Cricket
Vintage Mahi!
Updated : Feb 21, 2018, 11:56 PM IST
Manish Pandey and Mahendra Singh Dhoni slammed quickfire half-centuries to guide India to a challenging 188 for four against South Africa in the second T20 International, in Centurion on Wednesday.
While Pandey remained unbeaten on 79 off 48 balls, veteran Dhoni made 52 off 28 deliveries. The duo shared 98 runs for the fifth wicket in just 9.2 overs to take India to the commanding total.
Twitter went into a frenzy as Dhoni rolled back the years to entertain the masses with some trademark hitting. The former India captain smacked 18 runs off the last over of the innings, giving another glimpse of his finishing abilities.
Waah ! Dhoni , kya maara. Great innings from Manish Pandey and MS Dhoni and 188 is a very competitive score #SAvIND
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 21, 2018
Wow! Vintage finish by Dynamite #Dhoni ... and a backbone knock from Manish Pandey
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) February 21, 2018
Pandey - 1st match 29* 2nd match 79* - life-changing series
— Dr. Gill (@ikpsgill1) February 21, 2018
Pandya - it's color-changing series#IndvSa #savind
This Is The Same Ground Where Manish Pandey Scored Debut IPL Century. Deserved A Century Today Also. Very Well Played & Rose To The Occasion When Top Order Failed. #IndvSA #INDvsSA #SAvIND #SAvsIND #Dhoni
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) February 21, 2018
And today Dhoni took 18 off the last over, won't happen everyday. Like even Kohli got out for 1. Some day Pandey will get a ton. Finishing is not black and white.
— Nikhil (@CricCrazyNIKS) February 21, 2018
This is already a wonderful come-back from 45-3. Fashioned by Manish Pandey's custom built T20 technique
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 21, 2018
And that flat six in the last over after he apparently shouted at Manish Pandey, is my favorite. Perfect combo of aggression and class.
— Ms Srijeeta Dhoni (@Srijeeta7) February 21, 2018
Dhoni is not happy with Manish pandey.. pic.twitter.com/Cr0vpVzUNc
— jinen doshi (@jinendoshi) February 21, 2018
Similarity between Dhoni and Johnny Sins?
— Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) February 21, 2018
A. Both have performed well at various positions
Most runs scored in last 2 overs of a T20I inns for India (19th & 20th):
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) February 21, 2018
44 (10) Yuvraj v Eng, 2007
28 (9) DHONI v SA, TODAY
26 (9) Kohli v WI, 2016
24 (9) Rohit v Pak, 2007
21 (9) Dhoni v NZ, 2017#SAvInd
With due respect to all our legendary cricketers, i feel after Sachin, #Dhoni is the most loved cricketer in India & among Indians worldwide. When he score runs, India celebrates. God bless him.. #IndvsSA
— Sumit kadel (@SumitkadeI) February 21, 2018
Really is that you #Dhoni ? #SAvIND #INDvSA #manishpandey pic.twitter.com/RuvCehOTV6
— PATRIOT (@iamchetss) February 21, 2018
*Dhoni went for shopping*
— Chota Don (@choga_don) February 21, 2018
Shopkeeper: Cash or credit?
Dhoni (Smiled): Lagta hai naye ho.
#Dhoni on . Watching a t 20 after long let’s gooo indiaaaaa
— Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) February 21, 2018
Back foot over cover for 6! Off a fast bowler! Shot of the day from Dhoni. Guess last over is his territory!!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 21, 2018
That's what happens when Dhoni comes to bat before the 12th over!#SAvIND
— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) February 21, 2018
Those Dhoni Dhoni chants are especially for the haters. Take that. #Dhoni
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) February 21, 2018
That backfoot six over covers was like a affidavit over a 100 rupee stamp paper signed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) February 21, 2018
#Dhoni Amaaazing !!!! ... After a very long time decided to watch T20 and I’m glad I saw it! #INDvSA
— Soundarya Sharma (@soundarya_20) February 21, 2018
Today innings is fine example that Dhoni needs sometime in the middle to get going and he is not the one which we use to see who smashes the ball early in the innings...
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) February 21, 2018
Half Century For MS Dhoni. 52* Off Just 28 Balls. Strike Rate Of 185.71
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) February 21, 2018
Meanwhile #Dhoni Haters... #IndvSA #INDvsSA #SAvIND #SAvsIND pic.twitter.com/wNDVSob5uW
This is #Dhoni wishing sweet dreams to everyone in India. Just enjoy these vintage knocks whenever they come. And well played Pandeyji.. Still feel KKR should've retained him.. #IndvSA
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) February 21, 2018
Incredible 6 by Dhoni, hitting it backfoot over cover, then 4, 4 on the onside & 2 to reach 50 in last over. How's that for a finish!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 21, 2018
That's my Thala for you guys. Fantastic knock by Manish Pandey. Remember he came in when our Team was 45/3. Well played Manish and a great finish by MS Dhoni.
— Saravanan Hari (@CricSuperFan) February 21, 2018
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 over to up the ante.
Suresh Raina (31 off 24) matched his partner stroke for stroke and hit right-arm pacer Dane Peterson for three boundaries in the next over to take India to 40 for one after four overs. With his pacers going for runs, skipper JP Duminy brought himself on to the attack in the next over but was welcomed by Dhawan with an exquisite pull to the midwicket boundary.
Duminy, however, got his man in the next ball as Dhawan hit a full toss straight to Farhaan Behardien at mid-on. India received a big blow in the next over when skipper Virat Kohli gloved a rising Dala delivery straight to Heinrich Klaasen behind the stumps.
Thereafter, Raina and Pandey added quick 45 runs off 31 balls for the fourth wicket to take India forward. But the dangerous-looking partnership was broken by Andile Phehlukwayo in the 11th over when he had Raina LBW.
After Raina's dismissal, 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.
(Inputs from PTI)