South Africa Stuns India with Thrilling Three-Wicket Win

South Africa levelled the series with a stunning three-wicket win over India in the second T20I, chasing a target of 124 with just seven wickets in hand. Varun Chakaravarthy's career-best figures of 5 for 17 were eclipsed by Tristan Stubbs' mature 41-ball 47 and a spirited team effort.

India's Innings Never Took Off

India's batting line-up collapsed in the first four overs, losing three wickets for just 15 runs. Sanju Samson, who scored consecutive centuries in his last two games, was bowled for a duck by Marco Jansen. Gerald Coetzee then scalped Abhishek Sharma to further hinder India's batting. Suryakumar Yadav was given out LBW to an Andile Simelane yorker as India struggled to 15 for 3.

Axar Patel's Fight in Vain

Axar Patel scored two timely boundaries against Simelane but his stay was cut short when he was run out at the bowler's end off a straight drive by Hardik Pandya. Pandya went on to score his first boundary off only his 27th ball in the 17th over and carried on to up the ante, farming the strike while batting with Arshdeep Singh.

South Africa's Fightback

In reply, South Africa scored four boundaries within the first three overs before Ryan Rickelton was bowled by Arshdeep Singh. Marco Jansen was bowled by Chakaravarthy, and the hosts stumbled to 66 for 6. However, Stubbs remained watchful and assessed the conditions, while Simelane's confidence grew, and he attempted an ugly hoick that saw his stumps rattled.

South Africa Wins with Eight Balls to Spare

With 37 needed off the last four overs, India switched to pace, and South Africa immediately changed gears. Coetzee clobbered Arshdeep for a 103-metre six and helped himself to two more boundaries off Avesh Khan in a 12-run over. Stubbs then sealed the win for the hosts in the penultimate over with four boundaries of Arshdeep Singh.