Fourth ODI South Africa 265/7 (50 overs) India 142/6 (32.5 overs)
South Africa won by 48 runs (D/L)
South Africa and India have gone toe-to-toe for the best part of six weeks. They slugged it out in the Test series, finishing tied at 1-1. Now with just one day left of the tour, Sunday’s final ODI at Centurion, the two teams remain inseparable after the Proteas squared up the one-day series at 2-2 by virtue of Messrs Duckworth and Lewis in Port Elizabeth on Friday night.
Play was interrupted for 87 minutes during India’s run chase at 8.53pm, and just 1.5 overs after the resumption, the heavens opened again, ultimately leaving India stranded.
South Africa initially made 265/7, which was by no means a monumental target, especially with the venue being one of the smallest in South Africa.
However, this Indian side, in spite of being 2-1 up in the series, had only registered scores of 154, 189 and 223/8 in the three preceding matches.
Unlike South Africa’s inconsistent batting line-up, the hosts’ bowlers, especially the pace trio of Dale Steyn, Morné Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, have been spot on.
Under the tutelage of assistant coach Vincent Barnes, they have been the epitome of discipline, hitting their lines and lengths with unerring accuracy. Last night was no different, and again it was Tsotsobe who upstaged his more senior bowling partners.
Not even the misfortune of having suffered a mid-week burglary at his home could deter the local hero. Spurred on by his high-spirited home fans chanting out their unique songs, Tsotsobe removed both Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel, to thwart the visitors’ run chase.
Only the impressive Virat Kohli, who finished unbeaten on 87, looked like posing a threat to South Africa. He was comfortable against both pace and spin, but lacked the support to really make an impact.
There was a period when Suresh Raina (20) was at the crease with him, but the combination of good flight by left-arm spinner Robin Peterson and AB de Villiers’ neat glovework behind the stumps ended that challenge.
Yuvraj Singh also hit a few lusty blows, only too see Proteas captain Graeme Smith athletically throw his body full length to claim a brilliant diving catch off an attempted paddle-sweep by the left-hander.
Earlier, JP Duminy showed he has well and truly consigned the demons of his disastrous tour to India last year to the scrap heap. The classy left-hander hit his third half-century of the series to keep afloat a South Africans innings that threatened to be derailed mid-way through after a promising start.
After a rare double failure in the past two ODIs, Hashim Amla provided the customary initial impetus with a stroke-filled 64 (69 balls; 8x4). In the process, Amla became the fastest batsmen in ODI history to reach 2000 runs, surpassing Pakistan’s Zaheer Abass, who required 45 compared to his 40 innings.
But it was Amla’s dismissal – South Africa had already lost Graeme Smith (18) and the recalled Morné van Wyk (15) by then – that set off 14-ball period of “hari-kari”. The right-hander was run out attempting a suicidal second run, before impressive Newlands debutant Faf du Plessis also had a rush of blood when he too wanted a single that only he knew existed. Kohli was the fielder on both occasions, and when Yuv-raj deceived De Villiers with a good ball from around the wicket, South Africa were precariously placed at 118/5.
Smith had bemoaned his team’s decision-making in this series, especially by the middle-to-lower order batsmen, but would have been pleased by their fighting efforts yesterday.
Vice-captain Johan Botha hit a solid 44 off 59 balls, while selection also played a great role in South Africa being able to add 147 runs between wickets No6 and 9.
South Africa ticked many boxes in this game, and despite its dreary conclusion due to the rain, it was a high-pressure game which needed to be won if they wanted to avoid India celebrating their first ODI series success in the republic. They did that, and in the process took a few steps forward. - Saturday Star
