Quinton de Kock scored a superb ton as South Africa completed a clean sweep of their three-match One-day International series against India with a tense four-run victory at Newlands.
India failed to avoid a series whitewash against a South African team in transition despite Deepak Chahar’s scintillating 34-ball 54, losing the third One-day International by four runs to end a disastrous tour of the ‘Rainbow Nation’.
South Africa were all out for 287 after Quinton de Kock’s attacking hundred and Rassie van der Dussen’s fluent half-century. In reply, India were all out for 283 in 49.2 overs, completely mis-handling a chase that should have been completed smoothly. Having taken two wickets with the ball, Chahar blazed away with the bat and hit five fours and two sixes, but his effort was not enough in the end.
De Kock’s 17th ODI century boosted South Africa’s total, his 124 coming from 130 balls and he added 134 for the fourth wicket with Rassie van der Dussen who made a solid 52 from 59 balls.
David Miller weighed in with 39 at the end of the innings, but South Africa may have felt they were 30 runs short having been 214 for three in the 36th over. Prasidh Krishna was the pick of the visiting attack with 3-59.
India were on course in their chase when they reached 116 for one in the 23rd over, but two quick wickets proved a massive setback.
Shikhar Dhawan (61) skied a pull shot to wicketkeeper De Kock off seamer Andile Phehlukwayo (2-38), and off his first ball the dangerous Rishabh Pant tried to launch the same bowler for six but was caught at deep cover.
It was poor shot selection from Pant, not for the first time on the tour.
When former captain Virat Kohli (65) departed, only the lively 54 from Chahar got India within touching distance.
Seamers Lungi Ngidi (3-58) and Phehlukwayo (3-40) again impressed for the hosts.
This should have been the year India came to South Africa and given the Proteas a whitewash, considering everything that is happening with CSA. This series win is testament to the team’s attitude towards what’s happening behind closed doors at a boardroom table.
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