It was not a very good day for Sanju Samson as he also registered an unwanted record after India’s gregarious batter was out for a three-ball duck during the second T20I match against the Proteas in Gqeberha on Sunday. Samson was brimming with optimism prior to the contest as he became the first Indian to score two back to back T20I centuries. Unfortunately for him, he just could not last long on the crease on Sunday as Marco Jansen bowled him out. This was Samson’s fourth duck in T20Is in 2024 – the highest for any Indian batsman in a given year. Other Indian cricketers such as Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli all had 3 in a single year.
The fourth bowler Varun Chakravarty produced some magical craftiness on his way to a maiden fifer but all that remained as a mere footnote as South Africa relied on the bat of Tristan Stubbs to win the second T20I match against India played on Sunday.
The two sides have now played two matches in this four-match series so far and the series stands at 1-1 currently. However, there was a bit of excitement in their triumph as it also ended an 11 match winning run for India.
A first indication of an ever-changing evening was when India managed to reach just 124 for six on a fast, bouncy surface having been asked to bat first.
The Proteas were at one stage 66 for six and 86 for seven, which eventually ended up being 128 for seven, as Chakravarthy who was on the comeback trail from injury took 5 wickets for 17 runs.
But SA found two valiant soldiers in determined Stubbs (47 not out, 41b, 7 * 4) and aggressive Coetzee (19, not out, 9b, 2 4, 1 6) who knitted a valuable partnership of 42 runs for the eighth wicket to ensure that their team crossed the line.
Nevertheless, Chakravarthy must be acknowledged for his efforts, as they helped to spice up the contest.
Before that Indian batsmen had their problems too, on a springy St George’s Park pitch against well disciplined bowlers from South Africa.
