The Proteas beat India at Boland Park for the second time in three days to clinch the series with a game to spare. The victory didn’t come easy, though. The match twisting and turning toward the end.

Going into the encounter the consensus was that winning the toss would be essential. KL Rahul did just that and to no one’s surprise, they chose to bat first.

Start with a bang, end with a fizzle

India’s innings got off to a decent start. Shikhar Dhawan and his captain added 63-runs before the former had to find his way back to hut. Virat Kohli followed suit. Maharaj the man responsible for his duck.

South Africa had the momentum at that point, but couldn’t dig up an answer for the Rahul – Pant partnership. The two batters cast up 115 (111) before Sisanda Magala found the breakthrough. Striking with the first delivery of his second spell. Seemingly the 31-year old needed a little rest after his initial 3-overs got despatched for 29-runs. Pant had to walk just 7-balls later, scoring 85 (71).

At that stage, India was on 183 for four, and again the Proteas failed to close the innings off. That was in part due to sloppy fielding, with the visitors ending with 287-runs on the scoreboard.

Solid South Africans

By the time the Proteas innings started the temperature in Paarl hit the 38-degree-Celcius mark. Still, Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan appeared unbothered by the heat. The opening stand was worth 182-runs before QdK received his marching orders.

The 29-year old originally survived an LBW shout. However, a convinced Indian team asked to have it reviewed. Ball tracking revealed that the former skipper would’ve lost his leg stump.

Janneman Malan remained unmoved and poised to get to three figures. Malan and Captain Temba Bavuma built a solid partnership of 80 (76). Jasprit Bumrah was the man to bring about a breakthrough for India. Malan misjudged the bounce of the ball, hitting him on the glove before sending the lights of the Zing wickets flickering.

For a moment, India turned the game around after Bavuma chipped the ball straight back to spin-bowler Yuzvendra Chahal. Unfortunately, the damage was already done, and there was no stopping Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen.

South Africa win by 7-wickets and lead the 3-match ODI series 2-0.

India – 287-6 (50) ǁ Rishabh Pant – 85 (71) ǁ Tabraiz Shamsi – 2/57 (9)

Proteas – 288-3 (48.1) ǁ Janneman Malan – 91 (108) ǁ Jasprit Bumrah – 1/37 (10)

Now, for the whitewash!

In case you missed what happened in the first ODI, click here.