SA vs IND, 4th ODI, Review: South Africa pull one back in a rain-curtailed game

The hosts are still alive in the series after a sensational victory.

Published - 11 Feb 2018, 01:56 IST | Updated - 11 Feb 2018, 01:56 IST

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South Africa Aiden Markram celebrates with teammates

South Africa have defeated India finally in the fourth ODI of the six-match series in the Pink ODI at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. It was the much-needed victory for the home side as they battered the wrist-spinners in a shortened game and won the match with 15 balls to spare. However, Shikhar Dhawan‘s ton in his 100th ODI went in vain with the visitors left pondering over the shock defeat after having the game well under their control.

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first on a day when South Africa were immensely bolstered by the return of AB de Villiers. The Wanderers was buzzing and was all in Pink amidst which only the Indians were in the blue. India also made one forced change with Kedar Jadhav injured and included Shreyas Iyer ahead of Manish Pandey.

Rohit Sharma once again failed to get going and was sent packing by Kagiso Rabada on 5 in the fourth over. But the joy was shortlived for the hosts as the duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli started playing their shots soon. They got their eyes in quickly and piled on the agony of the bowlers. They treated an all-pace attack with disdain as the former was especially severe on them. Both rotated the strike comfortably though there were a few quite overs which increased the pressure albeit for a brief period of time.

Dhawan scores a special ton

While it was tipped once again that Kohli will manage to score yet another ton the way he was batting, he was dismissed on 75 as Chris Morris scalped him 32nd over. The brilliant partnership of 158 runs came to an end which also applied the breaks on the Indian run-scoring. Meanwhile, Dhawan notched up his 13th ODI ton in his 100th game in the format with a straight drive off the full toss in the 34th over. But soon the match was stopped due to the lightning for almost an hour.

However, once the action resumed South Africa tightened the screws with the quick wickets of the centurion and Ajinkya Rahane. Though MS Dhoni and Shreyas Iyer managed to add 37 runs for the fifth wicket, they struggled against some brilliant death bowling. Eventually, India posted 289 runs for the loss of 7 wickets with Dhoni, as usual, providing the late surge in the last two overs. He remained unbeaten on 42 as Rabada and Ngidi finished with a couple of wickets each.

Curtailed chase

South Africa began their chase quite comfortably as the opening duo of Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla played their shots. But Jasprit Bumrah pinned the former in front in the front after the lightning struck again which was followed by heavy rain and a lengthy break. On the resumption, however, a target of 202 runs was set in front of the hosts in 28 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav soon spun his magic with the ball as he scalped Amla and JP Duminy in quick succession only to bring AB de Villiers in the middle. He was at it quickly smashing Yuzvendra Chahal out of the park which helped in denting his confidence. However, he was sent back by Hardik Pandya which all but ensured that India had pocketed the game. Soon David Miller was castled by the leggie only to be reprieved by the no-ball bowled by the bowler which eventually changed the game.

Both Miller and Heinrich Klaasen started middling everything against the tweakers and put them under serious pressure for the first time in the series. The pressure was telling on the youngsters as they capitulated when the batsmen went all guns blazing against them. India weren’t up for the task on the field as they dropped catches and bowled untimely no balls. Despite the wicket of Miller in the dying stages of the game, the new batsman Andile Phehlukwayo came and finished the game in a hurry with 23 off 5 deliveries only.

Klaasen was the hero though for South Africa who employed different tactics against the spinners and instilled confidence in the dressing room. They have pulled one back on the visitors now and India still lead the series by 3-1 as the fifth ODI will be played now in Port Elizabeth at St George’s Park on Tuesday. Klaasen was named Man of the Match for his heroics with the bat as he remained unbeaten on 43 off just 27 balls.

Chahal was the most expensive bowler conceding 68 runs in 5.3 overs and picked a solitary wicket. Kuldeep however, tried his best by scalping a couple but was taken to the cleaners at the death.