The Proteas finally showed the fighting spirit their fans want to see from the team in the third and final T20I against India on Sunday.
Entering the match 1-0 down in the series, with the first encounter having rained out, South Africa had a slow start after losing the toss.
With India batting first, the hosts smashed 22 runs in the first two overs and continued in that vein up until the seventh over of their innings.
But once danger men Shikhar Dhawan (36 off 25 balls) and Virat Kohli (9) were sent packing with the scoreboard reading 68/3 in the ninth over, SA was back in the tie.
THANKFUL: Beuran Hendricks produced a stunning performance. Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix.
Coach Enoch Nkwe can thank Beuran Hendricks, who conceded just 14 runs in his four overs and took two wickets, for their comeback.
Fellow fast bowler Kagiso Rabada embodied the SA fighting spirit on the day.
UNBEATEN KNOCK: Quinton de Kock. Picture: Aijaz Rahi/AP.
After conceding 17 runs in his first over, Rabada clawed his way back into the contest to finish with bowling figures of 3/39 - including the scalp of Kohli, who was expertly caught by Andile Phelukhwayo on the boundary as India finished on 134/9.
With not a lot of pressure on their batsmen, South Africa could take their time to get the runs needed for the win.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/ProteaFire?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ProteaFire #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/8AqKedwZFs
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA)
No-one told captain Quinton de Kock that, as he led from the front and batted superbly to carry his bat for a knock of 79 off 52 balls as SA won the match by nine wickets to draw the series 1-1.