finishes off the match by skipping down the track and getting to the pitch to drill a bullet straight drive into the fence.
India vs South Africa, 2nd T20I at Mohali, SA in IND, Sep 18 2019 - Match Result
10.35 pm: Well that's a wrap for this game. Kohli got yet another Man of the Match award, in yet another successful chase, staying not out yet again and steering India home. He's never going to get tired of doing this, obviously. He's also become the leading run-getter in T20Is over the course of that knock. Can Rohit Sharma over-take him again? Can South Africa pull back to level what has become a two-match series now? Join us for the third T20I to find out. Meanwhile, on behalf of Chandan and Karthik too, this is Saurabh signing off.
Virat Kohli is the Man of the Match: You reminded me of the best T20 game of my career so I got extra motivation from that (on the World T20 match against Australia, to Manjrekar). Slightly different pitch today. That's always going to be a sweet memory, but this one's nice as well. Bowlers showed lot of character. The pitch was very good and they got off to a good start so it was an outstanding effort from the bowler to pull the game back from us. That's exactly what we're looking at, try out new people and see who stands up under pressure. (On his consistency) It's the badge in front of my shirt. It's a pride to play for my country so whatever it takes to get over the line, I will do. Get the team across the line anyhow. If you want to make your team win, you'll find a way.
Quinton de Kock: I think we got off to a good start. Towards the end they bowled pretty well, they understood the conditions a lot quicker than we did. (On the debutants) There was a lot of pressure coming in for some of the new guys and I thought they played really well. Obviously we didn't get a winning start but I thought they held their nerve very well. Unfortunately when there was pace on the ball it looked like it was easier to bat on, so it was about taking the pace off. But then they batted really well. I've had some time off since the World Cup so I was nice and refreshed and quite hungry to get out there.
10.28 pm: Time for the presentations now.
Meanwhile, that innings by Kohli has taken him to the top of the heap amongst T20I run-getters. Just another peak conquered. He's now 7 runs ahead of his vice-captain Rohit Sharma, who he went past today.
Sundar S: "Looks like all of SA are in India. The men's and women's senior teams, the men's A team. Where is their u19 team?" - Indeed. Don't think their U-19 side are travelling at the moment though!
10.23 pm: The presentations are still to come, but we also have football action coming your way in the UEFA Champions League. Here's a little taster for the biggie tonight - Real Madrid v PSG.
Shikhar Dhawan: I was timing the ball well and enjoying batting. Good to get a good start in the home season. We practice a lot against that pace in the nets (145kph plus). It was lovely to see Rohit hitting those sixes and lovely to feel those drives and cuts that I hit. It was an unbelievable catch (that got him out) and you have to smile. I really appreciated Miller's effort. I hit it hard, it wasn't a lofted shot and it was a tremendous catch.
10.16 pm: Fairly straightforward chase for India, who were always in control. This target was completely in the Kohli 'comfort zone' range, which meant he could direct the chase on auto-pilot almost. He still showed some breath-taking timing and shot-making, which would have given great joy to the packed crowd at Mohali. The bowlers set up a chase where India never had to get out of third gear. South Africa's bowlers by contrast, didn't find the same movement and grip that India's did. Dew? Or just India's batsmen being better? Bit of both perhaps. The only batsman for the visitors who looked in command was Quinton de Kock, who was sent on his way courtesy what turned out to be the second best catch of the day - by Kohli again.
comes down the track again and pushes it to long-on
down the track and his timing has been surreal all through. Picks it up and carts him over long-on without even a big flourish of the bat
gives himself room to whip, and it takes the bottom of the bat to roll past the keeper
fired into the pads, and he goes back and clips through midwicket
flat on the stumps, down the track, bunted back to the bowler
that's too quick for Iyer to pull off a cutesy upper cut. Back of a length and screaming over middle stump, Iyer was giving himself room to send it up and over the keeper perhaps, but the ball whizzes through before he can connect
length ball outside off, steered to point
takes on the bouncer, going back and pulling it from in front of his helmet to deep midwicket. That was an impressive short one on target, but Kohli dealt with it expertly
driven to cover
pats this back of a length ball down with a horizontal bat outside off and is looking for a single but there isn't one
What. A. Shot. This is Kohli just toying with the bowling. Length ball from Rabada at pace on leg stump, and he goes back and nonchalantly flicks it off his pads. It's such great timing that it carries all the way past the boundary. Without even trying to hit it hard
19 needed off 18.
slower ball on the stumps, he read it and tapped it around the corner with soft hands. Wanted two but Iyer is hesitant about it and that moment is enough to stamp out thoughts of a second run
attempted yorker outside off, driven to extra cover
back of a length, gets nice carry on it, but Iyer stays legside of the ball and almost upper cuts it to third man
punched down to long-on
bowler compensates for Kohli's saunter down the track by bowling too short but Kohli stays put this time and flays a cut through point
down the track and that's just unbelievable timing! Gets to fifty too. Looked for all the world like it was a shot for two runs. He had stroked it, gently not with punch, through extra cover, but the timing was so good it just kept going till it reached the boundary
John CHANDY: "Just cant understand why Sanju Samson isnt considered ! Look at the number of chances given to Pant"
Ajay: "Is it time for Kishan to get a run in the side?"
skips down the track again but the bowler sees him and denies him the room, and Kohli ends up punching it to extra cover from close to his body
down the track, flatter one, bunts it to the bowler's right
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh | |
Toss | India, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2019/20 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | India led the 3-match series 1-0 |
Match number | T20I no. 888 |
Hours of play (local time) | 19.00 start, First Session 19.00-20.25, Interval 20.25-20.45, Second Session 20.45-22.10 |
Match days | 18 September 2019 - night (20-over match) |
T20I debut | |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |
Over 19 • IND 151/3
India won by 7 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)