South Africa completed a whitewash in the three-ODI series with a thrilling win by four runs in the third ODI at Newlands, Cape Town. Deepak Chahar and Jasprit Bumrah looked like they will pull off an unlikely heist at Cape Town but a cluster of wickets in slog overs left India five runs short of the target despite the all-rounder’s quickfire 54.
Dhawan-Kohli steady ship
India’s run chase did not get off to an ideal start as they lost stand-in skipper KL Rahul for just nine runs. Opener Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli set the foundation for the run chase. Dhawan scored 61 off 73 deliveries laced with five fours and one six. Andile Phehlukwayo broke the second-wicket partnership by getting rid of Dhawan. The two shared a 98-run stand for the second wicket. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant bagged a shocking golden duck. Pant's ultra-aggressiveness led to a simple catch at deep cover to Sisanda Magala.
Former skipper Kohli carried on and scored his second half-century of the series. But once again, the 71st international century eluded him as he got out to Keshav Maharaj for second consecutive ODI. He scored 65 runs from 84 deliveries including five boundaries. Shreyas Iyer once again got off to a decent start but failed to convert it and left the field in the 38th over.
Chahar revives run chase
Batting for the first time in the series, Suryakumar Yadav did not curb his attacking instinct and kept India in the game with his 32-ball 39 cameo. Playing his first ODI after more than five years, Jayant Yadav disappointed too with a single-digit score. With seven wickets down for 227 in 43rd over, Indian run chase looked like it was all but over but Chahar revived it with some sensational yet sensible hitting. He hit five fours and two sixes in his 54-run knock. Jasprit Bumrah played second fiddle at the other end getting the all-rounder on strike.
Chahar could not finish the job and left Bumrah in the middle after getting India at the doorstep of victory. Lungi Ngidi got the much-needed breakthrough on the first ball of the 48th over with 10 more needed to win. Bumrah tried to take India home but was caught at the edge of the circle by Bavuma in the penultimate over. Bumrah scored 12 runs from 15 deliveries with the help of two boundaries. Eight runs off nine deliveries turned out to be too much to chase for tailenders Yuzvendra Chahal and Prasidh Krishan as India got all out for 283 with four balls still to go.
Early wickets
Earlier, Rahul invited South Africa to bat first after winning the toss. India got early breakthroughs with the new ball. Chahar got rid of opener Janneman Malan whereas Rahul’s direct hit found skipper Bavuma short of the crease. But Quinton de Kock continued his good form and kept the boundaries coming from the other end. During his marathon spell with the new ball, Chahar also got the wicket of Aiden Markram, reducing South Africa to 70/3 in the 13th over.
Dropped catches and De Kock’s dominance
In the middle overs, dropped catches from wicketkeeper Pant off Jayant Yadav’s bowling cost India as De Kock and Rassie van der Dussen shared a 144-run partnership for the fourth wicket to help the Proteas recover from a faulty start. India got two wickets in consecutive over. De Kock got out in the 36th over to Jasprit Bumrah but not before scoring 124 runs from 130 deliveries including 12 fours and two sixes. He also became the fastest to six ODI centuries against India. Van de Dussen followed him back to the dressing room in the next over as he got out trying to hit a six off Yuzvendra Chahal’s bowling. He scored 52 runs from 59 deliveries including four fours and one six.
Hosts manage fighting total
Phehlukwayo struggled to get the strike turning over and got run out for a score of four runs. David Miller and Dwaine Pretorius helped South Africa progress towards a fighting total. The two shared a crucial 44-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Pretorius contributed 20 runs to the total. Miller continued and scored a handy 39 off 38 deliveries including three fours and one six. In the slog overs, Prasidh Krishna managed to take three wickets as South Africa were all out for 287 with a ball left in their innings.
