Sanju Samson faced an embarrassing moment in the second T20I against South Africa in Gqeberha on Sunday. After entering the match with high confidence, having scored back-to-back centuries in T20Is, Samson was dismissed for a duck after facing just three balls. He was clean bowled by Marco Jansen, marking his fourth duck in T20Is in 2024, the most by any Indian batter in a single calendar year. Earlier, Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli had each registered three ducks in one year.
South Africa’s dramatic three-wicket win
Despite Varun Chakravarthy’s brilliant performance with the ball, taking a maiden five-wicket haul, South Africa managed to clinch a three-wicket victory. The match saw plenty of drama, as India was restricted to a modest total of 124/6 on a quick, bouncy pitch after being invited to bat.
South Africa’s chase was nearly derailed when they were reduced to 66/6 and 86/7, but Tristan Stubbs (47 not out) and Gerald Coetzee (19 not out) put on a crucial 42-run partnership for the eighth wicket, securing their win and levelling the series 1-1.
Samson’s duck and India’s struggles with the bat
The Indian batting lineup had a tough time against South Africa’s disciplined bowlers, particularly on the challenging St George’s Park pitch. The bounce of the pitch played a significant role, with the Proteas bowlers targeting the back-of-a-length areas, making it hard for the Indian batters to get comfortable. The pressure mounted quickly, and India could never get going in their innings.
Chakravarthy’s outstanding spell of 5/17 was the standout performance of the match, helping India fight back after their batting collapse. However, his effort ended in vain as South Africa’s determined fightback, led by Stubbs and Coetzee, guided them to victory.
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