South Africa recorded the lowest total in one-day international cricket against India on Tuesday as the Proteas side was bowled out for just 99 in 27.1 overs, with the home team recording a comprehensive seven wicket victory to complete a to-1 series victory at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi.
India’s Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav returned with a splendid spell of 4.1-1-18-4, accounting for the likes of Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen to help India wrap up the South African innings which had been rocked by multiple strikes from the fast bowlers earlier in the contest.
It was Mohammed Siraj who had put India on top early on in the contest when the home team captain Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and invited the visitors to bat first.
Mohammed Siraj struck twice in the opening exchanges to dismiss Janneman Malan (15) and Reeza Hendricks (3) to rock South Africa and give India the upperhand.
India tightened their grip when Washington Sundar got rid of the dangerous Quinton de Kock for six whereas the in-form Aiden Markram fell to another left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed for 9, as South Africa were left reeling at 66/5 in 18.5 overs.
Heinrich Klaasen tried to weather the storm with a strokeful 34 from 42 balls studded with four hits to the fence his innings was the only form of resistance that South Africa could put on with the bat against the rampant Indian bowlers.
Kuldeep Yadav introduction in the bowling proved to be a body blow for South Africa’s hope of nearing the three-figure run-mark as he ran through the tail to hand them their lowest total ever – all-out for 99 – in 50 overs internationals against India.
Apart from the Chinaman bowler, Washington Sundar was impressive upon his return to top-flight cricket with a spell of 4-0-15-2, Mohammed Siraj returned with 5-0-17-2 whereas Avesh Khan, who took two crucial catches in the innings, returned with 5-1-8-0. Shahbaz Ahmed also bagged a couple of wickets for 32 runs in his 7 overs.
In their reply, India once again lost their captain Shikhar Dhawan (8) for cheap but Shubman Gill made a fluent 49 from 57 balls with 8 boundaries to take India closer to the target.
The right-handed opening batsman was trapped leg-before by Lungi Ngidi who denied him a deserving half-century, whereas the hero of India’s win in the second ODI, Ishan Kishan could not go beyond 10 from 18 balls with 2 boundaries.
The contest was ended once again by the pair of Shreyas Iyer (28 not out) and Sanju Samson (2 not out) in the 20th over with India finishing at 105/3 while taking the series 2-1, and piling up for the pressure on the South Africans in their bid to make it to the 50 over World Cup next year for which the African side is yet to qualify.