Quick guide:
South Africa vs India
Freedom Trophy 2nd ODI between India and South Africa was played at Boland Park, Paarl. This was the same square from 1st ODI so it was already expected to play slow. It was a do-or-die match for India as they were 1-0 behind coming to this match. KL Rahul won the toss and opted to bat first.
Teams
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma ©, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Sisanda Magala, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.
India: KL Rahul ©, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Match Summary
1st Innings
Lungi Ngidi started off against the Indian opening pair – KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan. They were looking positive from start and made most of the slight errs in line and lengths from protea pacers. Indian skipper was dropped on 7 by Malan off Ngidi during 5th over. India scored 57 unscathed by the end of 10th over.
Markram got the first breakthrough for the straight 2nd time as Shikhar Dhawan (29/38) slogged straight to deep mid-wicket. SA got another big wicket in the next over as Virat Kohli handed a dolly to Temba Bavuma at covers. Former, Indian skipper got out to Maharaj at a 5 ball duck. India could have a lost another wicket within 15 overs but narrowly escaped a mix-up.
From thereon, the southpaw targeted South African spinners especially Tabraiz Shamsi. He conceded 14 runs in his first over. India scored 141 at loss of 2 by 25th over. Rishabh Pant had scored his fifty in the same over. Both batters notched a century stand in just 94 balls. Indian skipper reached his half century of 71 deliveries in 29th over.
South Africa did bounce back after drinks break. Magala got his first ODI wicket as Rahul (55/79) handed a catch straight to mid-wicket. Shamsi also got his man in next over as Rishabh (85/71) got caught in an attempt to launch it at deep mid-wicket. India lost 2 wickets in quick succession as they were 186-4 at end of 33rd over with both new batters in the middle.
Shreyas Iyer (11/14) couldn’t get going as he was caught in front of the wicket by Shamsi. Earlier, umpire Adrian turned down the appeal but it was later overturned. Venkatesh Iyer (22/33) looked settled but got stumped by QDK of Phehlukwayo. India scored 287 for loss of 6 wickets in there 50 overs. Shardul Thakur (40/28) and Ravi Ashwin (25/24) were 2 unbeaten batters.
Watch: South Africa vs India (highlights)
2nd Innings
QDK and Janneman Malan opened for South African run chase. The former didn’t let the bowlers settle. He scored 14 runs of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s first over. India were quick to bring the bowling change. Although, Indian bowlers did create some chances but QDK made most of the fielding restrictions. DA scored 66 runs in first 10 overs with QDK (46/32*) and Malan (19/28*) as unbeaten batters.
QDK reached his 50 during 12th over. Both batters were comfortable rotating strike and hitting odd-boundaries. Proteas reached 20th over unscathed scoring 122 runs. Shardul Thakur broke the 132 run stand during 22nd over as he trapped QDK (78/66) in front with late swinging full-toss.
Proteas skipper, Temba Bavuma was the next batter in join the middle. He continued South Africa’s merry way. They were easily working spinners and bowlers like Thakur. India did pulled back things with 2 wickets and 2 consecutive overs. First, Bumrah bowled Malan (91/108) and Bavuma (35/36) handed a leading edge to Chahal of his own delivery.
South Africa were already 215-3 at the end of 36th over and were already in the driving seat. RVD Dussen (37/38*) and Aiden Markram (37/41*) took Proteas over the line with 74 run partnership. SA chased the target in 48.1 overs.
Quinton de Kock was given Player of the Match award as he laid foundation of this run-chase with a quick fire 78.
Key Points
- Both matches were played on same square pitch didn’t had much for bowlers in powerplay but SA were clinical with there game during middle over.
- South Africa formed good partnership during middle over whereas Indian middle order batsmen were unable to stick around after top dismissals
~Divyansh (Team member, Beyond the matches)
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