South Africa played terrible shots: Boucher critical despite Stubbs’ brilliance

Former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher slammed the team’s batting unit for making a 125-run chase difficult against India in the 2nd T20I at Gqeberha.

Speaking after the game, Boucher said that most of the batters played terrible shots and put the team in a precarious position on Sunday’s match.

Playing at the St George’s Park on November 10, Boucher lauded Tristan Stubbs for keeping a cool head when South Africa were reduced to 89/7 in the 16th over of the game. South Africa imploded against the spin of Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi and nearly bottled a simple chase against India.

“Tristan Stubbs came in under a lot of pressure. There was no momentum at all. But Stubs stayed till the very and and took the game right to the death. But a great knocked by Stubbs. I mean, he saw it all. Guys coming in, playing terrible shots but he managed to keep his head and steer South Africa to a very interesting victory,” Boucher said on Jio Cinema after the match.

South Africa stayed alive in the four-match T20I series after winning the second game by three wickets. India were on top of their game at the Kingsmead in Durban, and tried their hearts out on Sunday as well, but the Proteas had the last laugh. Varun Chakravarthy took a five-wicket haul, but Tristan Stubbs’ late heroics overshadowed it.

In challenging conditions, India faltered in their batting department as South Africa drew level in the series. India also missed out on equalling their longest winning streak in T20Is (12).

South Africa’s Chase in Gqeberha

South Africa made a brisk start to their run-chase, getting the required run-rate below a run-a-ball after two overs. Ryan Rickelton, who was the leading run-scorer of SA20 2024, scored 13 off 11 before Arshdeep Singh picked up his wicket. From there on, the hosts lost a bit of momentum as Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Reeza Hendricks, who made 24, and Aiden Markram in quick succession.

Reducing the Proteas to 34 for two in the powerplay, India were far from giving up the ghost. South Africa, interestingly, promoted Jansen up the order above the likes of David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen. But the move backfired as Chakravarthy dismissed him. With the required rate around six, the onus was on Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs to take the innings forward.

Varun struck the body after dismissing Klaasen, who holed out to Rinku Singh at long-off. The off-spinner did not stop and picked up his maiden five-wicket haul after bamboozling Miller. It was his figures of 4-0-17-5 that not only reduced South Africa to 67 for six, but pushed the required run-rate to 8.09 with seven overs left.

When it seemed that the match was going away from South Africa with 37 needed of four overs, Stubbs took charge. The youngster stayed not out on 47 off 41 balls with seven fours, helping the Proteas win with six balls to spare. Gerald Coetzee also used the long handle to good effect, scoring 19 off nine and lending Stubbs support under pressure.