When South Africa teetered at 77/5 against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup semifinal at Eden Gardens, few predicted the storm Marco Jansen and Tristan Stubbs would unleash. Their blistering 73 off 47 balls for the sixth wicket became the stuff of legend—the second-highest in T20 WC playoffs for that position.
Jansen anchored with an unbeaten 55 (30 balls: 5 sixes, 2 fours), driving the score to 169/8. Stubbs’ 29 off 24 added steel. This broke South Africa’s own T20 record for lower-order stands, with Brevis’ 34 laying the foundation post-toss loss.
Kiwi bowlers Henry, McConchie, and Ravindra snared two each, but South Africa’s fightback promises a final showdown on March 8. Comparing feats: Stoinis-Wade lead with 81* (2021), followed by Mathews-Sangakkara 68* (2009), Bailey-Cummins 54* (2016), and Hussey-Johnson 53* (2010).
This partnership exemplifies T20’s unpredictability, where tailenders can redefine matches. As Proteas chase history, Jansen and Stubbs embody the never-say-die spirit fueling their World Cup dream.