New Delhi: South Africa defeated India by three wickets in the second T20I of the three-match series held at St. George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday. The hosts levelled the series 1-1 with the Men in Blue, registering a comprehensive win and reiterating the fact that they are indeed wounded and want to make amends by taking on the Asian side. Tristan Stubbs found the rhythm at the correct moment and took his team over the line with a match-winning and unbeaten 41-ball 47.
Chasing a meagre 125 run target set by India, the Proteas as it seemed, capitalised on taking a look at the Indian batters in the first innings. Inviting the visitors to bat first, the hosts troubled them with their bowling attack with some pitch characteristics also coming into the play. Aiden Markram and co. definitely took note of India’s mistakes and that was evident while they came to bat.
Opener Ryan Rickelton made 13 off 11 with the help of two fours. Despite going 66/6 in 12.2 overs from 33/2 in 5.2, Reeza Hendricks (24 off 21; 3 fours and a six) and Tristan Stubbs knew how to keep standing at their ends and tackle the throws by the Indian bowlers. Stalwarts like Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller yet again faltered and a young Stubbs (Player of the Match) rose to the occasion, hitting seven fours, with Gerald Coetzee (19 off 9; 2 fours and a six) by his side at the end.
South Africa won the game with an over to spare and the scoreboard at 128/7. The win totally overshadowed the maiden international five-wicket haul by Varun Chakravarthy who shone for India, leaking just 17 runs in his four-over spell. Arshdeep Singh and Ravi Bishnoi had a wicket each to their credit as well.
🟢🟡Match Result
Superb Cricket from our Proteas!😃🥳🏏
🇿🇦South Africa win by 3 wickets
The series is now level at 1-1.
Next stop, Centurion😉#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/du7zjYW2KZ
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) November 10, 2024
SA break IND’s 11-match winning streak
Now that the series has been levelled, it is India’s second defeat in T20I cricket in 2024. As South Africa successfully chased down the target, they have ended India’s winning streak of 11 matches in the T20Is in 2024. It was the first T20I against Zimbabwe this year, which India lost but bounced back well and registered wins in the remaining four games. The team toured Sri Lanka next for a three-match T20I series which they swept with ease and then beat Bangladesh at home in a similar affair. The 11th win came against the Proteas on Friday in Durban.
India muster 124/6
It was a shocking start to the Indian innings as opener Sanju Samson, who was coming on the back of two T20I hundreds in succession, fell flat and departed on a three-ball duck. In the series opener on Friday, he had hit a quickfire 100 and he was expected to go big in the second game as well but Marco Jansen thwarted his attempts with a ripper that knocked him over.
For Abhishek Sharma, it was another poor performance as he could manage only four runs and so did skipper Suryakumar Yadav. The duo of Tilak Varma (20 off 20, a four and a six)) and Axar Patel (27 off 21; 4 fours) added 30 runs for the fourth wicket and after the former’s departure, Hardik Pandya (39* off 45; 4 fours and a six) added 25 with Axar for the fifth.
Pandya remained unbeaten with Arshdeep Singh (7 off 6; a six) by his side while Rinku Singh was yet again underutilized, coming down to bat at no. 7 and departing on a score of nine runs off 11 balls. India could manage 124/6 in their stipulated 20 overs. Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Andile Simelane, Aiden Markram, and Nqabayomzi Peter picked a wicket each while Axar was run out by Peter.
Tristan Stubbs starred as South Africa beat India in the second T20I by three wickets at the St. George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday. The hosts have levelled the three-match series 1-1. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
