SA v IND 2018: 4th ODI – Heinrich Klaasen-David Miller win a thriller for SA as Dhawan 100 goes in vain

Chahal and Kuldeep returned figures of 11.3 - 0 - 119 - 3 in the match

Shikhar Dhawan became 1st Indian to hit century in 100th ODI | AP

India and South Africa collided in the 4th ODI at Johannesburg and was the famous ‘Pink’ ODI, as the hosts wore pink uniform to address the issue of breast cancer and spread awareness about it and raise funds.

On the cricketing side, South Africa came into the match 3-0 down in the six match series and desperately needing to win this one to stay alive in the series. Aiden Markram lost the toss and surprisingly Virat Kohli decided to bat first, despite the warnings of thunderstorms later. India brought in Shreyas Iyer in place of injured Kedar Jadhav and AB de Villiers made his return to SA squad.

India started on the wrong foot, as out of form opener Rohit Sharma’s nightmare South Africa tour continued, with him being caught and bowled by Rabada for 5. But then Shikhar Dhawan, who was playing his 100th ODI and Virat Kohli, took the reins in their hands and put on 158 runs for the second wicket.

Kohli fell for 75 (83 balls with 7 fours and 1 six) to Morris and Dhawan became the first Indian to make a century in his 100th ODI and made 109 in 105 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes before being dismissed by Morkel.

Play for halted for some time with India on 200/2 and India couldn’t recover from the break in their momentum, as Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer fell for 8 and 18 respectively after the break, along with Dhawan.

Dhoni (42* off 43 balls with 3 fours and 1 six) tried his best to put the innings in fifth gear, but failed to do so, as India ended on 289/7 in 50 overs.

K Rabada (2/58) and L Ngidi (2/52) were the most successful Proteas bowlers.

South Africa started positively in their chase of 290 in 50 overs, as Markram (22) and Amla (33) added 43 runs in 7.2 overs, before Markram got out. With his dismissal, the predicted thunderstorms arrived and halted play for quite a while.

Due to the break, South African innings was curtailed to 28 overs and target revised to 202 runs thanks to DLS method.

Kuldeep snared Duminy for 10 and AB de Villiers made 25, before Pandya got him caught by Rohit Sharma. However, Chahal’s one over to Miller proved to be pivotal in the context of the match, as Iyer first dropped Miller off Chahal and then Chahal clean bowled him off a no-ball.

Miller and Klaasen then brought the South African team back in the game, as both went after Chahal and took him to cleaners. Despite taking some beating, Chahal bounced back with the wicket of Miller (39 in 28 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes).

The game ended in a nail-biter, as Klaasen (43* in 27 balls; 5 fours and 1 six) took South Africa closer to the target. Andile Phehlukwayo (23* in 5 balls; 3sixes and 1 four) added the finishing touches to the game, by taking Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal to the cleaners in the end and won the match for Proteas, as they kept their hopes of equalizing the series alive with this win.

South Africa also kept their unbeaten ‘pink’ ODI record intact.

BRIEF SCORES:

IND 289/7 (S DHAWAN 109, V Kohli 75; L NGIDI 2/52) lost to SA 207/5 (Tar. 202 runs in 28 overs) (KLAASEN 43*, MILLER 39) by 5 wkts

 

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 10 Feb, 2018

    Share Via