Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan shone with the bat as South Africa defeated India by seven wickets in the second one day international at Boland Park in Paarl on Friday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Indian openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan got their side off to a fantastic start. The duo added 63 runs for the opening stand before Keshav Maharaj broke the partnership by dismissing Dhawan caught at deep mid wicket boundary by Sisanda Magala for 29.
Virat Kohli fell for a duck, chipping left arm spinner Maharaj straight to cover. Skipper Rahul along with Rishabh Pant featured in a 115 run stand for the third wicket. The former who was given a reprieve thrice, finally perished while attempting a flick off Magala for a 55.
Pant smashed a breezy 85 before holing out to long on while attempting another big hit off Tabraiz Shamsi. His knock came off 71 deliveries with ten fours and two sixes.
The middle order failed again as Shreyas Iyer (11) and Venkatesh Iyer (22) fell cheaply leaving India in a spot of bother at 239/6.
The pair of Shardul Thakur (40)* and Ravichandran Ashwin (25)* added an unbroken 48 run stand for the seventh wicket to take the visitors to 287/6 in their allotted 50 overs.
Chasing 288, Proteas pair of Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan added 132 runs for the opening wicket. India could have had De Kock on 32 ,but Pant missed a stumping off Ravi Ashwin. The South African wicket keeper batsman went on to make a fine 78, before being trapped leg before wicket by Shardul Thakur.
Malan (91) fell nine run short of a well-deserved hundred, bowled by Jasprit Bumrah off cutter. Yuzvendra Chahal provided a glimmer of hope for the visitors by dismissing South African skipper Temba Bavuma caught and bowled for 35.
However Aiden Markram (37*) and Rassie van der Dussen (37*) featured in an unbeaten 74 run stand for the fourth wicket to take the hosts to a comprehensive seven wicket win. With this victory, South Africa take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Quinton de Kock was declared the Man of the Match for his fine knock. The third and the final one dayer will be played at Capetown on 23 January, Sunday.