South Africa vs India, 2nd ODI - Who Said What

It was one of those matches where you don’t have a lot to talk about. The match started and concluded almost around the time one of the innings should’ve ended. It would’ve been through before but for some reason the umpires wanted India to take the lunch break before scoring the final two runs. While the spin twin dictated terms with the ball, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan took India home with 9 wickets in hand.

The Indian skipper won the toss and he knew asking Proteas to bat first would expose their inexperienced middle-order. Aiden Markram leading the South African team didn’t quite have a command on the proceedings after he threw his wicket for 9. The opening duo added 39 runs and almost played through the first ten overs.

Partnership break and the end of mandatory power play were the two things that would’ve worried the Proteas. Kohli unleashed wrist spinners right from the 11th over and the batsmen just struggled. It was a poor sight. The likes of Quinton de Kock, Markram, Miller, JP Duminy, debutant Khaya Zondo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel were all dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.

All it took them was 14.2 overs to scalp 8 wickets and South Africa were bowled out for a paltry 118 in 32.2 overs. Chahal registered his best bowling figure in ODIs – 5/22 and that got him the Man of the Match award as well.

In their response, India were clinical, though Rohit Sharma scored just 15 he played his shots and hit a couple of boundaries and a six. Thereafter Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli carried on and weren’t troubled at all. They paced the chase as they wanted and got home at ease. South Africa also had two spinners in their line-up Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi but they went wicket-less and that defined how well these two batted.

In the post-match presentation Virat Kohli said:

We thought at the toss the ball was going to do a bit early. Again Bhuvi and Bumrah didn’t give too much away. We knew if we got the two openers, the middle order would be shaky. The pitch was harder than Durban and the spinners used it. We knew we won’t get grass on the pitch because when it’s seaming, it can be anyone’s game. We knew the wickets would be hard and dry and knew our wrist pinners can get it to turn anywhere. They just didn’t give SA any chance. 2-0 is a wonderful position to be in. We want to cash in on that.

Aiden Markram said:

Not the best performance, no. It’s a day we’re gonna have to be really honest with ourselves. Not ideal [soft dismissals] starting from myself. It was always going to be difficult to defend but look, the day is over. We can’t afford slip-ups now. It might bring out the best in us. It’s a good position to be in.

MoM Yuzvendra Chahal said:

First away tour and I’m enjoying it here. It’s about how mentally tough you are. Not too different from India, the conditions, maybe just the ground was a little smaller. When I took the first wicket and he [Kuldeep] came and took two wickets, the pressure was on the batsmen.

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