Quinton de Kock produced one of the knocks of the tour, smashing a sensational 90 off just 46 deliveries (7 sixes, 5 fours) to set up South Africa on course for a dominant 51-run victory in the second T20I at Kingsmead on Wednesday night. The win levels the five-match series 1-1 after India’s 101-run hammering in the series opener.
After Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bat, de Kock tore into the Indian bowling attack from the outset. He added a brisk stand with captain Markram before Donovan Ferreira (24* off 10) and David Miller (21* off 8) unleashed late carnage to propel South Africa to an imposing 213/4 – the highest total of the series so far.
In response, India’s chase never gained momentum. Early wickets left them reeling, and despite Tilak Varma’s gritty 62 (36 balls), the hosts were bundled out for 162 in 18.4 overs. South Africa’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure, with disciplined lines and clever variations on a surface that slowed down under lights.
“We had a tough game today, and it didn’t go our way, apart from the toss. We bowled first and struggled to adjust to the conditions. We should have switched plans earlier, but that’s part of the learning process. We need to take responsibility – especially me and Shubman – and bat deeper. Abhishek’s been doing well, but we can’t rely on him alone. We’ll take the lessons from today and come back stronger in Dharamsala,” said India Captain Suryakumar Yadav in his post-match reaction.
South Africa Captain Aiden Markram, said, “We had a much better performance tonight, and it started with the batting. Quinton de Kock’s knock was special, and the contributions from the middle order were crucial. Our bowlers have been training hard, and it’s paying off. The fielding has also been good, and we’re happy with the way we’ve played so far. The pitch was good, with something for the bowlers, but also a great surface for batting.”
Quinton de Kock, Player of the Match, said “I’ve had some ups and downs recently, but when I get going, I try to make the most of it. My record against India is probably because we play each other often, and the pitches have been good. I adjusted my technique to counter Arshdeep’s bowling and let my game flow. The pitch was slow at first, making it tough for new batters, so Aiden and I focused on building a partnership. The changing conditions made it challenging for India, and that’s what made the difference.”
The series now moves to the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala for the third T20I on Saturday, December 13.
