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At the traditionally sluggish and low St George’s
Park, South Africa bowled India out for 211 to level the ODI series. The
conditions were pleasantly seam-friendly. But South Africa, who included two
frontline quicks in their XI and elected to bowl first on a brand-new surface
with the bowling wind blowing, was not taken aback.
After being forced to leave the pitch due to a
nosebleed, Nandre Burger, who seemed to have it all in terms of height, pace
and movement, spearheaded the attack with three wickets. Though it may seem
contradictory given that Tony de Zorzi and Reeza Hendricks put on the greatest
opening stand in Gqeberha to set up the comfortable win, South Africa had the
advantage of knowing they didn’t need to be urgent with their scoring and also
enjoyed a great deal of luck in the early goings. Later, De Zorzi turned his
first fifty into a well-deserved hundred.
However, the quick bowlers—two of whom didn’t even
participate in the previous game—paved the way for the victory. One of them,
Beuran Hendricks, arrived by plane from Cape Town early in the morning
following the injury withdrawal of Ottniel Baartman and Andile Phehlukwayo. For
Lizaad Williams, Aiden Markram omitted Tabraiz Shami’s left-arm spin as well.
Between them, the three expert quick bowlers bowled 28.2 overs for six wickets
and 113 runs.
Following half-centuries from skipper KL Rahul and
opener Sai Sudharsan, which was his second in his previous two ODIs, the lack
of depth in India’s batting was revealed as they attempted to build fast runs
and lost wickets, leaving Axar Patel with four tailenders over the final 13.2
overs. Only 42 could be added by the final four wickets.
Reeza took first strike once more and found things a
little easier. Prior to this, he had struggled to lay bat on ball during the
opening overs of the previous two internationals. Just a little bit. In the
fifth over, he edged Mukesh to second slip, but Gaikwad lost his second catch
in as many matches.
The South African openers now filled their boots, as
skilled hitters do, by gradually working around singles at first and then going
after Kuldeep and Avesh. Maharaj’s earlier-day contribution was noteworthy
since De Zorzi swept Kuldeep for four sixes, three of them slogs and only one
off a wrong’un. This signals that the spinners will not get much assistance.
Reeza reaped the rewards for hanging in there, getting
to a fifty, before he hooked Arshdeep straight to long leg, having added 130
for the first wicket. India had no option but to over-attack now, and both de
Zorzi and Rassie van der Dussen cashed in. De Zorzi was there at the end to hit
the winning six with 45 balls remaining and eight wickets in hand.