Clinical South Africa claims first ODI series win in India
- DeKock, Duplesis and DeVilliers post centuries and dismantle Indian bowlers
- South Africa hand India a 214 run drubbing
- Bhuvaneshwar Kumar records worst figures by an Indian bowler in ODI’s and second worst of all time.
Mumbai: Team India didn’t stand a chance against the 438 behemoth posted by the visitors in the 5th and final ODI of the freedom series between India and South Africa. Batting first South Africa got to a brisk start courtesy Hashim Amla and Quinton DeKock. Although Alma was dismissed early, DeKock once again proved to be the tormentor in chief of the Indian bowling line up as he smashed his 5th century against the men in blue. He was ably supported by Faf Duplesis who also notched up his 5th ODI ton.
DeKock was dismissed soon after his century and was replaced by South African captain AB DeVilliers who couldn’t have asked for a better launch pad. With plenty of wickets in hand, ABD went ballistic on the Indian bowlers and spared none as he brought up his 23rd ODI ton. Faf on the other end started cramping after reaching his ton, so went for the big shots which paid off superbly, unfortunately his body couldn’t keep up and the South African had to retire hurt, but by then the damage had already been done and South Africa reached the second highest score in ODI’s after plundering 144 runs in the last 10 overs.
Indian bowling in tatters
With R Ashwin nursing an injury, India just didn’t have a wicket taking bowler who could be just as lethal on a non-responsive track as on a helpful wicket. DeVilliers, Duplesis and DeKock helped themselves to a run fest as the bowling sometimes looked too mediocre for it to be called an International match. The two pace bowlers got a hammering right from the first over. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar ended with second most expensive figures in ODI cricket and conceded well over 100 runs from his quota of 10 overs. Mohit Sharma too didn’t fare well as he went for 12 an over from his 7 overs and had he got to finish his quota the dubious record would have been with him. The spin department also couldn’t bog down the visitors like they did in Chennai as the South African’s went after them after starting cautiously.
Pressure too much for India’s best batsmen
Coming into the match Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had been India’s best batsmen and if the team stood even a remote chance of winning the game, then these two had to do the bulk of the scoring. But the Kohli-Sharma show turned out to be a flop today as both fell cheaply inside the first 10 overs.
Ajinkya-Dhawan showed glimmer of hope
Ajinkya Rahane, whose ODI creditability had been questioned by skipper MS Dhoni showed the captain that its not all about power hitting as the elegant right hander blasted 87 runs at a strike rate of 150. Rahane was going great guns and probably would have recorded one of India’s fastest ODI tons had wickets not fallen at regular intervals at the other end. He found some support from Shikhar Dhawan initially who scored his first half century of the series, but was dismissed by a quick Rabada delivery.
The rest as they say is history as the batsmen came and went in without putting up a fight as the hosts were handed a mammoth 214 run defeat. This is India’s biggest defeat in terms of runs at home and second biggest over all.
India will now play the Proteas in a 3 test series.
