Faf du Plessis introduced Imran Tahir as India put on board 46 after six power-play overs. Ind 30-2, 4.2 overs. Ind 28-1, 4 overs.
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In the spotlight: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis had hailed R Ashwin as the best spin bowler in the world and after Friday few can argue with that assessment.
For South Africa, Albie Morkel comes in for Marchant de Lange.
Cuttack: At least 63 platoons of police, 300 officers, four quick response teams (QRTs) and two anti- terrorist squads (ATSs) will be deployed in Cuttack city for the India-South Africa T-20 match to be played at Barabati stadium here. Despite a valiant century by Rohit Sharma, India went down to South Africa, courtesy a 34-ball knock by JP Duminy.
The Indians will have to pull up their socks after the flop show in Dharamsala.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni: I haven’t won the toss in a while, and it is accumulating. “Obviously disappointed with the loss but we have to regroup as soon as we can and come back really strong”. Overall, there’s a room for improvement, I’m sure the guys have learnt from it and they will come back stronger. “We have to do a lot of things right whether it’s batting or bowling, and come out all guns blazing”, he said at press conference on the eve of the match at Barabati Stadium.
The Proteas gained the first T20 at Dharamsala by seven wickets because of half centuries by Man of the Match JP Duminy and AB de Villiers. “We know they are not so good against the spinners”. “But when you play these kind of tournaments, you grow as a cricketer”, he said. It was an ideal platform for both of us to accelerate and keep playing our shots. We always wanted to be ahead and put the pressure on the bowlers, which is exactly what happened.
“This was definitely one of my best innings”, Duminy said. While in South Africa, there would be no changes in the team. “It is something we will stick with even though the conditions here will probably suggest otherwise”, the T20 skipper had said during the Bangladesh tour. He made 51 off 32 balls in Dharamsala to provide his team with an electric start as they chased 200 for victory.
Meanwhile, players of both the teams have arrived at Bhubaneswar yesterday to a rousing welcome amidst tight security.
“He has been here so many times, he is the captain of Delhi (Daredevils) in the IPL. If David Miller had gone forward of me, everyone knows what he might do in the brief format”. “Before coming to India, I personally did so much of work with my coach Rob Walter, performed lots of spin”.
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The South African is for certain that the 2nd T20 at Cuttack wouldn’t be a run-feast like the one the spectators witnessed in the collection opener.
