Gqeberha [South Africa], November 10, 2024: In a nail-biting finish at St George’s Park, South Africa clinched a thrilling three-wicket victory over India in the second T20I, leveling the series 1-1.
The game saw young South African stars Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee rise to the occasion in a tense chase of India’s modest total of 124, which, despite a solid start, became a challenging target on a low-scoring pitch.
South Africa’s power-hitters faced an unexpectedly tough battle in the chase, especially after Varun Chakaravarthy’s brilliant five-wicket haul left the hosts reeling at 88/7. The collapse of big names like David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen could have easily spelled defeat, but Stubbs and Coetzee took on the challenge, unleashing a flurry of boundaries to secure the win with one over to spare.
The match took a sharp turn after India’s early dismissals, with Marco Jansen and Coetzee reducing the visitors to 5/2 by the second over. Sanju Samson was dismissed for a duck, and Abhishek Sharma managed just five runs. Suryakumar Yadav’s brief stint continued India’s rocky start, as he fell for a mere four runs, leaving India struggling at 15/3.
In an attempt to stabilize the innings, Tilak Varma and Axar Patel forged a brief partnership, pushing the score to 34/3 by the end of the powerplay. However, with Tilak’s departure for 20 and a run-out claiming Axar, India found themselves at 70/5. Hardik Pandya stepped up with an unbeaten 39 off 44 balls to lift India to 124/6.
Chakaravarthy’s Spin Brilliance:
Chasing 125, South Africa got off to a promising start but quickly lost momentum as Varun Chakaravarthy delivered a game-changing spell, claiming 5/17 and dismantling South Africa’s top order. Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller all fell to Chakaravarthy’s bowling, causing a flurry of wickets that left South Africa at a precarious 88/7.
Stubbs and Coetzee’s Standout Partnership:
With the game slipping away, Stubbs (47* off 41 balls) and Coetzee (19* off 9 balls) launched a fearless counterattack. Coetzee’s massive 103-meter six reignited hope in the crowd, and together, the duo swiftly chased down the remaining runs. Stubbs secured the win by striking two boundaries off Arshdeep Singh, sealing the game with an over to spare.
Brief Score:
India – 124/6 (Hardik Pandya 39*, Axar Patel 27; Andile Simelane 1-20)
South Africa – 128/7 (Tristan Stubbs 47*, Gerald Coetzee 19*; Varun Chakaravarthy 5-17)
