South Africa completed a 3-0 series clean sweep over India on Sunday when they defeated the visitors by an narrow margin of four runs in the third and final ODI played at Newlands in Cape Town. Chasing 288 to win, India were bowled out for 283 in 49.2 overs to lose the game narrowly despite half-centuries from Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Deepak Chahar.
Quinton de Kock scored a brilliant 124 for South Africa to power them to a strong total of 287 from 49.5 overs with middle-order batsman Rassie van der Dussen scoring 52 from 59 balls and the others in David Miller (39) and Dwaine Pretorius (20) contributing as well.
India made plenty of changes to their playing XI having already lost the series a couple of days ago. While captain KL Rahul could not really tell all the changes that his team had made for the clash on Sunday during the coin toss, he would certainly remember a strong performance from Deepak Chahar with the bat who fought hard single-handedly to take India close to a victory and end their losing streak.
The defeat in the third and final ODI was India’s fifth consecutive loss on the tour as they added the South Africa trip with disappointment. Kohli top scored for India with a fluent 65 from 84 balls with the help of five boundaries whereas Dhawan, who once again chipped in with valuable performance, scored 61 from 73 balls with the help of five boundaries and a six.
While India’s middle-order batsman Rishabh Pant (0) and Shreyas Iyer (26) could not contribute much, Suryakumar Yadav, who was playing his first match in the series, did well to make 39 from 32 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six.
Chahar scored his second consecutive half-century in ODI cricket having scored a brilliant knock in his previous appearance for his country against Sri Lanka a few months ago to help them win. But after Chahar was dismissed at a crucial juncture in the game when India were completely sure of victory, South Africa ensured that the visitors did not go past the finish line. Chahar made 54 from 34 balls with the help of five boundaries and two sixes whereas vice-captain for the tour, Jasprit Bumrah contributed with a valuable 12.
For South Africa, Lungi Ngidi and Andile Phehlukwayo both claimed three wickets each whereas Pretorius took 2/54 from his 9.2 overs. Sisanda Magala and Keshav Maharaj both took one wicket each for the home team.
