Visakhapatnam: India wrapped up the three-match ODI series with a commanding 9-wicket victory over South Africa in Visakhapatnam. After winning the toss and opting to bowl, India restricted the visitors to 270 runs, and then chased the target in the 40th over with ease, losing only one wicket. The win secured a 2–1 series triumph for the home side.
South Africa’s innings was powered by a brilliant century from Quinton de Kock, while captain Temba Bavuma scored 48. Dewald Brevis (29) and Matthew Breetzke (24) added crucial runs to help the team reach 270. India’s bowling was led by Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna, who picked up four wickets each.
Chasing 271, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma gave India a superb start, stitching together a 155-run partnership. Rohit scored 75, bringing up his first fifty of the series.
Jaiswal went on to score his maiden ODI century, reaching the mark in 111 balls.
At the other end, Virat Kohli accelerated the chase with a blistering 50 off just 40 balls. He finished the match in style, hitting back-to-back boundaries off Lungi Ngidi to take India home.
Keshav Maharaj claimed the only wicket for South Africa.
With this win, India sealed the ODI series 2–1. South Africa had earlier scripted a record chase of 359 in the second match. Up next, both teams will meet in a five-match T20I series starting 9 December. South Africa have already won the Test series 2–0.
Post-Match Reactions:
Player of the Match – Yashasvi Jaiswal
“I’m very happy. Rohit and I discussed how to pace the innings. Early on, I struggled to score quickly and was thinking about how to balance the innings. When Virat bhai came, he played some brilliant shots and helped me understand the chase better.”
Player of the Series – Virat Kohli
“I’m satisfied with the way I batted in this series. I don’t think I’ve played like this in the last two or three years.”