In a thrilling match at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, South Africa leveled the four-match T20I series against India 1-1 with a narrow 3-wicket victory. After India posted a modest total of 124/6, the Proteas faced a challenging target. Although Varun Chakravarthy bowled an impressive spell with figures of 5/17, the determined partnership between Tristan Stubbs (47*) and Gerald Coetzee (19*) added 42 crucial runs in the final stages, taking South Africa across the finish line and ending India’s 11-match winning streak.
India’s batting lineup, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, struggled under the tight lines of South Africa’s spinners. Despite efforts by Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, the Indian team was kept in check, and wickets fell at regular intervals. Yadav managed only 4 runs, and the early wickets of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma further weakened India’s momentum. Patel and Pandya formed a brief partnership of 25 runs, but the unfortunate run-out of Patel handed the advantage back to South Africa.
The Proteas’ innings began with a cautious approach, but a steady partnership between Markram and Hendricks, and later an outstanding performance by Stubbs, kept the game alive. Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul created pressure, and a series of quick dismissals made it a close contest. However, South Africa maintained composure, leveraging crucial overs to chase down the target with just a few balls to spare.
With the series now level, the focus shifts to the third T20I, where both teams aim to take the lead. South Africa will hope to capitalize on this momentum, while India looks to regain control and continue their strong T20I form.
