New Chandigarh: South Africa defeated India by 51 runs in the second T20 at Mullaanpur, with Quinton de Kock delivering a match-winning performance. De Kock scored 90 runs off 46 balls, including 7 sixes and 5 fours, earning the Player of the Match award. Chasing a target of 214 runs, India could manage only 162 all out, falling short in the final over.
Toss Decision Backfires
India’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss proved costly. De Kock reflected on the turning point, stating, “The situation changed when India batted. The pitch started to gain pace and the ball moved more quickly. When we batted, the pitch was slower and movement was minimal. That difference in conditions between the two innings was the biggest factor.”
De Kock on His Storming Knock
The South African left-hander admitted his innings flowed naturally: “I don’t know what exactly happened, it just happened. Maybe when I get set, I try to make the most of it. We face each other often, especially in India, and always play on good pitches.”
Challenges of Chasing at Night
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium is known to be tricky for chasing at night. During IPL 2025, only one out of five night games saw the team batting second emerge victorious. The pitch offers extra assistance to fast bowlers in the second innings, and dew doesn’t make batting easier. Experts noted that this factor, combined with the toss decision, played a major role in India’s defeat.
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