INDIA: The young Indian team displayed a clinical display of cricket as they wrapped up the 3-match ODI series 2-1 by winning the title decider by 7 wickets. India had previously won the 3-match T20I series by the same margin.
Earlier, Indian skipper Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and put the South African team to bat. Siraj (2/17) struck early to remove opener Malan (15 of 27 balls) and number 3 batsman Hendricks (3 of 21 balls) cheaply after Washington Sundar provided the initial breakthrough by removing de Kock (6 of 10 balls).
The Indian spin trio of Washington Sundar (2/15), Shahbaz Ahmed (2/32) and Kuldeep Yadav kept chipping away at the South African batting order at regular intervals as wickets kept falling like nine pins. Kuldeep Yadav (4/18) was at his restrictive best as he claimed 4 wickets at a measly economy of 4.30 runs per over.
The top scorer of the South African innings, Klassen (34 of 42 balls), put up a brief resistance but ultimately was cleaned up by the guile of Shahbaz Ahmed as South Africa was left tottering at 93-7.
The tail-end batsmen didn’t put up much of a resistance as they got quickly cleaned up by Kuldeep Yadav as the Proteas were all out for 99 within 28 overs, setting India a target of 100 to chase. Only three batsmen were able to score in double digits in the face of disciplined bowling by the bowlers.
India started by scoring at a brisk rate as the openers went about their business. Shubman Gill displayed cautious aggression while Shikhar Dhawan (8 off 14 balls) played an uncharacteristic slow inning. The first Indian wicket to fall was Dhawan, who was run out by the duo of Jensen and wicket-keeper de Kock.
The new man, Ishan Kishan, who missed out on a well-deserved century in the previous match, failed to get going as he nudged one behind the stumps, which was safely pouched by de Kock.
Shreyas Iyer joined forces with Shubman Gill as the duo took India toward the target. Iyer soon found his groove and played some cracking shots en route to his unbeaten knock of 28, which contained three hits to the fence and two sixes.
Just three runs away from winning the match, Shubman Gill (49 of 57 balls) was caught plumb in front by Lungi Ngidi. Shreyas Iyer finished off the match by slamming the first ball of the 20th over from Jensen down the ground for a six.
Kuldeep Yadav was adjudged Player of the Match, while Mohammed Siraj took Player of the Series. With the T20 World Cup starting soon, the Indian team will be in high spirits while South Africa might need to pick themselves up for an improved display Down Under.
Also Read: Shreyas Iyer’s Ton and Ishan Kishan’s 93 Helps India Beat South Africa by 7 Wickets
