Varun Chakaravarthy picked his maiden five-wicket haul in T20Is for India.
On November 10, 2024, India and South Africa faced off in the second Twenty20 International of the four-match series. India is leading the series 1-0, and the game took place at St George's Park in Gqeberha.
The captain of South Africa, Aiden Markram, won the toss and decided to bowl on a grassy field under cloudy skies.
India's innings got off to a poor start when Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav fell for four runs apiece in quick succession, while Sanju Samson was out for a duck. The ship was somewhat steadied by Tilak Varma (20) and Axar Patel (27), but both were also dismissed.
Hardik Pandya then farmed the strike and made 39* in 45 balls with 4 fours and 1 six as India made 124/6 in 20 overs.
In response, Reeza Hendricks (24) gave a good start to South Africa, but Indian bowlers kept the pressure on them with regular wickets. Varun Chakaravarthy was the star for India, as he picked 5/17 in his 4 overs.
His wickets included Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen as South Africa found themselves 66/6 at one stage.
But Tristan Stubbs anchored on end, making 47* with 7 fours, while Gerald Coetzee demolished Indian pacers in the last three overs. Coetzee made 19* in 9 balls as India conceded 12, 12, and 16 runs in the last three overs. South Africa won the the match by 3 wickets and leveled the series 1-1.
The cricket fraternity congratulated Varun Chakaravarthy for his maiden T20I fifer for India, while also lauding South Africa for their win.
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