India has achieved a remarkable victory over South Africa on their home turf, securing a memorable series win. This triumph holds a hint of sweet revenge, as India had suffered a 3-0 defeat the last time they played an ODI series in South Africa. Notably, this marks only the second loss for the Proteas at Boland Park in 10 outings, the previous one dating back to 2013 against the Kiwis.
After a halftime break, the Indian bowlers initially struggled, conceding too many boundaries. However, a pivotal moment came when Arshdeep Singh changed ends and dismissed Reeza Hendricks, providing the Indian bowlers with better control. The spin duo of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar then dominated, putting pressure on the opposition batters. Arshdeep’s sensational performance, securing a four-wicket haul, and contributions from Sundar and Avesh Khan further solidified India’s grip on the match.
In the opening innings, the Indian opening pair, Reeza Hendricks and Tony de Zorzi, started positively, with De Zorzi particularly impressive. However, Hendricks struggled once again, followed by an underperforming Rassie van der Dussen. Despite a promising partnership between De Zorzi and captain Aiden Markram, Markram’s dismissal with a poor shot turned the game. De Zorzi’s departure at 81, coupled with the failures of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller under pressure, led to South Africa finishing a distant second best.
Earlier in the game, Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to put the visitors into bat. The first innings witnessed fluctuations as South African pacers recovered after an early burst from debutant Rajat Patidar. Sanju Samson played a crucial role, absorbing pressure and forming partnerships with Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh. Samson achieved a maiden century, while Rinku Singh added valuable runs in the final 10 overs, bringing India close to the 300-run mark. Nandre Burger impressed with the ball, but Hendricks stood out with three wickets and an impressive bowling performance.
In the chase, the game remained neck and neck for the first 30 overs. However, South Africa faced a self-destructive phase, combined with effective bowling from India, ultimately leading to India’s victory.
