South Africa 128 for 7 (Stubbs 47*, Varun 5-17) beat India 124 for 6 (Hardik 39*, Peter 1-20, Simelane 1-20) by three wickets
Tristan Stubbs continued to demonstrate his potential in a breakthrough season, leading South Africa to a thrilling series-levelling victory over India at St George’s Park. After a dismal start that saw South Africa slump to 66 for 6, Stubbs remarkably shared a crucial 42-run partnership off just 20 balls with Gerald Coetzee, halting India’s impressive T20I winning streak, which had reached 11 matches. In the last month, Stubbs has achieved significant milestones, scoring his inaugural Test and ODI centuries; while his unbeaten 47 in Gqeberha may not be a historic landmark, it showcased a level of composure and skill that revitalized South Africa’s fortunes in the match.
Since their T20 World Cup final appearance in June, South Africa’s form had been concerning, with the team registering only one win in their prior six matches before this encounter. The squad had struggled to find a cohesive playing structure, but they began to show signs of revival with a solid bowling performance that restricted India to a modest total of 124. The fast bowlers set a dominant tone at the outset, while the spinners tightened the screws, with all but Keshav Maharaj among the wickets. Importantly, they dismantled India’s top three batters for a combined total of just eight runs, forcing the middle order into a difficult chase. A fleeting 37-run partnership between Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh for the seventh wicket marked the only instance where India’s scoring rate exceeded six runs per over.
Although South Africa may have initially believed the target was achievable with relative ease, the Indian bowlers made them work hard for the victory. Varun Chakravarthy’s first international five-wicket haul left the South African batsmen in disarray, and captain Aiden Markram’s ongoing struggles were a worry for the team, which has seen him go 26 innings without a T20I half-century. As wickets continued to tumble, the required run-rate crept up, leaving South Africa needing 40 runs from the final five overs. But in a display of poise, Stubbs remained calm under pressure, Coetzee exhibited his batting skills, and South Africa ultimately chased down the target with an over to spare.
Gerald Coetzee – the batter
Despite being placed on a 12-week conditioning break aimed at honing his bowling, Coetzee evidently devoted time to improving his batting as well. Following a swift 11-ball 23 at Kingsmead—where he was left with little option as the game slipped away—Coetzee entered the fray at St George’s Park when everything was on the line. With South Africa precariously poised at 86 for 7 and requiring 39 runs off just 26 balls, Coetzee made his presence felt instantly. He opened his account with a single, gaining the confidence needed to strike the next delivery he faced from Arshdeep Singh over long-off, relieving some mounting pressure. Stubbs concluded the 17th over with a brilliant drive through the covers, leaving South Africa needing 25 runs from 18 balls. Coetzee then accelerated the chase, reducing the equation to 17 from 16 balls with successive boundaries off Avesh Khan, who faltered with his length. Scoring 12 runs in the 18th over, South Africa entered the final act needing just 13 runs from the last 12 balls to seize the moment and level the series.
Varun confounds South Africa
Despite South Africa’s claims of improved batting against spin, Varun Chakravarthy’s performance was a stark reminder that challenges still remain. Following a career-best performance in Durban, he put together another impressive display in Gqeberha, making India’s seemingly modest total appear much larger than it was. Varun’s very first delivery was a slow googly that deceived Markram, who, grappling with form, failed to connect, resulting in him being bowled. Not long after, Reeza Hendricks was also bamboozled by Varun’s sly delivery; having just struck a boundary, he expected turn that never came and was bowled instead. Varun’s threat was palpable from both ends, and it was in his third over that he left Marco Jansen bewildered against his googly. However, it was in the final over that Varun virtually extinguished South Africa’s hopes of success. Heinrich Klaasen attempted to attack but instead found a fielder in a crucial over, and with his next delivery, he clean-bowled David Miller, capping off his five-wicket haul in style.
Varun Chakravarthy removed Marco Jansen for 7 on his way to a five-for•AFP/Getty Images
South Africa’s sensational bowling start
The cricketing universe demonstrated its humbling nature to Sanju Samson when he was bowled off the third delivery of the innings for a duck, an unexpected turn of events following his consecutive centuries in previous matches. Jansen’s delivery showcased impressive seam and swing, yet Samson’s early movement cost him dearly, as he failed to get in line. Jansen’s impactful first over came without a single run being scored, placing South Africa in a strong position right from the outset. Just four balls later, Coetzee and umpire Lubabalo Gcume believed they had taken a wicket down the leg side against Abhishek Sharma, but an immediate review proved inconclusive. Coetzee ultimately triumphed when Abhishek mis-timed a pull shot, top-edging it to Jansen at short fine leg. The most significant moment of the powerplay, however, came when Andile Simelane, seeking redemption after a wicketless debut in Durban, unleashed a yorker on Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for his first international scalp. Yadav, unable to connect with the delivery, ended up being struck on the pad without bothering to review, leaving India in dire straits at 15 for 3 after just four overs before a slight recovery to 34 for 3 by the end of the powerplay.
David Miller’s wonder catch
When Tilak Varma launched a shot toward cover off Markram, the ball rocketed toward Miller, who skillfully moved to his right and pulled off an incredible overhead catch, leaving spectators and commentators in awe. The stunned Tilak Varma could only stand and stare at Miller in disbelief as the crowd witnessed a moment of pure brilliance. The collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the stands, while the commentators struggled to articulate their amazement, uttering phrases like, ‘Oh, my, word,’ as India found themselves in a precarious position at 45 for 4. South Africa’s sharp fielding continued to make an impact throughout the innings, as legspinner Nqaba Peter reacted quickly to a drive from Hardik, deflecting the ball onto the non-striker’s stumps and running out Axar Patel, further compounding India’s woes.
Hardik hits out
Hardik Pandya initially faced significant challenges, scoring a mere 19 runs off his first 29 deliveries, with the boundaries few and far between due to South Africa’s disciplined bowling. The middle overs proved grueling, with India mustering only 24 runs in five overs while enduring a remarkable 35-ball stretch without a boundary. However, the tide began to turn in the 18th over when Hardik finally found his rhythm. Jansen, having delivered a miserly first two overs, was brought back on, but Hardik seized the opportunity, launching a powerful drive through the covers for four. Two balls later, he elegantly lifted a wide delivery over extra cover for six, capping off the over with a ramp shot off a short ball, marking his most fruitful over of the innings.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s correspondent for South Africa and women’s cricket
**Interview with Gerald Coetzee: Rising Star in South African Cricket**
**Editor:** Welcome, Gerald Coetzee! Congratulations on your thrilling victory against India. That partnership with Tristan Stubbs was crucial. Can you walk us through that moment when you both entered the crease?
**Gerald Coetzee:** Thank you! Walking in at 86 for 7 was definitely a pressure situation. I knew we had to take calculated risks, and luckily, I was able to hit a few boundaries early on, which helped settle my nerves. Tristan was brilliant throughout, guiding the chase with his experience.
**Editor:** You were on a conditioning break primarily to focus on your bowling. How did you manage to enhance your batting skills during that time?
**Gerald Coetzee:** It was a tough break initially, but I used the time to really work on my batting technique. I wanted to ensure that I could contribute more to the team, not just with the ball. You never know when you’ll need to step up, and I’m glad it paid off this time.
**Editor:** South Africa’s bowling attack was quite impressive, limiting India to a modest total. Can you give us insight into the team’s mindset coming into the match?
**Gerald Coetzee:** Absolutely. There was plenty of determination in the dressing room. After a few rough patches, we knew we had to turn things around, starting with our bowling. Our fast bowlers set the tone early, which put India under pressure. We understood our roles pretty well, and it all clicked at the right moment.
**Editor:** You faced some intense moments as wickets fell around you. How did you keep your composure, especially knowing that the required run-rate was creeping up?
**Gerald Coetzee:** It’s all about staying calm and focusing on one ball at a time. I kept repeating to myself that we needed to play positively, and staying engaged with Tristan helped. We communicated a lot as we shared ideas and strategies, and that teamwork was vital to turning the tide in our favor.
**Editor:** Lastly, Varun Chakravarthy had a phenomenal performance with his five-wicket haul. How do you feel this impact on the team’s preparations moving forward?
**Gerald Coetzee:** Varun’s spell was impressive, and it certainly reminded us that batsmen need to be adaptable against spin. We’ll review our game to identify areas of improvement, especially against quality spin bowlers. It’s a learning experience, and we’ll take that forward to ensure we adapt better in the future.
**Editor:** Great insights, Gerald! Best of luck for the next matches, and thanks for joining us today.
**Gerald Coetzee:** Thank you! It’s been a pleasure.