’s miidle order creaked in the first game after skipper Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya perished cheaply.
India lost six wickets for only 36 runs, slipping from 166/2 to 202/8. If this fragility persists, it could haunt them in close enocounters.
The Indian bowlers were far more clinical in the first game as they shot out South Africa for 141 in 17.5 overs. Spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi sparkled with three-wicket hauls as the pace duo of Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan were among wickets too.
The discipline of India’s bowlers helped contained South Africa’s formidable batters on a batting friendly Durban track.
The home team would have to pull up their socks if they are to win the series, as they are already weakened by the absence of star players like Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi.
They were beaten 0-3 by the West Indies and held in a by Ireland and would need much improved performances from skipper Aiden Markram, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen to dominate India.
Teams (from):
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (C), Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Patrick Kruger, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Mihlali Mpongwana, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla (3rd and 4th T20Is), Tristan Stubbs.
Match starts at 7:30 PM IST.
Live on Sports 18 and Jio Cinema
India take on South Africa in the second match of their four-match T20I series on Sunday Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
