Twitter Reactions: Stubbs-Coetzee pull South Africa out of trouble as hosts level series

South Africa and India continued their ongoing T20I series by facing off in the second encounter. Both sides locked horns at St George's Park, Gqeberha, on Sunday, November 10, and the teams came into the game with India leading the series after the Men in Blue won the first fixture by a margin of 61 runs. 

The game saw India come in to bat first after South Africa won the toss. The Proteas put in an excellent performance with the ball and put India in a spot of bother. India opened the innings with Sanju Samson departing for a duck and Abhishek Sharma scoring just four runs. Furthermore, Suryakumar Yadav scored four runs before he was sent packing as well. 

After the top order’s failure, Tilak Varma and Axar Patel attempted to stabilise the innings for India as they scored 20 and 27 runs, respectively. Hardik Pandya was the highest run getter for India with a knock of 39 runs as India posted a total of 124 runs in the first innings of the game. 

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As for South Africa, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Andile Simelane, Aiden Markram, and Nqabayomzi Peter were the wicket takers, scalping one wicket each. 

Tristan Stubbs dampens India’s early fire

Coming in to chase down a target of 125 runs, the Indian team foiled South Africa’s plans as well. The Proteas openers Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks scored 13 and 24 runs, respectively, with skipper Aiden Markram departing for just three runs. 

Furthermore, Marco Jansen and Heinrich Klaasen scored seven and two runs, respectively, with David Miller departing for a duck. With most of South Africa’s batting order in the pavilion, it were the knocks of Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee that helped South Africa level the series. 

Stubbs scored 47* runs in 41 deliveries, with Coetzee scoring a quickfire 19* runs in nine deliveries as South Africa won the game by three wickets. 

Here’s how X reacted to the second T20I between South Africa and India: