South Africa defeated India by 7 wickets and 11 balls to spare in the second ODI played at the Boland Park in Paarl on Friday to clinch the three-match series with yet another impressive performance in all departments. Chasing a big target to win, South Africa made 288/3 in reply to India’s total of 287/6 on a hot and humid day in Paarl.
South Africa were impressive in all departments as they first restricted the visiting side to a total of 287/6, which was powered by 85 from Rishabh Pant and 55 from India captain KL Rahul. India’s bowling all-rounders Shardul Thakur did well to make 40 not out from 38 balls with 3 boundaries and a six to push his team to a strong total, which apparently was not enough against the home team batsmen.
The South African opening pair of Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan added 132 runs for the first wicket to set a platform for huge victory, as each of the South African batsmen who came out to bat on Friday made valuable contributions to the team’s cause.
Malan was unfortunate to have missed on a century as he made 91 from 108 balls with the help of 8 boundaries and a six, whereas wicket-keeper batsman de Kock was once again aggressive with the bat, striking 7 boundaries and 3 sixes to make 78 from 66 balls.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, who scored a brilliant hundred in the first match, scored 35 from 36 balls with 3 boundaries whereas Aiden Markram remained unbeaten on 37 and so did middle order batsmen Rassie van der Dussen as South Africa achieved their target with close to 2 overs to spare.
The Indian bowlers had a tough day in the field barring Jasprit Bumrah, who returned with an impressive spell of 10-0-37-1. Legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal took 1/47 from his 10 overs whereas Thakur took 1/35 from his 5 overs. The senior India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was expensive once again as he gave away 68 runs from his 10 overs without any wicket.
India, who had won the toss and decided to bat, lost their heroes from the first match Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli for cheap. While Dhawan made 29 from 38 balls which was studded with 5 boundaries, the former India captain Kohli was out for a five-ball duck.
The middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer could not contribute as he was removed for 11 from 14 balls by Shamsi, who also denied wicket-keeper batsman Pant a deserving hundred, getting him caught by Markram for 85. Pant faced 71 balls in his innings and hit 10 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Pant was instrumental in the revival of India’s innings in the company of Rahul, as the two batsmen added 115 runs for the third wicket to provide their side with a strong platform to launch for a big total.
India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer made 22 from 33 balls where as Ashwin contributed with a 25 not out from 24 balls but their performances were just not enough against a dominant South Africa side.