At Centurion, it was a sight for sore eyes when former India captain MS Dhoni, who led India to title win in inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, returned to his beast form when he displayed some finishing skills to power India to a confident total after early blows. Dhoni was simply unstoppable at that particular moment in the first innings of the 2nd T20I match.
Giving his critics a fitting reply, Dhoni scored his second half-century to take India to 188/4 in the second T20I at the Supersport Park, Centurion.
While middle-order batsman Manish Pandey remained unbeaten on 79, veteran Dhoni made 52 off 28 deliveries. Despite Pandey's contribution being enormous, it was the former skipper who stole the show for India at Centurion.
The duo established a 98-run partnership for the fifth-wicket in 9.2 overs.
Sent into bat, India were dealt a severe blow in the first ball of the second over when Rohit Sharma was caught plumb in front of the wicket for a duck by Junior Dala (2/28).
But thereafter, Shikhar Dhawan (24 off 14) came to the party and clobbered Chris Morris for two fours and as many sixes in the third over to up the ante.
After the dismissal of Suresh Raina (31 off 24), Pandey and Dhoni mixed caution with aggression to take India forward.
The duo took time to settle down but once they got their eyes set, they clobbered the South African bowlers to all around the park.
While Pandey struck six boundaries and three sixes during his knock, Dhoni was not far behind his younger partner as he found the fence four times and over it thrice.
(With PTI Inputs)
