Johannesburg: India’s rampaging ODI run was brought to a halt by a resilient South Africa, which kept themselves alive in the series with an exhilarating five-wicket win in the rain and lightning-struck fourth ODI here, Saturday.
The stunning turnaround under the Duckworth/Lewis method meant South Africa maintained their unbeaten record in pink and make it 3-1 in the six-match series, heading into the fifth match, to be played in Port Elizabeth Tuesday.
India opener Shikhar Dhawan’s (109, 105b, 10×4, 2×6) century in his 100th ODI, which went in vain, lifted India to 289 for seven in their 50 overs at the Wanderers. But after rain intervened, South Africa were left chasing 202 from 28 overs, a target they passed with 15 balls to spare to stay alive in the six-match series.
The hosts tore into wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2/51) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/68) with a vicious assault that yielded 119 runs in just 11.3 overs.
After India won the toss and chose to bat, Dhawan put on 158 for the second wicket with skipper Virat Kohli (75, 83b, 7×4, 1×6) after yet another failure of Rohit Sharma. Experienced MS Dhoni (42 n o, 43b, 3×4, 1×6) also played a wonderful knock, batting down the order.
At that stage India had looked on course for a 320-plus total but managed only 83 runs for the loss of five more wickets in the final 15 overs after the players had left the field because of the threat of lightning.
The hosts reached 43 for one in 7.2 overs in their reply when rain swept across the ground, keeping the players off the field for just shy of two hours.
David Miller (39, 28b, 4×4, 2×6) put on a crucial stand of 72 in 41 balls for the fifth wicket with Heinrich Klaasen (43 n o, 27b, 5×4, 1×6) that turned the tide in the favour of the home side. Andile Phehlukwayo (23 n o, 5b, 1×4, 3×6) also played an unbeaten cameo to fashion SA win.
Brief scores
India 289/7 (Shikhar Dhawan 109, Virat Kohli 75) lost to South Africa 207/5 in 25.2 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 43 n o, David Miller 39) by five wickets via D/L method.
Hosts fined
Johannesburg: South Africa were fined Sunday for maintaining a slow over-rate in the fourth ODI against India here, Saturday. ICC match referee Andy Pycroft imposed the fine after Aiden Markram’s side was found to be one over short of their target in the match, when time allowances were taken into consideration. As such, Markram has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while the South African players have received 10 per cent fines. If South Africa commit another minor over-rate breach in an ODI within 12 months of this offence with Markram as captain, he will face a suspension.
agencies
