Press Trust of India
Rajkot, Oct 18: Quinton de Kock’s (103, 118b, 1×6) eighth ODI hundred and Morne Morkel’s (4/39) enabled South Africa overcome India by 18 runs in the third match of the five-game ODI series here Sunday.
After scoring 270 for the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs, the visitors restricted the hosts to 252 for the loss of six wickets to run out convincing winners. Even though Virat Kohli (77, 90b, 5×4), Rohit Sharma (65, 74b, 7×4, 2×6) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (47, 61b, 5×4) batted well for the hosts, India lost the momentum in the middle overs to lose the game. This is the second time in the series that India have lost a close contest, when they seemed to have wrapped up the tie.
The South Africans defending a small total (in comparative terms of the modern day game) bowled and fielded brilliantly. They saved at least 20 runs on the field. The responsibility of the loss must be taken by Kohli as he had batted for a long period and was well settled on a pitch which was double-paced. He should have been there till the end to his side through.
Morkel was well-supported in the bowling department by Imran Tahir (1/51) and JP Duminy (1/46). Imran got rid of the dangerous Suresh Raina who holed down long-on’s throat while Duminy dismissed Rohit, who looked like repeating his Kanpur act.
Earlier De Kock played the role of a sheet anchor to perfection in hot and sweltering conditions at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium to lay the foundation of victory.
Courtesy De Kock’s eighth hundred in his 50th ODI along with Faf Du Plessis’ 63-ball-60, the visitors did well to set up a fighting target.
But the loss of three wickets just before the slog overs, including that of the centurion, arrested their progress though Farhan Behardien (33, 36b, 1×6) played a useful knock in the end.
Prior to the century partnership between De Kock and Du Plessis, the former put on 72 runs for the first wicket with promoted David Miller (33) to provide the tourists with a good beginning.
De Kock was run out with the final 10 overs to come soon after Du Plessis was dismissed and this was followed by the departure of their captain AB de Villiers, sent back by Axar Patel, off the next ball of the innings.
Earlier, Indian spinners, Harbhajan Singh (1/41 in 10 overs) in particular, applied the brakes in time, after which the Proteas steadily built up the score before losing the three wickets in a hurry.
SCOREBOARD
South Africa innings: Q de Kock r o 103, D Miller c Rahane b Harbhajan 33, H Amla st Dhoni b Mishra 5, F du Plessis c Kumar b Mohit 60, AB de Villiers lbw b Patel 4, JP Duminy c Raina b Mohit 14, F Behardien n o 33, D Steyn r o 12, K Rabada n o 0 Extras: (w-5, nb-1) 6, Total: (for seven wickets in 50 overs) 270.
Fall: 1/72, 2/87, 3/205, 4/210, 5/210, 6/241, 7/264.
Bowling: B Kumar 10-1-65-0, M Sharma 9-0-62-2, Harbhajan Singh 10-0-41-1, A Mishra 10-0-38-1, A Patel 9-0-51-1, S Raina 2-0-13-0.
India innings: R Sharma c & b Duminy 65, S Dhawan c De Villiers b Morkel 13, V Kohli c Miller b Morkel 77, MS Dhoni c Steyn b Morkel 47, S Raina c Miller b Imran Tahir 0, A Rahane c Miller b Morkel 4, A Patel n o 15 Harbhajan Singh n o 20; Extras: (b-2, lb-1, w- 8) 11; Total: (six wickets in 50 overs) 252.
Fall: 1/41, 2/113, 3/193, 4/206, 5/216, 6/216.
Bowling: D Steyn 10-0-65-0, K Rabada 10-0-39-0, M Morkel 10-1-39-4, JP Duminy 8-0-46-1, Imran Tahir 10-0-51-1, F Behardien 2-0-9-0.
