South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis (left) congratulates Albie Morkel for taking the wicket of India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar yesterday.
AFP/Cuttack
Seamer Albie Morkel led the way with three for 12 as South Africa thumped India by six wickets in the violence-hit second Twenty20 match in Cuttack yesterday to clinch the series.
Leg-spinner Imran Tahir and seamer Chris Morris chipped in with two wickets each as India were skittled for a paltry 92 after being sent in to bat on a pitch of inconsistent bounce at the Barabati stadium.
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had South Africa struggling at 49-3 after removing Hashim Amla (two), skipper Faf du Plessis (16) and danger man AB de Villiers (19) in his four-over spell.
But even two stoppages due to bottles being thrown on the field of play by disappointed Indian fans could not prevent the tourists from surpassing the modest target in 17.1 overs.
Match referee Chris Broad of England ordered match organisers to provide adequate security in the stands before the game could be resumed.
The easy win gave South Africa a decisive 2-0 lead in the three-match series, having won the opener by seven wickets in Dharamsala on Friday.
The final match will be played at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina top-scored with 22 each as India were bowled out in 17.2 overs to record their second-lowest total in T20 internationals. They had fallen for 74 against Australia in 2008.
Morkel, a late induction in the touring squad after David Wiese was ruled out with a fractured hand, struck deadly blows after replacing Marchant de Lange from the team that played in Dharamsala.
After the T20 series, South Africa will play five one-day internationals and four Tests on their 10-week tour of India.
