South African sports fans had a lot to cheer about this weekend with some thrilling and nerve-wracking encounters from our national teams. Here’s a quick look at how our national heroes fared this weekend.

Proteas level the T20 series against India

The Proteas brought some much-needed cheer back to South African cricket by levelling their T20 series against India with a dramatic win in Gqeberha. In a nail-biter at St George’s Park, South Africa chased down a modest target of 125, clinching victory with just three wickets to spare.

The match wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed, though. India’s Varun Chakravarthy put on a bowling masterclass, snagging a five-wicket haul that sent shockwaves through our batting lineup. At 66 for 6, it looked like another chapter in South Africa’s book of heartbreaks. But enter Tristan Stubbs—the man of the moment! With a calm head and nerves of steel, he anchored the innings with an unbeaten 47, guiding us home alongside Gerald Coetzee.

Aiden Markram, whose own bat was uncharacteristically quiet (again), praised the younger players: “It’s good to see the fire in their belly,  it’s something they should be really proud of against India. They are inspiring the older guys in the team”. 

The win ended India’s 11-match T20 winning streak and breathed life into a series that was threatening to slip away. With two matches to go, the Proteas have everything to play for as they push for a series win.

The Proteas face India in the third T20I on Wednesday. 

Bok women’s sevens secure Africa’s crown

Over in Accra, Ghana, the Springbok Women’s Sevens team retained their Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens title with a gutsy 19-10 win over Kenya in the final. It was no walk in the park, though—the Kenyan side brought their A-game and twice took the lead, leaving the South Africans to play catch-up.

Ayanda Malinga’s try levelled the score in the first half, but two yellow cards left South Africa scrambling. Kenya capitalised on the numerical advantage to retake the lead early in the second half. But this Bok team showed why they’re continental champions: Felicia Jacobs came off the bench and turned the game on its head with two stunning tries in the last five minutes. Her match-winning try on the buzzer sealed the deal and sent our ladies to the World Rugby Challenger Series next year.

The victory wrapped up a commanding tournament for the Bok Women’s Sevens, showcasing the rise of South Africa’s women’s rugby as they prepare for even tougher battles ahead.

Springboks grind out a win over Scotland

Meanwhile, in a chilly Edinburgh, the Springboks notched up a 32-15 victory over Scotland. It sounds impressive on paper, but the game was anything but smooth sailing for our boys in green and gold. Scotland’s passionate home crowd and a string of questionable errors kept the Boks on their toes throughout.

The Bomb Squad once again lived up to its name, holding off wave after wave of Scottish attacks in the second half. When it was time to go on the offensive, Makazole Mapimpi made it look easy with two tries, while Thomas du Toit and Jasper Wiese also crossed the line.

Despite the scoreline, the Springboks were quick to admit it wasn’t their best day out. Eben Etzebeth, who was awarded man of the match, put it bluntly: “We set high standards for ourselves. But, at the end of the day, it was a good performance because we beat them by that margin. There were just some aspects where we were not up to scratch, so there will be some harsh words and some good words.”

The Boks’ attention now turns to Twickenham next weekend, where they face an England team reeling from a recent loss to Australia. With England desperate to bounce back and the Boks keen to maintain their winning streak, this one promises to be a cracker. 

The subplot? England’s Tom Curry, who had a controversial clash with Bongi Mbonambi in the past (we all remember the “white c*nt” fiasco), is out with a head injury, dodging what would have been a heated reunion. 

With the Proteas gearing up for another clash against India, the Bok Women’s Sevens celebrating their African dominance, and the Springboks facing an England team under pressure, South African sports fans have plenty to look forward to.