India put up yet another pathetic batting display to be skittled out for a paltry 92 in 17.2 overs against South Africa in the second Twenty20 International at Cuttack on Monday. Indian openers Rohit Sharma (22) and Shikhar Dhawan (11) did give the hosts a brisk start but the visiting bowlers had other ideas at the Barabati Stadium.
After the opener managed 28 runs from 23 deliveries, hell broke loose for India, who lost four wickets in the space of 20 runs that included run-outs of Virat Kohli (0) and Rohit. This was India's second lowest T20 score after being shot out for 74 against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in February 2008.
Hosting its first T20 International, the Barabati Cricket Stadium was in for another rude shock no sooner Ravichandran Ashwin (11) was bowled by Chris Morris (2-16) to bundle the side as frustrated fans started hurling water bottles into the ground. The incident went on for about 10 minutes before police took control of the situation and announcements were made by the Odisha Cricket Association to pacify the spectators. Meanwhile, contrary to expectation, the pitch induced good bounce and pace as the South Africans revelled in the conditions with Albie Morkel, who was drafted in place of Marchant de Lange, becoming the top wicket-taker with his 3-12, while Imran Tahir and Morris scalped two each.
Earlier, in an interesting ploy, South Africa did not opt for a continuity in the bowling line-up and instead had four bowlers inside four overs after starting out with Kyle Abott and Tahir.
Even though the strip induced some fine bounce, Rohit and Dhawan looked in little trouble before Morris triggered the collapse dismissing the left-hander in the last ball of the fourth over.
Dhawan (11 from 12 balls) was trapped on his backfoot to a delivery that straightened around middle-leg, something that opened the gates for South Africa. In space of a ball, Kohli (0) was back in the dressing without facing a delivery after he was run out while attempting for a second run.
South Africa were all pumped up on the field, and Rohit tried his luck against David Miller but found himself well short of the bowling end after a direct throw.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted Ambati Rayudu ahead of him but he lasted just two balls after being cleaned up off rookie pacer Kagiso Rabada as India cut a sorry figure with 48 for four after nine overs.
Dhoni (5) joined his Chennai Super Kings teammate Suresh Raina (22) in the middle giving fans some hope for a revival as the left-hander also looked in good rhythm, hitting Abott for two boundaries in the 10th over.
Just when India would look to bring themselves out of the rut, Morkel brought up another collapse removing 'captain cool' in the 12th over and the rest fell like a pack of cards.
South Africa lead 1-0 in the three-match T20I series after their seven-wicket win in Dharamshala.
South Africa beat India by 7 wickets
Earlier at Dharamshala, Rohit Sharma's blistering century went in vain as South Africa began their tour of India on a winning note by scripting a thrilling seven-wicket victory in the first Twenty20 International cricket match last week.
Sharma (106) notched up his maiden T20 International century to give India a competitive total of 199 for 5 but the visitors rode on some sparkling strokeplay by J P Duminy (68 not out) and A B de Villiers (51) to overhaul the target with two balls to spare and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Test skipper Hashim Amla (36) and ODI skipper de Villiers laid the foundation of the SA win with their 77-run opening stand and Duminy guided the visiting side to the finish line with a sublime unbeaten 68 off just 34 balls. His 105-run unbeaten partnership for the fourth wicket with Farhaan Behardien (32 not out) sealed the game for the Proteas.
Left-handed Duminy played with a lot of responsibility under pressure and could not have timed his eighth fifty in T20Is better than this. Thanks to his gritty batting, South Africa collected 22 runs off Axar Patel in the 16th over and 14 when Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled the penultimate over.
