Varun Chakravarthy five in vain as South Africa level series 1-1

South Africa stayed alive in the four-match T20I series after winning the second game by three wickets on November 10 at the St George’s Park in Gqeberha. India were on top of their game at the Kingsmead in Durban, and tried their hearts out on Sunday as well, but the Proteas had the last laugh. Varun Chakravarthy took a five-wicket haul, but Tristan Stubbs’ late heroics overshadowed it.
In challenging conditions, India faltered in their batting department as South Africa drew level in the series. India also missed out on equalling their longest winning streak in T20Is (12). Suryakumar Yadav’s men will now look to bounce back in the penultimate match of the series on November 13 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
South Africa vs India, 2nd T20I Highlights
After being asked to bat first, India huffed and puffed their way to 124 for six. Sanju Samson, who became India’s first batter with back-to-back T20I hundreds, fell for a duck after Marco Jansen cleaned him up. Abhishek Sharma’s indifferent run of form continued as Gerald Coetzee accounted for his wicket. Suryakumar Yadav became Andile Simelane’s first victim.
With India at 15 for three in four overs, Tilak Varma and Axar Patel steadied the ship with a partnership of 30 runs. But against the run of play, David Miller took a stunning overhead catch to sent Tilak Varma back just when the Indian batter was looking to accelerate, having already scored a run-a-ball 20. Axar was unlucky to get out on 37 after the ball deflected off Nqaba Peter’s hands onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
Hardik Pandya looked patient early in his knock, before stepping on the gas in the death overs. He was severe on Jansen, hitting the pacer for two fours and a massive six over the covers in the 18th over. He also finished off India’s innings with a boundary, taking their score past the 120-run mark.
For the Proteas, barring Keshav Maharaj, who was otherwise economical with figures of 4-0-24-0, all the other bowlers picked up a wicket apiece.
South Africa made a brisk start to their run-chase, getting the required run-rate below a run-a-ball after two overs. Ryan Rickelton, who was the leading run-scorer of SA20 2024, scored 13 off 11 before Arshdeep Singh picked up his wicket. From there on, the hosts lost a bit of momentum as Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Reeza Hendricks, who made 24, and Aiden Markram in quick succession.
Reducing the Proteas to 34 for two in the powerplay, India were far from giving up the ghost. South Africa, interestingly, promoted Jansen up the order above the likes of David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen. But the move backfired as Chakravarthy dismissed him. With the required rate around six, the onus was on Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs to take the innings forward.
Varun struck the body after dismissing Klaasen, who holed out to Rinku Singh at long-off. The off-spinner did not stop and picked up his maiden five-wicket haul after bamboozling Miller. It was his figures of 4-0-17-5 that not only reduced South Africa to 67 for six, but pushed the required run-rate to 8.09 with seven overs left.
When it seemed that the match was going away from South Africa with 37 needed of four overs, Stubbs took charge. The youngster stayed not out on 47 off 41 balls with seven fours, helping the Proteas win with six balls to spare. Gerald Coetzee also used the long handle to good effect, scoring 19 off nine and lending Stubbs support under pressure.