Morne Morkel, with figures of 4/39, was pick of the bowlers for South Africa on Sunday. (Source: PTI)
India got off to a good start in the 271-run chase but lost their way in the middle overs. It wasn’t the wickets they lost but the tight overs which South Africa produced. During a steady Virat Kohli-MS Dhoni stand, boundaries were not coming and the asking rate shot to over 9 in the last ten overs. Morne Morkel (4/39) bounced India out in the final overs and didn’t allow them to go for the shots. South Africa, with the 18-run win, lead the five-match series 2-1.
Scorecard: India vs South Africa
The match, as it happened
2130 hrs IST: ALL OVER! South Africa beat India by 18 runs in the third ODI in Rajkot on Sunday. They now lead the five-match series 2-1
2105 hrs IST: WICKET! 2/2 for Morkel. Similar shot from Rahane and he too finds Miller. India lose their sixth. Looks like game over now
2104 hrs IST: WICKET! Morkel pitches it short, Kohli pulls but finds Miller in the deep. India lose their fifth wicket
13 min read
2 boundaries between overs 31 and 45. Asking rate skyrocketed there
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 18, 2015
2100 hrs IST: Rabada bowls a tight over. India need 55 from the last five overs now
2053 hrs IST: WICKET! Raina fails to make good connection and is out without troubling the scorers. His mistimed big shot finds Miller in the deep. Tahir picks the wicket
2050 hrs IST: India need 70 from 42 balls. Kohli and Raina in the middle for hosts
2042 hrs IST: Suresh Raina is the new man in. India need 78 from 48 now
2041 hrs IST: WICKET! Big wicket in the context of the game. South Africa break the stand as Dhoni players a Morkel delivery to Steyn. 193/3
2037 hrs IST: Helicopter shot is history, Dhoni’s bat can fly
The flying bat of @msdhoni. 3rd @Paytm ODI #INDvsSA https://t.co/RnewiK9dP8
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 18, 2015
2036 hrs IST: Two finest ODI finishers – Kohli and Dhoni – in the middle for India. This situation is like been there, done that for them
2035 hrs IST: A wicket here will put a lot of pressure on India. Not easy for a new batsman to start hitting from the word go
2030 hrs IST: Exciting finish on the cards? India need 86 from the last 60 balls. Set pair of Kohli and Dhoni in the middle
2010 hrs IST: Fifty-run partnership between Kohli and Dhoni comes up, off 74 balls. Both doing a fine job so far
Virat Kohli ends his longest streak without ODI fifty. At 12 innings, this drought was twice as long as his previous worst run. #INDvSA
— Daksh Panwar (@Daksh140) October 18, 2015
2000 hrs IST: That’s FIFTY for Virat Kohli. He last scored 50-plus in ODIs eight months ago, in the World Cup when he smashed a ton against Pakistan
At no 3 @imVkohli looks like he has come home from a vacation. Quickly settled in!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 18, 2015
1950 hrs IST: 150 up for India in the 31st over
This is just such a good partnership to watch. Dhoni and Kohli the best pacers in India. But SA know 2 wickets away from a strong comeback.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 18, 2015
1945 hrs IST: Kohli and Dhoni stitching a partnership in the middle. Both are off to solid starts
1935 hrs IST: Bit of hesitation from Dhoni there. Direct-hit and he was gone
That ball spun and the game likely to take a new turn. Well played, Rohit. 🙏 👏 #IndvSA #TheInsider
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 18, 2015
1915 hrs IST: WICKET! Duminy takes a sharp catch off his own bowling to get rid of Rohit. India lose their second, 113/2
1908 hrs IST: Rohit puts the dancing shoes on and hits it for a big, straight six. Also brings up his FIFTY
Just knocking the ball around and @imVkohli has started with a run a ball 20!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 18, 2015
1900 hrs IST: India 84/1 after 18 overs. Kohli and Rohit doing a fine job. Scoring at a brisk rate
1840 hrs IST: In-form Rohit looking fluent today. All at ease in the middle. Timing the ball sweetly
A lot of bilateral ODI games are forgotten quickly but Rohit Sharma stepping out to hit Steyn over his head for a six is for keeps.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 18, 2015
1831 hrs IST: No Rahane. It’s Virat Kohli at No.3 today
Dhawan is making a compelling case for Rahane to open, for that gets Kohli @ 3. But who’ll bat @ 6 then? Anyway, I’ll resist that temptation
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 18, 2015
1830 hrs IST: WICKET! Morkel rewarded for a fine spell. Dhawan goes for the drive but edges it to AB, who takes a sharp, low catch behind the stumps. India 40/1
1820 hrs IST: Morkel bowls a tight maiden. India off to a quiet start, chasing South Africa’s 270 in Rajkot
1810 hrs IST: Mix-up. Could have been another run-out. No casualties. India 30/0 after 6.3 overs. Chants of ‘India, India’ get lowder in Rajkot. They are cheering every run
1806 hrs IST: India 18/0 after five overs. South Africa, at the same stage, were 30/0
India’s ODI openers… 264 & 209 Rohit Sharma for India in ODIs 248 by Shikhar Dhawan for India A vs South Africa A in List A #IndvSA
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 18, 2015
1800 hrs IST: Dhawan yet to get going in the series. Has got off to starts but no big score. Good chance to get back among the runs. Still a good strip for batting
1750 hrs IST: Rabada bending his back in the middle. Bowling in the early 140s
1745 hrs IST: India openers Dhawan and Rohit out in the middle for the chase
1709 hrs IST: Behardien finishes the innings with a six. South Africa end with 270/7. Good effort by India to restrict the visitors to this total
1707 hrs IST: Steyn, in an attempt to steal a double, is run-out South Africa lose their seventh wicket
1700 hrs IST: South Africa bring up the 250 in 49th over
Reverse swing in Kanpur..Reverse swing in Rajkot too. The absence of a set batsman in the middle is glaring. #TheInsider #IndvSA
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 18, 2015
1649 hrs IST: WICKET! Duminy goes for the big one but plays the Mohit delivery to Raina, who takes a sharp low catch in the deep. Everything going India’s way in the last ten overs. Runs just not coming for the visitors
1638 hrs IST: Six overs to go, South Africa 231/5. India have done a fine job with quick strikes
How to recuse the AB impact on the game? The option of giving him fewer overs to bat would top that list #IndvSA
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 18, 2015
1626 hrs IST: WICKET! Axar into the attack, and he keeps it straight. AB tries to cut off the stumps but the ball clips the pad first. Loud appeal, and the finger goes up. South Africa lose three in a hurry. 210/5
Dhoni’s luck turning ? With 3 spinners in the team, This was a good toss to lose. Pitch best for spinners in the afternoon.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 18, 2015
1624 hrs IST: WICKET! India pick two in a hurry. De Kock is run-out now. Two new men in the middle for South Africa
Must appreciate how hot it is there. Quinton de Kock was running on empty by the end.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 18, 2015
1619 hrs IST: WICKET! Du Plessis goes down on one knee, wanted to scoop it fine but presents an easy catch to B Kumar off Mohit. Out for 60
Fewest innings to 7 ODI 100s 41 Hashim Amla 42 Zaheer Abbas 50 Quinton de Kock #IndvSA
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 18, 2015
1617 hrs IST: 100 for De Kock, his 7th in ODIs and fourth against India. Time for some hitting. Into the death overs now
1615 hrs IST: Nearing ton, De Kock eating up some crucial deliveries in the middle
1610 hrs IST: De Kock dealing in singles at the moment. He wants that hundred bad. Has been in a lean patch off late
1600 hrs IST: India need a wicket here. South Africa have laid a solid foundation for the likes of AB de Villiers and Duminy to explode at death
1558 hrs IST: FIFTY! Faf du Plessis has changed the course of the game with a 52-ball 50 and is still keen on getting more.
Fielding helped India win at Indore. It has pushed them back here.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 18, 2015
1555 hrs IST: While Faf du Plessis is inching closer to his fifty, Quinton de Kock is closing in on a hundred.
1537 hrs IST: South Africa’s run-rate has once again gone above five runs per over.
Spinners might look like troubling and keeping it tight…but it’ll count for nothing if India doesn’t take 2-3 wickets in next 10 #IndvsSA
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 18, 2015
1526 hrs IST: Dropped. Suresh Raina drops Faf after he gets a leading edge. South Africa still 2 down
1522 hrs IST: A brilliant back of the hand slower one from Mohit Sharma to dismiss Faf du Plessis. But the front-foot is ahead of the crease. Faf stays and India are disappointed.
15 19 hrs IST: There is ample security in Rajkot.
Hardik Patel threat has ensured spectators go with heavy security check at the Stadium @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/iVaql1wlX0
— Devendra (@pdevendra) October 18, 2015
Hardik Patel threat has ensured spectators go with heavy security check before entering Stadium @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/BMQz1jqMCX
— Devendra (@pdevendra) October 18, 2015
Spectator wearing Modi t- shirt during India vs SA ODI game in Rajkot @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/lXVVIcsDZH
— Devendra (@pdevendra) October 18, 2015
1518 hrs IST: South Africa building a small partnership here. Faf and De Kock playing steadily.
1508 hrs IST: Faf du Plessis has to lead his team out of the spot now. While De Kock looks set, Du Plessis need to support the wicket-keeper batsman.
1457 hrs IST: FIFTY! Quinton de Kock has finally arrived and at what time. SA need a big one from him
1449 hrs IST: WICKET! Amit Mishra draws Hashim Amla forward and the batsman is beaten. MS Dhoni whips the bails quickly. South Africa 87/2.
Good spinners make the batsman think that the ball is a lot fuller than it actually is… #TheInsider #Dip
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 18, 2015
1441 hrs IST: South Africa take drinks. They are 83/1 after 17 overs with Quinton de Kock at 45* and Hashim Amla at 3*.
1437 hrs IST: Quinton de Kock has spent time in the middle. He is looking good for a fifty. A return to form.
Spinner comes on and a wicket appears…….
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 18, 2015
1427 hrs IST: WICKET! And finally the moment that everyone was looking for. Bhajji gives the ball a little bit of air and Miller mistimes it. Rahane does the rest at point.
1411 hrs IST: The pitch looks a ‘batting paradise’ and the Proteas have made the most of it. India need wickets ASAP!
If you want to know why it is good to be a batsman, watch this game!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 18, 2015
1403 hrs IST: Just 7 overs bowled and Harbhajan is into the attack.
Get Harbhajan Singh as soon as possible…the ball will reverse-swing later and then Mohit-Bhuvi can come back. #INDvSA @StarSportsIndia
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 18, 2015
1358 hrs IST: So India yet to make a breakthrough, South Africa steady so far.
1335 hrs IST: Meanwhile, PAAS leader Hardik Patel is detained outside the stadium.
1334 hrs IST: David Miller is promoted at the top of the order which is nothing short of surprise.
1307 HRS IST: India lose toss and MS Dhoni reveals Umesh Yadav is dropped and Amit Mishra will replace him. South Africa remain unchanged.
Build up
Bhuvneshwar Kumar back in swing of things
Live Cricket Score, India vs South Africa: Bhuvneshwar Kumar also rejected suggestions that he has lost the ability to move the ball in the air. (Source: AP)
If you look at Bhuvneshwar Kumar without ball in hand, he is unlikely to come across as someone who could storm into any scene. But for the first few months of his international career, the slender and slim medium-pacer was quite the sensation, troubling batsmen the world over with his swing and movement. He was also skipper MS Dhoni’s go-to man with the new-ball, and often Kumar would end up finishing his quota of 10 overs in one go. By then, he would have also swung the match in his team’s favour, quite literally.
Hardik Patel’s plan to disrupt might be a googly
Live Cricket Score, India vs South Africa: Hardik Patel was an avid cricket player as a youngster and claims to have dreamed of playing with Sachin Tendulkar. (Source: PTI)
There might be a lot of rhetoric in Hardik Patel’s plan to disrupt the third one-dayer in the Gandhi-Mandela series of matches to be played at Rajkot Sunday between India and South Africa.
Team India’s new middle order: Ajinkya Rahane 3, Virat Kohli 4
Live Cricket Score, India vs South Africa: MS Dhoni has made it clear that Ajinkya Rahane should bat at No.3. (Source: PTI)
Ajinkya Rahane will be India’s No.3, MS Dhoni has categorically stated. It has triggered debates over its long-term validity. Some feel that Kohli, who made his career at that spot, shouldn’t be moved down. Others feel that Rahane’s batting style suits a position in the top three. The man who matters for now, Dhoni, has made his position clear.
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