Crowd play foul as Proteas win Cuttack T20I and series

What a shame! The much-hiped second T20 international, the first of its kind here at Barabati Stadium on Monday, ended on a nightmarish note due to unruly crowd, which disrupted the game twice, throwing water bottles into the ground, and an incompetent Commissionerate Police, which watched the mayhem as mute spectators.

Amidst the chaos and confusion, host India made a humiliating surrender as they lost the match by six wickets with 17 balls to spare. With this win South Africa sealed the three-match series, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead.

India lost the match in the first half itself as they were bundled out for a paltry 92 after being put into bat on a track, which contrary to expectations, offered unpredictable bounce from the beginning and turn later on. This was the second lowest total by India in a T20 international, the lowest being 74 against Australia at Melbourne in 2008. Chasing the easy target, the Proteas suffered a few hiccups before an uneaten 30 by in-form J P Duminy helped them romp home comfortably.

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