India vs South Africa 3rd ODI Highlights: Proteas Beat Hosts by 18 Runs to Take 2-1 Lead in Series
India's bowlers had managed to pull things back after Quinton de Kock scored a century. However, the South African bowlers bowled with discipline to achieve an 18-run win. Relive all the moments here.
At the start of the match, Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis were coasting with a wonderful partnership. De Kock scored a century but with his dismissal, South Africa managed just 65 runs in 11 overs to reach 270/7. India started off well with Rohit Sharma batting well and Virat Kohli also contributed. MS Dhoni chipped in but with his dismissal, South Africa tightened the noose and gave India no room to work with. Morne Morkel chipped in with 4/39 and his efforts have allowed South Africa to defeat India by 18 runs and take a 2-1 lead in the series. Catch all the moments here. (Scorecard | News | Photos | Videos)
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21:28 hrs IST: It is all over. South Africa have won the match by 18 runs and have taken a 2-1 lead in the series. Fantastic stuff from Morne Morkel and the bowlers. They pulled things back after the Virat Kohli- MS Dhoni partnership was going string. The dismissal of Dhoni was the turning point and India could not finish well at the death. The hosts will be kicking themselves for allowing the pressure to build up.
21:10 hrs IST: Double wicket whammy for India and South Africa close in on a victory. Virat Kohli falls for 77 and Ajinkya Rahane falls for 4. Both caught in the same position at deep mid wicket and the fans are stunned into silence in Rajkot. Both batsmen attempted the pull shot and both perished to David Miller at deep midwicket. Game changing stuff from South Africa. Morne Morkel finishes with brilliant figures of 10-1-39-4.
20:55 hrs IST: WICKET! Another poor stroke and Suresh Raina's horror run continues. After 3 and 0, he falls for another duck. Suresh Raina c David Miller b Imran Tahir 0 (2).
This is woeful stuff from Raina. He lofts a flighted delivery to long-off and Miller runs to his left to take a good catch over his head. The pressure is mounting on India.
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20:50 hrs IST: Massive relief for India. Kohli works this delivery on the pads to fine leg and Tahir fires a good throw to Quinton de Kock who breaks the stumps. Kohli puts in the dive and that just saves him. Replays suggest that he is in by just one frame. India 201/3 in 43 overs, needing 70 off 42 balls.
20:44 hrs IST: WICKET! Massive wicket for South Africa and India's hopes rest on Kohli. The Indian skipper has missed his half century. MS Dhoni c Steyn b Morkel 47 (61).
Superb bowling this from Morkel. He bowls the short off-cutter that kicks up from the deck, Dhoni hops and looks to glide it to third man but ends up offering a simple catch to Steyn at short third man. India 193/3, needing 78 more off 49 balls. The pressure is on India.
20:37 hrs IST: Steyn back on! India need 86 runs in the last 10 overs. Two set batsmen in Kohli and Dhoni. Surely, India will not botch up? Stranger things have happened. To compound it all, Quinton de Kock missed a stumping off Dhoni in the last over. The bat slipped out of the Indian skipper's hands and his foot was not behind the crease.
20:32 hrs IST: OUCH! Duminy is in some trouble. Dhoni blasted a straight drive back at him and his finger gets injured. However, the magic spray does the trick and he resumes bowling. However, the bowler continues to be unlucky as the keeper misses another stumping. Dhoni powerfully smashes the fifth ball for a boundary and heading into the last 10 overs, India need 86 runs for victory.
20:25 hrs IST: Dale Steyn is off the field and Aaron Phangiso is on the field. Steyn was the fielder at point who misfielded and he seemed to have injured his finger. South Africa will be hoping that he is fit and that he is able to bowl.
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20:10 hrs IST: Finally, the drought ends for Virat Kohli. He scores his 34th fifty and it is his first since the Pakistan match in Adelaide during the 2015 World Cup. Can he convert this into a big one and score a century? India 159/2 after 34 overs.
20:02 hrs IST: In the last five overs, South Africa have given away 23 runs and the asking rate has mounted for India. Are Dhoni and Kohli setting themselves for a late assault?
19:55 hrs IST: Both Dhoni and Kohli are batting comfortably and there are no problems whatsoever. South Africa need to break this partnership.
19:41 hrs IST: Missed run-out! Dhoni was a goner if that had hit the stumps. He taps Morne Morkel to the off side and sets off for a suicidal single. David Miller fires the throw from point but he misses at the bowler's end. Dhoni and Virat Kohli have a wry smile on their face. This was risky.
19:35 hrs IST: MS Dhoni has promoted himself up the order and he is playing with utmost confidence. Whenever Dhoni has gone up the order, things have worked for India.
19:22 hrs IST: WICKET! Tame way for Rohit Sharma to go. JP Duminy strikes in his first over in his second spell. Rohit Sharma c and b JP Duminy 65 (74).
Tame way for Rohit to go. Duminy floats this delivery slower through the air and Rohit comes down the track, he gets beaten in the flight as the ball dips and he lunges out to chip it back to the bowler. India 113/2 in 23.1 overs, needing another 158 runs for victory.
19:10 hrs IST: What a way for Rohit Sharma to get to his 27th fifty! He is in great form. He waltzes down the track and lofts Imran Tahir into the stands. This has been a great knock from Rohit and he will be hoping to get India across the line.
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18:53 hrs IST: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are batting aggressively and they have not gotten bogged down after the dismissal of Shikhar Dhawan. It is drinks time in Rajkot and India are 81/1 after 17 overs, needing 190 more to win off 33 overs.
18:41 hrs IST: SMASH! Brilliant from Rohit Sharma. He comes down the track to Dale Steyn and lofts him over long-off for a big six. India are 57/1 after 13 overs, needing 214 runs in 37 overs.
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18:34 hrs IST: WICKET! Great stuff from Morne Morkel and South Africa have the breakthrough. Shikhar Dhawan c AB de Villiers c Morne Morkel 13 (29).
This is great pressure bowling and this has yielded a wicket. Third time that Morne Morkel has gotten Dhawan in this series. Full ball angled across outside off, Dhawan comes down the track and looks to drive but gets the outside edge, AB de Villiers dives to his left and takes a good catch. India 41/1 (10.4 ovs), needing 230 more for a win.
18:20 hrs IST: This is shocking stuff from South Africa! In a space of two overs, they have missed a run-out and dropped two catches. JP Duminy, the bowler, will be cursing his luck. In the second ball of his first over, Rohit Sharma pulls to short fine leg but Morne Morkel drops the chance. Two balls later, Dhawan gets an outside edge and AB de Villiers spills the chance. This will not help South Africa one bit.
18:13 hrs IST: Missed run-out! India still have problems with their running shoes. Rohit Sharma punches Morne Morkel down the ground and tries to set off for a single. However, the bowler obstructs Rohit's view and both Dhawan and Rohit are at the same end. Steyn misses with the throw and Dhawan survives.
18:05 hrs IST: Both openers are making smooth progress. Dhawan is going strong by smashing two consecutive boundaries off Kagiso Rabada. Can he get past 23 today?
17:51 hrs IST: Rohit Sharma starts off in grand style by caressing a four off Dale Steyn for a boundary. So far, there is nothing in the pitch for the opening bowlers under light. Rabada is not getting that much zip off the wicket.
17:43 hrs IST: Out come the South African players, followed by the two Indian openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. One left-handed opener has scored a century, will Dhawan get one?
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17:15 hrs IST: Quinton de Kock stole the show with a magnificent century and his 118-run stand with Faf du Plessis gave South Africa a great platform for an onslaught. However, they lost three wickets in nine balls as Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra bowled wonderfully. India improved their death bowling and they restricted them to 270/7. India will be favorites but with the wicket getting slow, they will have to play cautiously.
17:10 hrs IST: Farhaan Behardien ends the innings with a six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and South Africa have finished on 270/7. This is 20-30 runs short of what would have been a par score on this deck. After 39 overs, they were 205/2. They have managed just 65 runs in the last 11 overs and India will be backing themselves to chase this target down.
17:03 hrs IST: Ever since the wickets of Quinton and de Kock and Ab de Villiers, South Africa have managed just 48 runs in nine overs. This has really hurt them. With only one over to go, South Africa are 258/6 after 49 overs. Things have gotten a bit better thanks to Mohit Sharma conceding 11 runs.
16:55 hrs IST: WICKET! South Africa continue their freefall and JP Duminy, their lone hope, goes. Now, even 270 looks difficult. JP Duminy c Raina b Mohit Sharma 14 (14).
As simple as it can get! Mohit Sharma slants a full ball on middle and Duminy holes out to long-on where Raina lunges forward to take the catch. South Africa 241/6 (41.4 overs).
16:42 hrs IST: South Africa are really struggling to up the scoring in the final overs. The loss of De Kock and De Villiers has come at a wrong time and this could hurt South Africa as the match progresses.
16:29 hrs IST: WICKETS! India are fighting back in grand style as South Africa lose three wickets for nine runs. Following du Plessis' dismissal, AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock fall in quick succession.
Unfortunate way for De Kock to go. Shikhar Dhawan drops AB de Villiers and De Kock hesitates in the single. The throw from Dhawan is spot-on and he departs after a magnificent century. Quinton de Kock run out (Shikhar Dhawan/MS Dhoni) 103 (118)
AB de Villiers LBW Axar Patel 4 (5). In the next over from Axar Patel, de Villiers goes back and looks to cut an arm ball late but he is rapped on the back pad and South Africa's ace departs for 4. India clawing back in Rajkot and they have a chance to restrict South Africa to under 300.
16:21 hrs IST: WICKET! India finally break the 118-run stand and Mohit Sharma, who should have dismissed Faf du Plessis earlier, gets his wicket finally without any hassles. Faf du Plessis c Bhuvneshwar Kumar b Mohit Sharma 60 (63).
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16:16 hrs IST: Magnificent stuff from Quinton de Kock. Boy, does he love playing against India or what! He scores his fourth century in seven innings against India. Gets there by charging down the track and cracking Mohit Sharma past cover for a boundary. Take a bow, Quinton!
16:05 hrs IST: The partnership between Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock has crossed 100. South Africa are 188/2 in 36 overs and with AB de Villiers still to come, things are not looking good for India. They need to break this partnership.
15:56 hrs IST: Read all about the news about Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals escaping termination from the IPL. They will rejoin in 2018 and the 11th edition of the tournament will feature 10 teams.
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15:51 hrs IST: Quinton de Kock is struggling in this heat as he just jogs around for a single. The stand with du Plessis is already worth 85 in 86 balls and both batsmen are nearing their individual landmarks.
15:44 hrs IST: Axar Patel concedes 11 runs in his fifth over and he has figures of 5-0-33-0. This is not looking good for India in Rajkot. The partnership is growing and De Kock is nearing another century against India.
15:42 hrs IST: Big news from the BCCI Working Committee: Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will not be terminated from IPL. Two new teams will come for the next season. Both CSK and RR will be back from two-year suspension in 2018 and that edition will feature 10 teams.
15:34 hrs IST: The fifty-run partnership is up between du Plessis and de Kock. India will have to bowl really well and recover from the fielding lapses if they have to contain the South Africans during the death overs, something that has been their strength.
15:28 hrs IST: Catch dropped by Suresh Raina! Indiscipline is creeping in. Superb ball from Axar Patel. He gets this delivery to jump up viciously and spin away, du Plessis is surprised by the extra bounce and the edge flies over Raina at cover who misjudges his jump and fails to latch on to the catch. Another life for the batsman on 20.
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15:23 hrs IST: Tragedy for Mohit Sharma! He gets a wicket with a beautifully disguised slower delivery and Faf du Plessis holes out to long on. The celebrations continue but Mohit has overstepped. No part of his foot was behind the line. Quinton de Kock cannot capitalise on the free hit and only a single results. In the last ball, du Plessis is beaten by a pacy delivery. If only had he not bowled that no-ball, India would have been on top. South Africa 123/2 in 26 overs.
15:13 hrs IST: Here is some news. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo will be the new title sponsors of the IPL from 2016. PepsiCo had pulled out of the title sponsorship in October.
15:04 hrs IST: Axar Patel comes into the attack. Can he repeat his heroics of Indore where he snapped up 3/39 and changed the whole course of the match?
15:00 hrs IST: Good stuff from Quinton de Kock as he finally gets a big score after a couple of starts. He scores his sixth ODI fifty and his first against India. He already has three centuries against them and he will be aiming for another ton.
14:53 hrs IST: WICKET! Amit Mishra gets into the action and Hashim Amla's struggles continue. Amla st Dhoni b Amit Mishra 5 (15).
Wonderful bowling from Mishra and he gets Amla for the second time in this series. Flighted delivery that dips and turns away sharply, Amla is beaten in the flight and he lunges forward. However, he is out of the crease as the ball spins past the edge and Dhoni whips the bails off in a flash. South Africa 87/2 in 18.4 overs.
14:42 hrs IST: Drinks in Rajkot! The scoring rate has slowed down ever since the dismissal of Miller. Harbhajan and Mishra are slowing things down and they are being assisted well in the field. The current run-rate has dipped below five runs and South Africa will have an uphill task.
14:28 hrs IST: WICKET! Harbhajan gets the wicket and the 72-run opening stand is broken. David Miller c Rahane b Harbhajan 33 (41).
Wonderful stuff from Harbhajan and India finally break what has been a pretty solid stand. Flighted delivery outside off stump, Miller is lured into the drive but the bat turns in his hand as he attempts the shot, the ball spoons of the outside edge and Rahane at short third man moves to his right and dives forward to take the catch. South Africa 72/1 (13.3 overs).
14:17 hrs IST: Amit Mishra into the attack with a leg slip and slip in place. His omission from the previous match had resulted in some controversy but here he has a chance to put in another great show. De Kock, who has gotten starts in the previous two ODIs, will be aiming for a big score on this flat deck.
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14:10 hrs IST: The move to open with David Miller seems to be working so far. For the first time in the series, the South African openers have put on a fifty-run partnership with De Kock smashing two consecutive fours off Bhuvneshwar. Both batsmen laying a solid platform.
14:07 hrs IST: Just in: Hardik Patel detained by police five kilometers away from the Saurashtra Cricket Association stadium.
14:02 hrs IST: Just a stat: For the first time in seven years, Hashim Amla has not opened in an ODI for South Africa. In that period, he has scored 5948 runs at an average of just over 53. These are magnificent numbers. Harbhajan Singh into the attack with a slip and an unconventional mid-off in place.
13:55 hrs IST: Quinton de Kock and Miller are scoring at close to six runs an over after a steady start. Can South Africa build a big opening partnership? Their two previous partnerships in this series has been 45 and 40. After six overs, South Africa are 34/0.
13:41 hrs IST: Solid start so far from Bhuvneshwar and Mohit. There is nothing in the pitch for them but they have maintained some tight lines and length. This is the second ODI at this new Saurashtra Cricket Association stadium in Khanderi. In the match against England in 2013, India lost a high-scoring match by just nine runs. Will India reverse their fortunes this time around?
13:30 hrs IST: David Miller is opening the batting along with Quinton de Kock. Will the move work for South Africa? One slip in place and Bhuvneshwar Kumar is opening the bowling. Good start as he begins with a maiden. At the other end, Mohit Sharma will share the new ball with two slips in place.
13:15 hrs IST: The security arrangements for this ODI have been immense. Three drone cameras and 90 CCTVs have been installed at the stadium to closely monitor each and every movement of the viewers. If any police personnel on duty is caught watching the match instead of monitoring the crowd, will be punished.The threat of protest by Hardik Patel and his PAAS conveners have kept security on their toes. Earlier, he had threatened to block the path of both the teams heading into the stadium but that has been averted.
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13:05 hrs IST: Here are the playing XIs of both teams. There are reports coming that David Miller could open the batting with Quinton de Kock. One must remember that Miller is struggling for form and this is an interesting move by South Africa.
India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni(wk and c), Suresh Raina, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Mohit Sharma
South Africa (Playing XI): Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock(wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers(c), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel
13:00 hrs IST: A warm welcome to the third match between India and South Africa from Rajkot. The latest news is that the Proteas have won the toss and have chosen to bat first. No changes in their squad but for India, Amit Mishra replaces Umesh Yadav. So, on this deck, spin will be the key.
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Having managed to level the series, a determined India will be eager to produce an improved performance in the third ODI against South Africa today. However, one major worrying factor for the organisers is the threat of disruption issued by Hardik Patel's Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) who have stated their plan to use the game as a platform for their ongoing agitation for reservation.
The hosts were propped up by a fighting unbeaten 92 by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and a half-century from Ajinkya Rahane during the second ODI while the rest of the batting line-up fluffed their lines. The bowlers then produced a superlative performance to successfully defend the modest total of 247/9 and carve out a 22-run victory.
The Proteas had earlier taken the opening ODI of the five-match series by five runs in Kanpur. The Indian victory in Indore came after three consecutive defeats to the visitors as they had lost both the matches in the Twenty20 International (T20I) series as well.
The Indian top order has been inconsistent so far, specially Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina. The last time Kohli got a half-century was during India's opening match of the 2015 World Cup on February 15. Rahane has been the most consistent Indian batsman so far in this series. Dhoni's return to form will be another morale booster for the Indians.
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Mobile Internet Services Banned in Rajkot
The Rajkot administration on Saturday night banned mobile internet services in the district, ahead of the India-South Africa cricket ODI to be played on Sunday, after Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel threatened to stage a protest at the cricket stadium during the match. (Read more)
Hardik Patel Threatens to Block Cricket Teams' Way to Stadium
Hardik Patel has threatened to block the way of Indian and South African cricket teams to the Rajkot Stadium. The 22-year-old Patel quota spearhead also said that Patel community members will cordon off Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Khanderi village on outskirts of Rajkot city as tickets were allegedly not sold to his community members.
Police has made elaborate security arrangements after the threat by Hardik and decided to fortify the stadium and the city with large deployment to ensure smooth conduct of the match. (Read more)