South Africa’s Proteas were propelled to a three-weekend win over India in the second of their three T20Is by Tristan Stubbs unbeaten 47. The Proteas were labouring on the 66-6 but Stubbs took centre stage to inspire them to a series-levelling victory, leaving matters delicately poised ahead of the final two matches.
India were unbeaten in 11 T20Is heading into Sunday’s contest at St George’s Park, though a sluggish display with the bat saw them reach just 124-6 after 20 overs. Only Tilak Varma (20), Axar Patel (27) and Hardik Pandya (39 not out) made a dent for India, as South Africa’s bowlers kept things tight. Yet the Proteas did not look set to capitalise on that good work with the ball as Varun Chakravarthy (5-17) blitzed through their top order. Yet Stubbs offered the resistance, and a 42-run stand from 20 balls with Gerald Coetzee got South Africa over the line. Elsewhere, New Zealand hit back to ensure they drew their two-match T20I series against Sri Lanka 1-1.
This match would have channelled all the mental energies of the players on both teams to win. But it was the focus on intense training and the methods of practice that won this match. The skill of the Indian team is notorious throughout the world of cricket. This time around they were unable to break the ranks of South African team or their wickets. None the less the Indian team proved their ruthless reputation and talent when Chakravarthy managed to bowl through the Proteas humbling them. This shows the importance of alertness and always being aware of your opponent’s next move. Even New Zealand’s All Blacks were able to prove themselves a deadly force to be reckoned with. Sri Lanka was heavily hit.
Having been well beaten in the opening match, the Black Caps won by five runs in a low-scoring encounter in Dambulla. Lockie Ferguson took a hat-trick before he had to leave the field injured, as New Zealand successfully defended a total of 108.
Pathum Nissanka (52) plundered over half of Sri Lanka’s runs as the hosts were skittled out for just 103, with New Zealand wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay making history. Hay became the first wicketkeeper to play a part in six dismissals in a single T20I innings, surpassing the previous record of five set by Afghanistan’s Mohammad Shahzad against Oman in 2015.
The T20Is can prove to be gruelling for international test matches. They test each team’s skills, training, strength and talent and determine which teams are competent enough to compete in the final tournament for the Cricket World Cup. New Zealand managed to fare better against Sri Lanka due the tough alertness of its players. Cooperation between team mates also has its part in opposing the brunt of the other. The leadership of the coaches is also essential. A key part of playing for a professional cricket team is that it can prove to be gruelling and pressurising. It is essential to keep in mind that their can be a build of anxiety in the other team’s consciousness that could contribute to its loss.
The Proteas were able to score the wining hits with Tristan Stubbs able to win an unbeaten 47 from Tristan Stubbs, and a 42-run partnership with Gerald Coetzee, saw South Africa haul themselves over the line for a three-wicket win over India in their Twenty20 international at St George’s Park on Sunday.
South Africa scored 128-7 in 19 overs in reply to India’s 124-6 to level the four-match series at 1-1 in a dramatic finish after their top order were undone by India spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who took a career-best 5-17. Stubbs and Coetzee chased down a 40-run target in three overs of swashbuckling hitting at the death to rescue the result when it looked as if India would pull off an unlikely victory. The visitors had been put into bat and struggled to deal with South Africa’s seam attack, losing wickets cheaply before Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 39 gave them a total to try to defend.
The fact that South Africa was able to win over India shows that there is the need for a combination of skill, hard training, determination and speed. The game of professional Cricket is a playing field of complexities. Both teams were determined to win but there could only one out come. To score forty runs for the South African side was not a simple game. The rules would still be strictly obeyed with the Proteas scoring more hits and runs against the Indians, than any other team in the T20I trials. The India Cricket Team for their part is not that easy to beat. But in the end it could be sheer dumb luck that played into the Proteas’ hands.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
