120 was not enough but proud of the way we bowled: Suryakumar Yadav

After a comprehensive 61-run victory in the first T20I in Durban, team India entered the second game at St George's Park in Gqeberha, hoping to go 2-0 up and make themselves immune to a series defeat. 

However, sent into bat for the second time in as many games, the tourists produced a rather ordinary performance with the bat, posting just 124, which eventually proved not enough.

Centurion Sanju Samson perished for a duck while no batter passed fifty. Hardik Pandya (39*) top scored but even he took 45 balls to score his runs. 

Though they slipped to defeat, India produced an admirable showing with the ball in hand, nearly defending the low total. They reduced South Africa to 86/7 and it required a tremendous 8th wicket stand from Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee to get the hosts home.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav admitted that his side were ordinary with the bat but praised the showing of his bowlers.

“You always have to back whatever total you get. Of course, in a T20 game you don't want to get 125 or 140 but I'm proud of the way our boys bowled,” Suryakumar said.

That India nearly defended 124 was largely down to the brilliance of Varun Chakravarthy, who backed up the three-wicket haul he picked in the first game with a five-fer. The finger-spinner made his comeback to the national side after a three-year hiatus in the Bangladesh series but has been a revelation ever since, taking 13 wickets in five games.

Suryakumar was full of praise for the 33-year-old, who seems to have found a new leash on life.

“In a T20 game someone getting a 5-fer defending 125 and in this situation, it's incredible. He worked really hard on his game and he has been waiting for this stage, and everyone enjoyed it. Brilliant performance from him,” Suryakumar said of Varun.

South Africa went hard in the chase and that almost cost them. But Markram insisted that his side will continue to play an aggressive brand of cricket and will be willing to live or die by the sword.

“From the batting point of view, you want to break the back of the chase at the mid-way stage but it didn't work out today. Sometimes when you lose wickets in a cluster it doesn't look pretty. We need to take it on the chin, we are definitely going to keep our brand of cricket going,” Markram said.

The third T20I of the four-match series will be played at SuperSport Park, Centurion, on November 13 (Wednesday).

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