SAvIND 2nd T20, Match Report: Heinrich Klaasen, JP Duminy fire Proteas to series-levelling win

South Africa won the second T20 against India on Wednesday thanks to half-centuries from skipper JP Duminy and keeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen.

Chasing 189 at the Supersport Park in Centurion, the hosts got the win with six wickets and eight balls to spare. In doing so, they levelled the three-match series 1-1.

Klaasen, continuing his good form from the ODIs, played a blistering innings of 69 off 30 balls. His knock included three fours and seven humongous sixes. At the receiving end of most of those big hits was Yuznedra Chahal. The leg-spinner had a horrific outing, going wicket-less for 64 runs from his four overs.

Once Klaasen perished, Duminy battled on to get the job done for his side. He ended the match with a statement, smacking back to back sixes of medium-pacer Jaydev Unadkat. The Proteas skipper remained unbeaten on 64 off 40 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes.

It was a forgettable day for the Indian bowlers. They struggled as the ball got wet due to slight drizzle, but economy-rates of 16 (Chahal) and 11 (Unadkat) shouldn't be acceptable on any day.

Earlier, India got to 188/4 thanks to fighting half-centuries from Manish Pandey and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The duo pulled India out of a deep hole as Rohit Sharma​, Shikhar Dhawan and skipper Virat Kohli fell without adding much to the score.

Rohit perished off the very first ball he faced, getting trapped plumb in front of a darting delivery by rookie pacer Junior Dala. Dhawan then hit some lusty shots to the fence, before getting out to an innocuous delivery from off spinner Duminy.

The biggest blow, however, was to follow. Dala picked up his second wicket in the form of the Indian captain. Kohli was once again guilty of poking at a ball outside his off stump, edging it to the keeper.

Once Suresh Raina was sent back as well, after making a breezy 30 off 24 balls, it was a Pandey-Dhoni show all the way.

Pandey, having warmed the bench right through the six-match ODI series, was a man on a mission. The right-hander showed just what he's capable off by rotating the strike freely and finding the fence at will.

The 28-year-old put on an unbeaten stand of 98 with MSD to give his team a fighting chance. He ended up with 79 off 58, while Dhoni remained not out for 52 off 28.

Dhoni entertained the crowd with some trademark hitting at the end of the innings. His 18 runs of the final over showed how dangerous he still is as a finisher.

MSD and Pandey's heroics, though, weren't enough as South Africa did well to level the series on Wednesday. The third and final match will be played in Cape Town on Saturday.