Heinrich Klaasen hit 69 off 30 balls, and JP Duminy 64 not out off 40 as the Proteas beat India by six wickets at Centurion to level the T20I series.
Duminy finished the game with two successive sixes in the 19th over, and his celebration showed just how much it meant to him.
Needing 189 to win, South Africa lost both of their openers early. Jon-Jon Smuts got a leading edge to a slower Jaydev Unadkat delivery that went straight to Suresh Raina to depart for two, while Hendricks was caught at deep square leg after misjudging a slower ball by Shardul Thakur.
Klaasen then joined Duminy in the middle, and they proceeded to steady the ship for the home side.
Once the Proteas’ innings had gone past the halfway mark, Klaasen decided to have a go at Yuzvendra Chahal – their chief tormentor in the ODI series – as he scored 14 off the 11th over.
Klaasen brought up his maiden T20I half-century with a hook off Hardik Pandya.
He and Duminy then took Chahal apart in the 13th over, as the spinner conceded 21 runs in his third over.
Klaasen would eventually meet his end by edging a brilliant back of a length ball off the bowling of Unadkat to MS Dhoni.
David Miller was the next man in for South Africa, but he was soon back in the stands for just five.
With India looking for an important breakthrough, Farhaan Behardien also went after Chahal, who was having a night to forget at Centurion. His final over went for 14 runs as he finished with figures of 0-64 in his four overs.
Duminy was there at the end to push his side over the finish line.
Earlier, Manish Pandey and Dhoni shared a 98-run partnership as India scored 188-4 in their 20 overs.
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Junior Dala was once against the pick of the bowlers for the home side as he took two wickets for just 28 runs.
India 188-4 (20 overs): Manish Pandey 79, MS Dhoni 52, Junior Dala 2-28, JP Duminy 1-13
South Africa 189-4 (18.4 overs): Heinrich Klaasen 69, JP Duminy 64 not out, Jaydev Unadkat 2-42, Shardul Thakur 1-31, Hardik Pandya 1-31
South Africa won by six wickets to level the series 1-1
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
