Indian wrist spinners wrecked South African Batsmen to win 5th ODI by 74 runs; also clinched series by 4-1

NewsBharati    14-Feb-2018
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Port Elizabeth, February 14: Indian cricket team on Tuesday scripted history after registering a commanding victory over South Africa in the fifth One-day International (ODI) at St George's Park and clinched the series by 4-1. Opener Rohit Sharma’s century and wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal spell made the difference and helped team India to win the high voltage match.

 

Chasing a victory target of 275 runs, South Africa were bundled out at 201. Indian wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal took a total of 6 wickets of South Africa while Hardik Pandya claimed two wickets. African batsmen Hashim Amla scored was the only player to cross half-century mark as he made useful 71 runs but in the end, went in vain.

After a good start in their chase, South Africa lost three wickets in quick succession including AB de Villiers, JP Duminy and Aiden Markram. South Africa were reduced to 65/3 in 12.5 overs from 52/0 in 9.3. Amla and David Miller then resurrected the South African run chase by adding 62 for the fourth wicket. Miller scored 36 runs before getting clean bowled by Chahal in the 27th over. However, Markram was in good touch and scored 32 off 32 balls which included a six and four boundaries before losing his wicket.


Later, South African batsmen found it tough to negotiate India's wrist spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal. The spin duo gave away 100 runs in their 19.2 overs and took six wickets and along with Pandya, they squeezed the run rate in the middle overs which helped Indian team to clinch the match as well as series.

Earlier, put in to bat, India made 274 for seven in their 50 overs. Rohit Sharma was the top scorer with a fine 115, which was his 17th ODI century. India openers gave India a good start with Dhawan and Rohit adding 48 before Kagiso Rabada got the better of the left-hander in the eighth over. Dhawan hit eight boundaries during his 34-runs inning off 23 balls.

Opener Rohit Sharma roared back in the fifth ODI after having a failure in 4 consecutive one days and scored a fantastic century to guide his team to achieve competitive score 274 runs. Kohli scored 36 off 54 balls, which included just two boundaries, but added 105 for the second wicket with Rohit in 18.1 overs before getting run out. India lost another wicket to run out when Ajinkya Rahane was playing on 8 runs was sent back by Rohit while going for a quick single.

Along with young Iyer, Rohit stabilized the innings and reached his 17th hundred off 107 balls. The duo added a valuable 60 runs for the fourth wicket in 10.3 overs. In the death overs, India lost few wickets and were restricted to a total of 274 runs.

Interestingly, no Indian men's side since its first tour in South Africa back in 1992, has ever won a series across any format. They did win a one-off T20 match in 2006 their first-ever shortest format but it was a single match event.