South Africa showed great character to fight back in an emphatic fashion in a game that ebbed and flowed to successfully defend their total of 166 to level the series 1-1.
It was an inspired bowling performance by the visitors to fightback a day after they got mauled in the first T20 International. They came out all guns blazing. Anrich Nortje got the prized wicket of Evin Lewis after a little cameo and then wickets tumbled, especially in the middle order where the Men in Maroon continued to struggle. The spin duo wrecked havoc and pegged Windies back who lost 3 wickets for a mere 8 runs in the period of middle overs. George Linde and Tabraiz Shamsi picked up a combined three wickets for just 35 runs in their 8 overs.
Fabian Allen's (34 off 11) heroics at the end was just a little too late. But he struck some gorgeous maximums off both Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi to try drag his team over the line but T20 is a game of fine margins and Nortje bowled a stunning 19th over by giving off just 4 runs and starved Allen of strike while at it.
Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks amassed 69 runs in the powerplay and continued on their free-flowing way and layed the perfect platform. South Africa looked set to score over 200 at one stage but with the faltering middle order who once again failed to accelerate, they managed a paltry 166 runs which proved enough in the end.
David Miller was promoted to number 4 but couldn't make the promotion count. Temba Bavuma won his first game as the skipper and was the top scorer as he made 46 along with Reeza Hendricks's 42. The skipper did well in the middle overs but with little to no support at the other end.
Both teams have issues with regards to their middle orders in particular and will hope they can iron them out moving forward in this series with three more games left. The home side has indicated that they'll switch things up and try different combinations. We'll have to wait and see what the Proteas plans are in the remaining games.
"The guys came with an open mind and had to be brave. We have been good in the first six overs, but in the end, we weren't able to capitalise. The score we put on was a par score." said Bavuma.
He added, "Shamsi and George were amazing; for a captain, it makes things a lot easier. We always go to our pace bowlers, and the conditions needed to mix it up"
"We know South Africa would come hard. It was just a matter of bowling good balls, and we were pretty happy with 166. It was a matter of playing smart cricket. We are not going to hide away from the fact, but will continue to play aggressive cricket because that is our strength" - said Pollard.
