India vs South Africa, 2nd T20I as it happened: Sensational Laura Wolvaardt takes SA to series win

10.25 pm: That is all from us for the night, South Afirca beat India by six wickets in second T20 International to take series-clinching 2-0 lead in Lucknow. What a thriller we witnessed.

Player of the match: LAURA WOLVAARDT! Just what the doctor ordered.

Vinayakk Mohanarangan: That the fielding is an area of improvement has been addressed by the captains since the ODI series started. The acknowledgement is there already. It’s a big concern. But tonight, Richa Ghosh needs a hand around her shoulders.

Ashish Magotra: If India had taken their chances in the field, they would have done themselves a huge favour. But this is a lesson that they hopefully won’t forget any time soon. The bar is far too low at the moment. Fielding is one of the controllables. Should be one of the controllables.

Zenia D’Cunha: The format, Indian team & batting approach changes, but pattern remains the same. SA win toss, chase, Indian batters try, fielders slip up, bowlers cant defend

SA 159/4 after 20 overs: Wolvaardt, what a player. India played a big part in their own defeat tonight but credit to SA for acing another chase.

SOUTH AFRICA WIN THE SERIES: Sensational from Laura Wolvaardt. Absolutely sensational. And what was a night to remember with the bat for Richa Ghosh, turned into a night to forget on the field. Might not have mattered in the end that she didn’t collect the ball but that could have been a chance. A learning experience, that. She looks shattered. One can only hope she bounces back.

SA win a thriller. Wolvaardt and de Klerk hold their nerve. India don’t. What a win!

19.5: TWO DOWN THE GROUND! Wolvaardt had gotten to her 50 there, and now everyone cheers. Scores level.

19.4: NO BALL! OH DEAR! Another full toss. That’s a bummer for India. It is a double as well for Wolvaardt. 3 off 2 balls.

19.4: Another super slow ball. No timing , a single to long on.

19.3: A FULL TOSS! Oh that’s a miss by Wolvaardt. She cannot find the placement. Just one. 7 off 3.

19.2: Reddy goes wide and it pays off! Dot ball. SA need 8 off 4.

19.1: De Klerk does the right thing, a single and Wolvaardt is back on strike. Slow and straight from Reddy.

SA need 9 off 6. Arundhati Reddy comes on. She has gone for 26 in 3. NERVES!

18.6: FOUR! A wicket but 9 runs in that over! Harleen Deol concedes back to back fours and it is the brilliant Laura Wolvaardt who has put SA in front again. The last one another sweep, goes fine.

18.5: FOUR! What was turning into a superb over, Harleen Deol bowls one short and Wolvaardt puts it away for four. 13 off 7 balls.

18.2: WICKET! What drama! A big call from Smriti Mandhana to give the ball to Harleen Deol for the all important 19th over. She had gone for 22 in her previous 2. But she gets the wicket of du Preez! Deepti Sharma takes a pressure catch at long on.

Big call, Harleen Deel to bowl the all important 19th over!

SA 140/3 after 18 overs: Radha Yadav completes her over despite twisting her ankle. Finishes a superb spell on 1/25 after 4 overs. Six runs in that over, no boundaries.

Bravo, Radha Yadav! Bravo, Du Preez! One delivery after twisting her ankle while trying to gather the ball, she gets treatment and then after a break in play, gets one to turn and bounce. Almost stumped the batter but she brings the bat down in time when it seemed for all the money that she was gone. Good cricket all around.

OUCH! For the second night running, a nasty looking ankle twist for an Indian fielder. Radha Yadav tonight, goes over her left ankle while trying to gather the ball at the bowler’s end. Break in play, can she finish the over? SA 137/2 in 17.3 overs.

SA need 25 off 18 balls. Radha Yadav on. Pressure on India.

SA 134/3 after 17 overs: ANOTHER SUPERB OVER FOR SA! That Deepti Sharma over starts with a four for Laura Wolvaardt and ends with a four for Mignon du Preez.

STAT ALERT: That was also the 50th T20I wicket for Radha Yadav, has come in 36 innings:

SA 123/3 after 16 overs: But it is another good over for SA after another misfield results in a four. Arundhati the fielder this time at square leg. Disappointing from India.

Zenia D’Cunha: Radha Yadav’s record wicket-taking streak continues to 25 games! After Lizelle Lee was dropped twice, one of her own bowling, she decides to take the catch herself to ensure she doesn’t go wicketless

15.1: WICKET! LEE GONE! Radha Yadav’s streak of T20Is with at least one wicket continues. Up to 25 matches today and she does it herself with a good high catch off her own bowling. The last T20I she played without taking a wicket was in Nov 2018. Lizelle Lee might have done the damage already perhaps? But it is a chance to put pressure on SA now.

SA 108/2 after 15 overs: The required rate is being kept in check again. It was turning into a decent over for India from Deepti but Wolvaardt hits a four off the last ball.

SA 108/2 after 14 overs: SIX FOR LEE! Superb hit over midwicket off Arundhati (see damage below) and then a dreamy cover drive by Laura Wolvaardt. Big over for SA as they keep up with the pace.

SA need 51 off 36 balls. Partnership is now worth 42 odd 28 balls.

SA 95/2 after 13 overs: DROPPED! It’s been rollercoaster for Richa Ghosh tonight. Tough one this, but she got to it. Lee the batter again. The ball is following her around, her struggles continue on the field as she lets one through for 4 next ball at deep point. Gayakwad the unlucky bowler as Lee gets a life on 30 and then 60. If she gets to 90, it might not matter anymore.

SA 88/2 after 12 overs: BIG OVER!!! More sloppiness on the field from India. A couple more boundaries for Lee as Harleen Deol’s over goes for 14. The standout shot a brutal drive down the ground.

Lee, by the way, extends her record at the top of the list for most 50-plus scores for SA in T20Is. 13th for her.

FIFTY! Lizelle Lee is playing another blinder for South Africa. She is now batting on 50 off 34 balls, SA 74/2 after 11. Wolvaardt gets a reprieve now as Gayakwad pus one down off her own bowling. India’s fielding is a wild ride tonight.

WICKET! DIRECT HIT FROM LONG OFF!!! Sensational from Deepti Sharma (after a superb stop by Jemimah Rodrigues at long on) and Sune Luus is caught short. Well, that’s a pleasant turn of events for Indian fielding. SA 72/2 after 10 overs.

South Africa 64/1 after 9 overs: Lizelle Lee was dropped in one of the ODIs and made India pay, she was dropped last night but India managed to bounce back. What will it be tonight? She is already adding crucial runs since the missed chance with another boundary in that Simran Bahadur over.

South Africa 56/1 after 8 overs: DROPPED! Richa Ghosh, who had a great night with the bat, has put down a fairly simple chance in the deep. It’s Lizelle Lee, too. Could prove very costly for India. To add insult to that particular injury, she misfields at the end of the over to concede a four. Lee, of course. That might bring the youngster down to earth. Radha Yadav unlucky not to have a wicket and extend her streak of matches with at least one wicket.

South Africa 49/1 after 7 overs: The impressive Simran Bahadur (who earned praise from her captain despite the defeat yesterday) started off decently but Luus smashes a four off the last ball to make it a par over.

Identical powerplay for both teams. Despite losing the in-form Anneke Bosch, the visitors have made a strong start. They have been chasing sensationally well on this tour, will that continue tonight?

SA 41/1 after 6 overs: Lee has found her rhythm. 8 fours in the innings so far... India have let themselves down by bowling far too many ‘four’ balls. India were also 41/1 at the end of the Powerplay.

SA 36/1 after 5 overs: Deepti Sharma into the attack and she got three balls wrong in the over and Lee smashed all three for a four. Not a good start for the offie.

SA 24/1 after 4 overs: Luus and Lee are a dangerous combination. They can generate their own power and we saw that in Gayakwad’s over. The SA innings is moving along pretty well.

SA 14/1 after 3 overs: Reddy and Gayawad have done well. A bigger target for SA to chase, early moment needed.

SA 8/1 after 1.3 overs: Gayakwad kept it straight. Bosch tried to sweep across the line and India have the wicket they wanted. Anne Bosch b Gayakwad 2(5)

SA 7/0 after 1 over: Lee and Bosch are dangerous at the top of the order. Especially Lee, who isn’t afraid to play the big shots.

India 158/4 after 20 overs: STRONG FINISH BY INDIA. A couple of boundaries in the last over for Richa even though the innings ends with a dot ball. Richa Ghosh 44 (26) and Shafali Verma 47 (31), two 17-year-olds, the stars of the batting performance.

India 148/4 after 19 overs: A couple more boundaries for Richa Ghosh! What an innings this by the teenager. The standout shot was a lofted square drive over point off Khaka.

India 136/4 after 18 overs: Pressure on Deepti after 3 dot balls on the trot and she gets the release with a well placed pull shot for four. Still a good over from Ismail.

Deepti Sharma is the new batter in...

Over 16.4, WICKET! Jemimah Rodrigues was again looking in good touch but is dismissed going for another boundary. Out for 16 off 14 balls, c Sinalo Jafta b Nadine de Klerk who is delighted with the breakthrough. Went for the shot behind the wicket that she plays well but could not connect. India 129/4

India 126/3 after 16 overs: The Indians are turning the style on here. Two youngsters putting together another solid stand. A boundary for Rodrigues followed by a boundary for Ghosh, whose cutting the ball with great effect. Bosch with another expensive over.

India: 114/3 after 15 overs: Superb over from Khaka, not giving anything in the hitting arc for Indian batters.

India: 112/3 after 14 overs: 18 RUNS! Delighted to see India’s approach here, not allowing wickets to slow them down. Each batter has looked to keep the tempo up. Richa Ghosh, another 17-year-old, with 3 boundaries in one over off South Africa’s captain Sune Luus. Jemimah Rodrigues also gets in, putting away the full toss away for four off the last ball.

12.6 WICKET! India 94/3 Oh dear. India lose two set batters in quick succession again, much like last night. And it is not a dissimilar dismissal for Harleen Deol either. Caught at long on. India’s innings got derailed after JR and Harleen Deol were dismissed last night, they would want to avoid that here. Bosch with the wicket, Ismail with a good catch.

Zenia D’Cunha: Shafali Verma was looking so so good, before getting bowled on 47 off 31 that I almost don’t mind the wicket! Watching this teen bat, no matter the ultimate result, is such a delight. The X Factor is becoming a consistent game changer. More chances for her, please!

India 87/2 after 11 overs: SIX AND OUT! Few deliveries after clearing the midwicket fence, Shafali Verma is bowled by Mlaba. She is disappointed evidently while the South Africans are overjoyed. Out for a fantastic 47 off 31 balls. Gets a big glove-bump from Jemimah Rodrigues who walks in next.

India 79/1 after 10 overs: What a superb partnership this is for India. Shafali Verma and Harleen Deol have added 71 (50). A boundary each for them in the 10th over bowled de Klerk. Shafali once again showing her touch more than just power, cut away strongly.

India 65/1 after 9 overs: Mlaba drops one short and this time Shafali shows her backfoot strength. Punched through covers for four. That is another good over for India. The run-rate is 7.22.

India 57/1 after 8 overs: Bosch continues to have a tough night. The commentators reckon she is missing her run-up as Harleen Deol puts it away for two boundaries either side of the pitch.

India 46/1 after 7 overs: DROPPED! Bosch is not having the best of nights on the field. Mlaba induces the false shot from Shafali, and the skied shot goes to Bosch at long off and she has dropped it coming forward.

Ashish Magotra: Watching Shafali Verma playing and wondering what reason they might have had to not pick her for the ODI squad... there are very few women in the world who can bat like her.

India 41/1 after 6 overs: FOUR AND SIX! Two sensational hits down the ground by Shafali Verma as India finish the powerplay strongly. The six was a brilliant hit, clearing the fence by some distance. De Klerk went full, and it was dealt with brilliantly by the Indian opener.

India 31/1 after 5 overs: Khaka continues and it is Deol’s turn to pick up a boundary to make sure it is a decent over for India. Cut away past point.

India 25/1 after 4 overs: 4-0-4-0-4-0! Shafali Verma takes on Shabnim Ismail in some style. The SA pacer sneaked in a good bouncer in that over too but the Indian opener is unfazed. The first boundary was a misfield, the second was a lofted off drive, the last was a lofted pull. Brilliant batting, keen contest.

India 13/1 after 3 overs: Khaka with a tidy first over. Just 4 runs off it.

India 9/1 after 2 overs: India need another solid hand here from Harleen Deol while the onus to keep the rate up falls on Shafali’s shoulders again.

Over 1.4: WICKET! Another early dismissal for Smriti Mandhana. And it is Shabnim Ismail again. Just a couple of deliveries after a similar shot to last night fell away from the mid-off fielder (a lofted cover drive), she goes for the big shot again. But the ball is too far away from her here. Caught behind.

India 6/0 after 1 over: Shafali Verma taking a single off the first ball and going to the non-striker’s end earns a chuckle from former India captain Anjum Chopra on air. Mandhana hits the first boundary of the night with a lofted pull shot down the ground.

The Indian openers are in the middle. Spin again from SA to start. Mlaba with the first over.

Playing XIs:

TEAM NEWS: Official confirmation awaited, but looks like India have brought in Radha Yadav to replace Poonam Yadav.

TOSS NEWS: South Africa have (AGAIN) won the toss and Sune Luus has (AGAIN) opted to bowl first.

06.30: There is no clarity yet on whether Harmanpreet Kaur has recovered from her injury to lead the side or even whether Smriti Mandhana is fully fit after her ankle episode on Saturday. Hopefully clarity at the toss.

You can watch the first match highlights here.

06.20 pm: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the second T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow. After Anneke Bosch led her side’s charge in the series-opener, the hosts need to bounce back to keep the three-match series alive.

First T20I: With skipper Harmanpreet Kaur missing, India lacked the middle order impetus to make the most of their good platform in the first T20I against South Africa on Saturday. Despite a solid partnership between Harleen Deol, who scored 52 while batting at No 3, and Jemimah Rodrigues (30 off 27), India struggled to get the quick runs in the last five overs of their innings and finished with just 130 in their 20 overs.

In reply, South Africa cruised to the target thanks to Anne Bosch’s brilliant 66 not out and Sune Luus’ 43. The batting conditions remained good throughout the match but one of the big differentiators was the fielding. South Africa were superb while India were poor, as had been the case during ODIs as well.

India’s spinners haven’t joined party yet and Mandhana or Kaur (depending on who is cleared fit to play) will be hoping that will change in the second T20I.