SA vs IND: 3rd ODI Review – Samson, Arshdeep script India’s second series win in South Africa
The last match of the three-game ODI series was played at Boland Park, Paarl in Gqeberha, where India clinched a 78-run win to win the series by a 2-1 margin.
South African captain Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to field first. India posted a challenging total of 296/8 in 50 overs. The score was largely propelled by Sanju Samson’s maiden ODI century (108) and Tilak Varma’s valuable 52. Facing early setbacks, including the loss of openers and middle-order batters, captain KL Rahul and Samson steadied the ship with a 42-run partnership.
While he made a slow start, Varma accelerated later, contributing significantly to a 116-run partnership with Samson. The duo ensured India recovered from a precarious position at 132/3 after 30 overs to accumulate 141 runs in the last 14 overs, aided by Rinku Singh’s quick-fire 38. South African bowler Beuran Hendricks stood out and claimed three wickets.
In pursuit of the target, the South African team made a promising start with openers. Reeza Hendricks and Tony de Zorzi forged a solid 59-run partnership. However, the momentum shifted as Arshdeep Singh dismissed Hendricks, followed by Axar Patel claiming Rassie van der Dussen.
Markram and Tony then built a commendable partnership for the third wicket, taking the team to 141 for two. However, Markram’s dismissal triggered a collapse for the Proteas, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Despite Tony’s standout innings of 81 runs off 87 balls, the Proteas faltered in the chase. They eventually lost the game by 78 runs.
India clinched both the match and the series with a 2-1 victory. Arshdeep Singh stood out with a four-wicket haul. While, Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan contributed with two wickets each in the comprehensive win.
Top Performers of the Match
Sanju Samson (108 of 114)
Amidst ongoing discussions about Sanju Samson’s position in the team, he silenced critics with a brilliant performance on a challenging batting pitch. In a standout innings, Samson scored a magnificent century, reaching 108 off 114 balls, including six fours and three sixes. Samson’s innings played a pivotal role in helping India post a competitive total close to 300, a feat that seemed unlikely at one point in the match.
Arshdeep Singh (4/30, 9 overs)
Arshdeep Singh exhibited his bowling prowess in the match, claiming four crucial wickets to disrupt the South African chase. His brilliant swing early on, combined with a varied pace in the middle overs, posed significant challenges for South Africa. Having previously secured a five-wicket haul in the series, Singh continued his impressive form by delivering another outstanding spell, finishing with ten wickets in the series.
What’s Next
Both teams are scheduled to face each other in the first match of the two-Test series at SuperSport Park, Centurion, starting on December 26th.
