Tristan Stubbs smashed an unbeaten 47 off 41 balls, and Gerald Coetzee remained not out on 19 to help South Africa recover from middle-over collapse drama to win the second T20I against India by three wickets and level the series 1-1. For India, Varun Chakaravarthy picked five wickets.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first in Gqeberha, making the most of the conditions upfront by removing the last-game hero Sanju Samson on a second-ball duck. Gerald Coetzee removed Abhishek Sharma in the second over, with Captain Suryakumar Yadav falling shortly after on four.
Tilak Varma and Axar Patel steadied the ship with a 30-run stand but failed to prolong it further, as Proteas skipper Aiden Markram provided the breakthrough to reduce India to 45 for four inside eight overs.
Axar Patel continued from where he had left in the T20 World Cup against the same opponents, hitting a quick-fire 27 off 21 before getting run out. Tough batting conditions kept the Indians quiet until Hardik Pandya decided to open his arms late in the innings to propel the visitors to a fighting total.
With four fours and a six, Pandya remained unbeaten on 39 off 45 balls, as India 124 for six in 20 overs.
Varun on top against Proteas
Chasing a modest total, South Africa got off to a flyer but lost open Ryan Rickelton to Arshdeep Singh inside the third over.
With the Proteas flying high in the run chase, India needed some magic to get back to the game, and with that, SKY introduced Varun Chakaravarthy to the attack.
The right-arm mystery spinner, who picked three in the first game, returned with five wickets in this. Varun tore into the Proteas’ middle order, removing Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller off successive deliveries.
With South Africa’s back against the wall, the unlikely pair of Stubbs and Coetzee held ends to put some pressure back on India. With Varun completing his quota of four overs and Ravi Bishnoi done with his, following removing South Africa’s Andile Simelane in his last, the batting duo took the attack to the pacers to see the team home.
Stubbs hit the winning run as South Africa won the match with one over and three wickets remaining.
The Supersport Park in Centurion will host the third game on Wednesday (Nov 13).