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In the 2nd T20I of the India tour of South Africa 2024 at St George’s Park, South Africa successfully chased down a modest target set by India, winning the game by 3 wickets in a thriller that extended to the 19th over. After opting to bowl first, South Africa’s disciplined bowling effort kept India to a low total, which the Proteas ultimately surpassed to level the series.
India’s struggle with the bat
Opting to bowl first, South Africa’s bowlers put India under immense pressure from the outset. Indian skipper Sanju Samson was dismissed for a duck, and India’s top order failed to provide any stability, with both Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma managing only 4 runs each. Tilak Varma (20 off 20 balls) and Axar Patel (27 off 21 balls) attempted to stabi🍰lize the innings, but their efforts were c༒ut short by South Africa’s tight bowling.
The middle order also found it difficult to break free, with Hardik Pandya playing a cautious knock of 39 runs off 45 deliveries, featuring four boundaries and a six. His efforts, however, were insufficient to set a daunting total, as India wrapped up their innings at 124/6 in 20 overs. For South Africa, Marco Jansen was economical, each picking up a wicket, while Nqabayomzi Peter’s figures of𝔉 4 overs, 1/20, stood out as particularly effective.
Varun Chakravarthy shines despite a low total by India
Defending a modest total, India needed early breakthroughs to keep the game in contention. Varun Chakravarthy led the Indian bowling attack brilliantly, claiming 5 wickets for just 17 runs in his 4 overs. His stunning performance included the key wickets of Tristan Stubbs and Andile Simelane, which left 𒉰South Africa struggling in the middle overs.
Despite Chakravarthy’s heroics, South Africa managed to recover thanks to contributions from Reeza Hendricks (24 off 21) and a well-paced 47 off 41 balls from Tristan Stubbs. Gerald Coetzee‘s quick-fire 19 off 9 deliveries towards the end helped South Africa edge closer to the target, even as wickets continued to tumble at the other end.
Also WATCH: SA vs IND – David Miller plucks a one-handed stunner to dismiss Tilak Varma in 2nd T20I
South Africa’s last-minute triumph
In a tense finish, South Africa reached 128/7 in 19 overs, securing a 3-wicket victory. While India’s bowlers kept the contest alive till the end, they couldn’t stop Coetzee and the tail from clinching the game. Chakravarthy’s 5-wicket haul went in vain, as the South African lower order held its nerve to bring the hosts across the line.
Here is how Twitter reacted
A thriller in Gqeberha as South Africa win the 2nd T20ꦺI by 3 wickets to level the series 1-1 will aim to bounce back in the next match
Scorecard –
— BCCI (@BCCI)
Coetzee bowling gas, hitting HUGE sixes.
If anything from this series💃, he’s getting some IPL attention.— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62)
SA hold their nerve. But deserves all the applause for his maiden international fifer, almost pulled 🎉off an unlikely win!
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
🟢🟡Match Result
Superb Cricket from our Proteas!😃🥳🏏
🇿🇦South Africa win by 3 wickets
The series is now level at 1-1.
Next stop, Centurion😉— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA)
A battle well fought, but not our day. 😐
📸: BCCI
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets)
To se𝕴e that incredible spell from VC in a lost cause, is quite a blot on SKY’s captaincy💦.
Axar Patel bowled 1 over in con𒁃ditions where SA were clueless against slow bowling.
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket)
Whi🌌le batting India only got 9 runs in last 2 overs, I thought match could have gone away from South Africa there if end was better. Tristan Stubbs is a very dangerous player. He is got unbelievable reach. Gerald coetzee’s power hitting in the end was crucial for SA.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
Miracle denied 💔 |
[📸: BCCI]— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans)
From nowhere, SA have 👍won by 3 wi☂ckets, thanks to the two youngsters, Coetzee & Stubbs!!!
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA)
If india don't pick VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY for the Champions Trophy , then they are making a grave error
Outstanding Bowler he is turning out to be
— DK (@DineshKarthik)
Varun be like
— Sagar (@sagarcasm)
