Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee added 42 unbeaten runs to help the Proteas to a tense three-wicket victory over India in the second Wonder Cement T20 International at Dafabet St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday evening.

With just 20 balls remaining for the eighth wicket, the Proteas reached 128 for seven, with Stubbs remaining unbeaten on 47, while Coetzee faced just nine balls but 19 not out.

Asked to bat first with Aiden Markram, India were restricted to 124 for six and Hardik Pandya top-scored with an unbeaten 39.

The home team was the odds-on favorite to level the four-match series after India struggled to reach 124 with an excellent bowling display.

But spinner Varun Chakravarthy’s career-best figures of 5-17, with 86 for seven, put the home team in all sorts of trouble.

“Fortunately, the run rate never escaped us. “I always believed we could get 30 points from the last three overs,” Stubbs said after the match.

Stubbs, who struck seven boundaries (three of which took South Africa over the line with six balls to spare), played calmly and maturely, while Coetzee provided the spark needed.

The ‘Karate Kid’ hit two fours and a six to help Stubbs get the home team over the line.

“We will always keep playing and if it means losing wickets then we will take it. That’s the type of game we want to play,” added Markam.

Chakravarthy was superb with his leg-spinners, with Reeza Hendricks (24), Markram (3), Marco Jansen (7) and David Miller (0) bowling clean, while Heinrich Klaasen holed out to Rinku Singh at the long-on boundary. only two.

“In T20 cricket if someone gets a five it’s a special occasion but Varun’s bowling today was incredible. He’s been waiting for this for a long time. He has worked hard on his game and I am really proud of him,” Suyrakumar Yadav said.

That’s a capital W @ProteasMenCSA They manage to win back to back against India in Gqeberha

The series is level at 1-1 with the next match broadcast live on Centurion on Wednesday #SAVIND | #CricketSummer pic.twitter.com/WXRA2H3ByU

— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) November 10, 2024

Ryan Rickelton (13) and Hendricks gave the Proteas a good start with 22 from 17 balls but then Rickelton whipped Arshdeep Singh (4-0-41-1) straight to Rinku at the fine-leg fence.

Chakravarthy, along with Ravi Bishnoi (4-0-21-1), put the Proteas in all sorts of trouble, but when the seamers went back on the attack, man of the match Stubbs and Coetzee held firm to see out the home side. victory.

INDIA UNDER PRESSURE

Earlier, Jansen (4-1-25-1) and Coetzee (4-0-25-1) had put the visitors under immense pressure with Jansen starting the match with the third ball off a wicket-keeper, clean bowler Sanju Samson. of the match.

Marco Jansen

@ProteasMenCSA Get off to a perfect start

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“I thought we bowled really well. We stuck to our plans and executed them well. I’m really proud of the boys, especially Peter and Andile, they’re young and they really stepped up today,” Markram said.

Coetzee had a lead of just four minutes on Jansen from Abhishek Sharma in the short fine stage before Andile Simelane (3-0-20-1) also squeezed Yadav ahead by just four points.

Tilak Varma (20) hit a four and a six in 20 deliveries but was later caught brilliantly by Miller in the short extra over off the bowling of Markram (1-0-4-1).

Axar Patel (27) was dismissed at the non-striker’s end after Nqaba Peter managed to slot the ball over the goal with a straight drive from Pandya.

Pandya tried his best though, stepping up the attack as much as possible, hitting four boundaries and six off 45 deliveries.

His stand of 37 from 32 balls with Arshdeep (7 not out) played a key role in helping India become worth a defensive total.

But ultimately, while Stubbs and Coetzee have fun with their 20-ball game, it’s a very low touch.

The teams now travel to the Highveld, where the final two matches will be played at DP World Wanderers in Johannesburg and SuperSport Park in Centurion.

“The last two matches will be very entertaining and we are looking forward to it,” concluded Yadav.

SOUTH AFRICA: Ryan Rickelton (week), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Andile Simelane, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Nqabayomzi Peter

INDIA: Sanju Samson (week), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Varun Chakravarthy