South Africa thrash listless India to seal series 2-0

Team India underperformed for the second game running as they were thrashed at Boland Park by South Africa, who registered a convincing 7-wicket win to seal the series 2-0. The Proteas lost the toss and were asked to bowl, but after restricting the visitors for 287, they did not break a sweat en route chasing the target. Fine contributions from openers Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan ensured that the hosts sealed victory and, in turn, the series. 

Start-stop innings sees India reach 287 

It was second time lucky for KL Rahul as he won the toss, and after an unsuccessful chase in the first ODI, the Men in Blue opted to bat first this time around. A wayward start from Sisanda Magala, who came in for the rested Marco Jansen, got the visitors off to a flyer, with them reaching 50 in the 9th over without losing a single wicket. 

However, like in the first ODI, it was the off-spin of Aiden Markram that did the damage, as the part-timer sent Dhawan back to the hut thanks to a fine catch from Magala. One brought two and disaster struck as Kohli perished for a 5-ball duck, chipping a Maharaj ball tamely to the short extra-cover fielder. 

Things could have been worse two overs later, but a comedy of errors saw the Proteas fumble the easiest of opportunities to run KL Rahul out. And the missed opportunity proved to be very costly as Rahul would end up being involved in a mammoth 115-run stand for the third wicket, with Rishabh Pant. 

It was Pant who did all the damage in the partnership, though. Promoted to No.4 for a second game in a row, the flamboyant left-hander took the attack to the hosts in trademark fashion, going after the bowlers paying little heed to the situation. 

He got off the blocks quickly, taking minimal risks, and then upped the ante gradually as he reached his fifty off just 43 balls. Pant took the scoring rate up a notch after getting to his fifty, and scored 31 off his next 18 balls. However, he perished 15 short of a century after finding the long-on fielder off Shamsi.

Pant’s dismissal, in fact, succeeded the wicket of Rahul, who perished for a scratchy 79-ball 55. But despite being slow, the skipper gave able support to Pant.

Both the Iyers, Shreyas and Venkatesh, got to double digits but weren’t able to convert, and the onus was once again on Shardul Thaur to get the team to a decent total with the bat. And for the second game running, the all-rounder delivered for the side with the willow in hand.

Brimming with confidence following a fine fifty in the first ODI, Thakur took calculated risks and did his best to hurt the Proteas attack. He did not explode like he usually does, but a cleverly constructed innings - under crisis - saw him finish unbeaten on 40*. Thakur was supported by Ashwin (25*), and together the pair took India to 287 at the end of the 50th over. 

Malan, de Kock power South Africa to comprehensive win

287 was a good score, but India needed early strikes to get into the contest and rattle the hosts. But not for the first time, the Men in Blue were plagued by their inability to strike up front. Quinton de Kock got off to an absolute flyer, racing to 31 off his first 23 balls, and his lightning-quick start set the tone for the Proteas. He hit Bhuvneshwar Kumar out of the attack by taking 16, and that seemed to rattle the visitors, who then panicked and lost their composure, going searching for wickets. 

South Africa brought up their fifty in the eighth over, and de Kock and Malan did not stop there as they converted it into a hundred-run stand. While de Kock took the role of the aggressor, Malan played second fiddle. The right-hander, however, ensured to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Having raced to 78 in no time, an over-enthusiastic de Kock missed a full toss off Thakur to walk back to the pavilion, but even his breakthrough could not provide India with the momentum they were hoping to gain. In walked Bavuma and he strung together a 80-run stand with Malan.

At this point South Africa looked like they would get home with 9 wickets in hand, but back-to-back wickets slightly rattled the hosts. Malan was bowled off Bumrah for 91, while Bavuma chipped one straight to Chahal.

But the scare turned out to be inconsequential as Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen took the Proteas home safely as they sealed the series 2-0.