Picture : BCCI/ X
In a shot in the arm for the new look Team India under K L Rahul, the men in blue won the crucial third ODI against South Africa by 78 runs to clinch the three-match series 2-1 .
For India , Sanju Samson finally lived up to the talent he has but never firing on the big stage. This time Sanju made no mistake and hammered his maiden ODI ton . Samson’s measured 108 (114 balls) and Tilak Varma’s patient 52 (77 balls), his first fifty in this format, guided India to a competitive 296 for eight. The duo featured in superb 116 run fourth – wicket stand. A good cameo by Rinku Singh (38 off 27 balls) helped India in the middle overs.
In reply , South Africa challenged the tourists through a fifty by Tony de Zorzi (81, 87 balls) but were eventually bowled out for 218 in 45.5 overs. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh marshalled Indian bowlers with a satisfactory haul of four for 30.
𝙒𝙄𝙉𝙉𝙀𝙍𝙎 🏆
Congratulations to the @klrahul-led side on winning the #SAvIND ODI series 2-1 👏👏#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/QlaAVLdh6P
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 21, 2023
South Africa made a bright beginning to their chase with De Zorzi and Reeza Hendricks (19) adding 59 runs in just 8.2 overs as the former took a heavy toll on pacer Mukesh Kumar in the power play.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel castled Rassie van der Dussen with a ball that came along his arm to reduce the hosts to 76 for 2.
But it followed a period of stability as De Zorzi and captain Aiden Markram (36) added 65 runs for the third wicket to keep India at bay.
Heinrich Klaasen (21, 22 balls) failed to negotiate a climbing ball from pacer Avesh Khan and he played it with hard hands.
Sai Sudharsan completed a super acrobatic catch inside the ring to dismiss Klaasen, reducing the Proteas to 174 for five in the 33rd over.
With the asking rate mounting ever so steadily, even David Miller ( 10) could not carry South Africa past the target.
