Ahmedabad, Feb 22 (UNI) A pulsating final flourish from Tristan Stubbs after a commanding half-century by David Miller powered South Africa to 187 for seven against India in the Super 8 Group 1 clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Sunday.
After electing to bat, South Africa were rocked early by Jasprit Bumrah’s incisive spell. In the second over, Bumrah sent back Quinton de Kock, shattering his leg stump with a sharp nip-backer.
Soon after, Arshdeep Singh removed skipper Aiden Markram, who miscued a drive to mid-off. Bumrah struck again in the fourth over as Ryan Rickelton chipped a slower delivery to Shivam Dube, leaving the Proteas reeling at 20 for three.
Despite the early blows, Rickelton briefly countered with a fine-leg six off Arshdeep, while de Kock had earlier struck the first boundary of the match off Bumrah. But India’s new-ball attack ensured the powerplay yielded only 41 runs with three wickets down.
The revival began in earnest when Dewald Brevis took on the spinners. He cut and lofted Varun Chakaravarthy with authority, smashing a no-look straight six and following it with crisp boundaries square of the wicket. Washington Sundar was welcomed with a boundary through extra cover as Brevis transferred pressure back onto the bowlers.
At the other end, Miller began to unfurl his range. He punished Arshdeep with back-to-back fours, tonked Varun over mid-off, and launched a 95-metre six straight down the ground. A free-hit from Hardik Pandya disappeared over wide long-on as Miller accelerated. Brevis joined the assault with a towering 83-metre six off Dube and a fierce straight boundary that drew comparisons to a hockey-style hit.
The pair stitched together a decisive 97-run stand for the fourth wicket. Brevis fell for 45 in the 13th over, top-edging a slower ball from Dube to deep mid-wicket just when the partnership was threatening to take the game away.
Miller, however, surged to a 26-ball half-century with a blistering six over deep backward point. He continued to pierce the field with precision, running Hardik fine past the keeper and dispatching Varun whenever he erred in length. But Chakaravarthy had the final say, inducing a mistimed loft that Tilak Varma safely pouched at long-off, ending Miller’s 63 off 35 balls.
India clawed back through the death overs. Arshdeep dismissed Marco Jansen, who holed out to Rinku Singh at deep mid-wicket. Bumrah then produced a superb yorker to claim Corbin Bosch in a caught-and-bowled effort after an umpire review confirmed a clean return catch.
Yet, South Africa were not done. In the final over, Stubbs exploded. He muscled Hardik Pandya for back-to-back sixes over long-on, one off a slower ball that sat up invitingly, and earlier benefited when a mistimed boundary attempt slipped past Washington Sundar in the deep. A near run-out chance at the bowler’s end went begging, allowing Kagiso Rabada to scramble back safely.
Stubbs remained unbeaten on 44 off 24 balls as South Africa closed on 187 for seven, finishing strongly with 20 runs in the final over.
For India, Bumrah was outstanding with three for 15, while Arshdeep picked up two wickets. Though Varun proved expensive, he removed the dangerous Miller at a crucial juncture.
With 188 required for victory, the stage is set for a compelling chase in this high-stakes Super 8 encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
