| 0.0 : Cricket, they say, is a sport of two colours - the blue (skies) upwards and the green (surface) beneath. After we saw the Men in Blue dominate the three games in the series, we will be witnessing the colour Pink having a glaring effect in this match. Yes, you guessed it right, if you did. It is time for the Pink ODI to get underway in South Africa. It is played in support of breast cancer. As has been the norm, the Wanderers in Johannesburg is the venue for the same. If there is a person who has |
| It is not only the South African team that is reeling under the cloud of wrist spin, the two words that have hogged the limelight of all the talks related to the series. The cloud that brings about the rains also is in and around the venue, though that should be in the later part of the game. Aiden Markram should breathe easy with the return of one of his talismans in de Villiers. Moving over to India, their dashing opener Shikhar Dhawan will step out to play his 100th ODI. Stats say that he has |
| TOSS - Heads is the call... it comes down as heads. INDIA WIN THE TOSS AND OPT TO BAT. Interesting choice with thunderstorms predicted later on. |
| Virat Kohli, the Indian captain, reckons that it looks like a hard pitch with a nice covering of grass. Adds that it is difficult to chase at this venue and hence their decision to bat first. About the inclement weather looming, he says that it never affects their decision as weather isn't in anybody's control. Hence, they will look to play well going ahead. States that even though they are winning, not all is going as per plan. Adds there are areas to work upon which they will. Ends saying Shre |
| Aiden Markram, the South African captain, in Pink attire today, says that they were unsure about what they would have done if the toss had gone in their favour, although they were inclined to bat first as well. States that this sport is a lot about could haves and should haves and now they will do what they can. Reckons that AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel are back in the side instead of Khaya Zondo and Imran Tahir. Interesting choice to leave out the lone specialist spinner that they played in |
| PITCH REPORT - Shaun Pollock says that the cloud has passed over the ground, so the weather is clear at the moment. Michael Holding reckons that this looks to be a good hard surface with an even covering of grass. Pollock crouches low and observes that there aren't great cracks visible, meaning this shouldn't be a two-paced pitch. Remember, the curator had received a lot of flak for dishing out an uneven surface for the Test match between the two sides earlier in the tour. Holding adds that batt |
| It's time for the anthems to get underway. India's first followed by the Proteas'. |
| So! It's time for the bat-ball contest to get underway. Two humans walk out in blue among the eleven, who jog out in pink. These thirteen follow the two dressed in black. Enough of colors. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have their WMD in hand. The former will face Morne Morkel, who has the first new ball in hand. The latter is back in the side after a break in the previous game. Two slips stand in attention. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : M Morkel to R Sharma, A decent start from the tall fellow. He lands it on a length, just further than that, outside off. Sharma covers his stumps and shoulders arms. |
| 0.2 : M Morkel to R Sharma, This time the line is around off, Rohit goes back and blocks it towards covers. |
| 0.3 : M Morkel to R Sharma, Full and on the pads, Rohit flicks it towards fine leg to get off the mark. Rabada stationed there, looks to be uncertain with his movement as the ball approaches him, but doesn't falter when it does. |
| 0.4 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, ODI no. 100 could have been a forgettable one for Dhawan had he got bat to this one. Around good length and angling away. Shikhar stands his ground and has a flay at that. Thankfully for him, he didn't edge that to the keeper. |
| 0.5 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, Back of a length ball on middle and leg, Dhawan goes back and taps it to the on side for nothing. |
| 0.6 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, WIDE! Full and well wide outside off, Dhawan lets it be. The umpire stretches his arms. |
| M Morkel to S Dhawan, Beaten again. Around good length but closer to the off stump, the ball moved in a touch after pitching. Once again Dhawan looks to drive but gets beaten on the inside. Decent start for the hosts. |
| Kagiso Rabada will take the second new ball from the other end. Same field for him as well. |
| 1.1 : K Rabada to R Sharma, Hurled on a fuller length well outside off, Rohit just lets it be. |
| 1.2 : K Rabada to R Sharma, Landed on a length outside off, Sharma minds his own business and shoulders arms to that. |
| 1.3 : K Rabada to R Sharma, Full outside off, left alone by the opener. |
| 1.4 : K Rabada to R Sharma, Another one one a good length outside off, Sharma doesn't bother to put bat to that. Remember, he was dismissed while flirting such a delivery in the previous ODI. Also, the carry that the bowler is getting here should encourage Rabada. |
| 1.5 : K Rabada to R Sharma, WIDE! Full and outside off, swinging away further. RS lets it be and wide is signaled by the umpire. |
| K Rabada to R Sharma, FOUR! Delectable stroke. But half the help is done by Rabada who bowled a low full toss around off. Rohit gets his stride out and just times his cover drive to perfection. First quadruple of the match. |
| 1.6 : K Rabada to R Sharma, Back to leaving alone deliveries outside off. This is outside off, left alone. |
| 2.1 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, Back of a length delivery around middle and leg, Dhawan hops up and defends it. Gets it high on the bat. |
| 2.2 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, This ball is outside off, slapped straight to cover-point. |
| 2.3 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, WIDE! Short and down the leg side, Shikhar moves inside the line and looks to pull. Misses and the umpire has to stretch his arms for the third time in three overs. |
| M Morkel to S Dhawan, Dhawan plays the Square-Cut. |
| 2.4 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, A touch fuller, driven straight to covers. Miller doesn't stop it cleanly but doesn't leak any runs. |
| 2.5 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, FOUR! Shot! My colleague was just looking at the field set-up and observed that there is no mid off in place. The man there is at a very wide position, almost at extra covers. Dhawan gets a full delivery and he seems to have heard my colleague. Just times his push down the ground through that vacant position and earns a boundary. |
| 2.6 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, Dhawan fails to flick it away and gets it off his pad to the on side. A leg bye taken. |
| 3.1 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, Full in length, Dhawan drives it aerially through mid off and gets a couple. |
| 3.2 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, Unlucky South Africa. When a good fielding efforts yields runs, that's what one can quip. Dhawan works it towards square leg and sets off for a quick run. Rabada gets to the ball and hits the stumps at the batter's end even as Rohit makes it in. The ball deflects and goes away to the other end for a boundary, despite a diving attempt by the third man fielder there. Hard luck. |
| 3.3 : K Rabada to R Sharma, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 3.4 : K Rabada to R Sharma, Landed around off, driven back to the bowler. |
| 3.5 : K Rabada to R Sharma, Fuller around off, Rohit gets it off the inner half back towards the bowler. |
| Excellent catch from Rabada. Looks to be a clean one but Aleem Dar wants to be sure and hence has gone upstairs. Perhaps Rabada's front foot is also being checked... |
| 3.6 : K Rabada to R Sharma, OUT! Excellent, excellent catch from Rabada, Rohit's wretched run with the bat continues. The last three deliveries were in the same zone and were driven back to the bowler. Rabada delivers this one again on a fuller length around off. All Sharma can do is spoon it back aerially towards the bowler. Now comes the terrific part of this wicket. Kagiso dives forward in his followthrough and seems to have taken it inches over the ground with his fingers underneath that. Th |
| The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, makes his way to the center now. He is going through a good run of form that makes things look easy for the tourists. |
| 4.1 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, On a length around leg, flicked away through mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 4.2 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, This is patted towards covers and a huge NO is shouted by Kohli in response. |
| 4.3 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, FOUR! Streaky but Dhawan will take it. Length delivery angling away from him, he is lat in getting his bat down to defend that. The ball takes the inner half of his blade and goes past the off stump and the keeper to the fence behind. |
| 4.4 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 4.5 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, A touch fuller around off, defended off the front foot. |
| 4.6 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, Hurled in line of the stumps, defended from the crease. |
| 5.1 : K Rabada to V Kohli, Fuller on middle and leg, worked away towards wide mid on for a run. Kohli gets off the mark with that. Rabada is not happy with that as he wanted the skipper to be on strike. |
| 5.2 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, Flicked away through the mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 5.3 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, This is outside off, left alone. |
| 5.4 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, The ball has taken the inside edge of the bat and goes down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 5.5 : K Rabada to V Kohli, Bowled well outside off, Kohli shoulders arms in response. |
| 5.6 : K Rabada to V Kohli, Fuller on off and middle, defended back to the bowler. |
| 6.1 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, FOUR! Authoritative. Short in length around middle and leg, Dhawan is waiting for that and just swivels and pulls it away over the man in front of square on the leg side. Pollock on air reckons that since the southpaw didn't look comfortable in the Tests against the short ball, this tactic is used by the Proteas. Our statsman Vic here, observes that Shikhar didn't look in control here as well. |
| 6.2 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, Dhawan stands tall and blocks it from the crease. |
| 6.3 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, This ball is flicked away towards square leg. |
| Oh my god. There is a steady steam of black smoke erupting from some part of the ground. Maybe there might be a fire somewhere. |
| 6.4 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, Nudged to fine leg for a single. |
| 6.5 : M Morkel to V Kohli, Length ball around off, defended off the back foot. |
| 6.6 : M Morkel to V Kohli, This is well outside off, left alone. |
| Some dark clouds make an appearance here. |
| 7.1 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, Dhawan flicks it towards mid on and hares to the other end for a quick run. There is a wild shy at the bowler's end but Shikhar would have been in, one believes. |
| 7.2 : K Rabada to V Kohli, FOUR! KOHLI LOOKS VULNERABLE AT THE START. Period. Length ball just outside off, Virat could have left it alone all day long. But he pokes at it and luckily gets it well past second slip. The ball speeds away to the third man region for a boundary. |
| 7.3 : K Rabada to V Kohli, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 7.4 : K Rabada to V Kohli, FOUR! Sloppy. Full around middle and off, Kohli gets across and flicks it away through mid-wicket. The man there was late to get down to his left and lets it through for a boundary. |
| 7.5 : K Rabada to V Kohli, Around off, defended off the front foot. |
| 7.6 : K Rabada to V Kohli, Glorious. This one is pushed down through mid on for a couple. 11 runs have come off this over. |
| 8.1 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| 8.2 : M Morkel to V Kohli, AB de Villiers misfields, not often do you read this. Kohli flicks it towards mid-wicket and hares to the other end. AB gets there from mid on but fails to collect it in the motion. No extra run results though. |
| 8.3 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, Flicked away off his pads to the on side for a single. |
| 8.4 : M Morkel to V Kohli, WIDE! 50 up for India. This is hurled well outside off, Kohli lets it be. Wide given. |
| M Morkel to V Kohli, Outside off, left alone. |
| 8.5 : M Morkel to V Kohli, Around middle and leg, tucked away towards mid-wicket. |
| 8.6 : M Morkel to V Kohli, Blocked with a straight bat from the crease. |
| 9.1 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, Short in length, pulled away to fine leg for a single. |
| 9.2 : K Rabada to V Kohli, Hurled outside off, Virat shoulders arms to let it pass. Interestingly, the ball swung in after passing the batter. |
| 9.3 : K Rabada to V Kohli, Fuller outside off, pushed towards covers. |
| 9.4 : K Rabada to V Kohli, Length ball around off, defended off the back foot. |
| 9.5 : K Rabada to V Kohli, Good running. Flicked away off the pads, Kohli always wanted two. Gets it easily even as the ball is returned to the keeper's end. |
| 9.6 : K Rabada to V Kohli, Fuller on off, driven back to the bowler. Rabada, in his bid to mime a throw at the batter, fails to collect that and the ball rolls to the on side. India are well placed at 53/1 at the end of the first Powerplay. |
| Powerplay 2 time! Now, South Africa can station a maximum of four men outside the inner ring till the end of over number 40. Also, Lungi Ngidi is brought into the attack. |
| 10.1 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Dhawan looked to be in really good touch in the previous games. Not so today. Looks to guide this length ball towards third man but then realises that the ball isn't wide enough to do so. Looks to block it but gets it off the inner edge towards fine leg for a single. |
| 10.2 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Around middle and leg, flicked away to mid-wicket. |
| 10.3 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 10.4 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Around off and middle, turned away towards mid-wicket. |
| 10.5 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Outside off, driven to mid off. |
| Behold! A slight drizzle makes its appearance at the Wanderers... Please don't get heavier, would be the wish of every cricket fan. |
| 10.6 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, In the air... just safe! Length ball outside off, Virat cuts it aerially through point. The man at backward point dives to his right but fails to get a hand to it. A run taken as there is a man in the deep. Two runs off Lungi's first. |
| Chris Morris is introduced to the bowling crease. Just one slip in place. Would you do that for Kohli? |
| 11.1 : C Morris to V Kohli, On a length around off, defended off the back foot. |
| 11.2 : C Morris to V Kohli, In line of the stumps, defended from the crease to the on side. |
| 11.3 : C Morris to V Kohli, Outside off, pushed through the point region for a single. |
| 11.4 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Fuller around off, mistimed to the man at mid off. Just three runs have come off the last ten balls... |
| 11.5 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Dhawan comes down the track but manages to hit it straight to the man at backward point. |
| 11.6 : C Morris to S Dhawan, This ball is around middle and leg, driven to the man at mid on. Just one off this, three off the last two overs. |
| 12.1 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Length ball slanting in to Kohli, he flicks it to the man at mid-wicket. |
| 12.2 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, This is bowled outside off on a length, forced through covers for one. |
| 12.3 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, This one is angling away from Dhawan. He looks to guide it to third man but gets it off the outer half past backward point for one. |
| 12.4 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Fuller one this time, aimed at the off and middle stumps. Kohli gets across and flicks it towards mid on. He wanted a run but de Villiers gets to his right, collects that and fires a throw at the bowler's end. Misses the target by a big margin. |
| 12.5 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, This one is glided to third man for a single. |
| 12.6 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Shikhar was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. Another decent over comes to an end. The hosts are doing well to put in a quiet period here. |
| 13.1 : C Morris to V Kohli, SUICIDAL RUNNING! That's what dot balls do to you. Kohli taps this length delivery towards backward point and sets off for a run. Shikhar responds but that would have been his biggest mistake if the throw from Duminy would have hit the stumps. The southpaw was not even in the frame. |
| 13.2 : C Morris to S Dhawan, FOUR! The binary monotony is broken! Short delivery around middle and leg, Dhawan hangs back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 13.3 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Length ball outside off, Dhawan has a swing and a miss. |
| 13.4 : C Morris to S Dhawan, FOUR! Another short ball, pulled away nicely. Dhawan swivels and plays the shot aerially through backward square leg for another boundary. The stand between the two moves to 48 now. |
| 13.5 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Fuller in length, eased to mid off. |
| 13.6 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Length ball on the shorter side, going away from Shikhar. He looks to stand back and ramp it away but misses. |
| 14.1 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Full outside off, defended off the front foot to the off side. |
| 14.2 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, FOUR! When you don't get the length and line you desire, you manufacture it. The universe knows that Kohli is strong off his pads. Hence Ngidi has been bowling around the off and middle stumps. Does so yet again on a length. Kohli walks down and across to just blast it well past mid on for a boundary. It also brings up the 50-run partnership between these two. |
| 14.3 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Length ball on the pads, clipped through square leg for one. |
| 14.4 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, SD has driven that ball straight back. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 14.5 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Kohli lets this come on to the bat and steers it to third man for a single. |
| 14.6 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Length ball outside off, Dhawan has a slash at that. Gets the bottom edge towards the right side of the keeper. Klaasen dives full length to his side and gets some glove to that and makes the ball slow down. Morkel gets there from fine leg and saves a run for his side with a slide. |
| 15.1 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Length ball outside off, the ball jumps up more after landing. Beats Dhawan's bat which was hanging there in defense. |
| 15.2 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Length ball outside off, powerfully cut away. Duminy dives to his left and gets some hand on that. Parries it towards deep cover-point and just a single results. |
| 15.3 : C Morris to V Kohli, HOWZZAT? No says the umpire. Kohli gets across to this one, which is bowled on a length. Misses flicking it away and gets pinged on the front pad. Morris and Klaasen go up in appeal even as the batters cross each other for a run. The Proteas think about DRS but decide against it. Good call, as Hawk Eye shows it to be going over the stumps. A leg bye in the end. |
| 15.4 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Length ball around off and middle, defended from the crease. |
| 15.5 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Dhawan goes back to this one and keeps it out with a straight bat. |
| 15.6 : C Morris to S Dhawan, This ball is pushed defensively to the off side. |
| 16.1 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Full outside off, driven straight to covers. |
| 16.2 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, This is hurled outside off, punched towards cover-point, where the fielder makes a diving stop. |
| 16.3 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, SIX! BOOOM! This is bowled on a good length just outside off. Kohli walks down and converts it to a fuller length. Gets underneath the ball and just smashes it straight back for half a dozen. That traveled as straight as a line drawn with the help of a scale. What's more, he holds his pose after playing that just for the cameras to do their bit. |
| 16.4 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Flicked off the pads through backward square leg for a brace. The throw is fired at the bowler's end but it just passes over Dhawan's head, who was there completing his second. |
| 16.5 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Back of a length, Virat stands tall and pats it to the on side for one. |
| 16.6 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Clipped away through square leg to rotate strike. |
| 17.1 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Short in length, Dhawan stands tall and plays the short-arm swivel-jab towards deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 17.2 : C Morris to V Kohli, Angling in on the pads, worked away to the fine leg region for one. |
| 17.3 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Length ball angling away, Dhawan hits it uppishly over covers for a couple that takes him to 48 and the stand to 74. |
| 17.4 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Fuller and slanting away, Dhawan looks to stand tall and punch it away to the off side. Misses and the ball just passes close to the outside edge and goes through to the keeper. |
| 17.5 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Slashes and does so with hard hands, does Dhawan. Slices it to third man for three runs less than a boundary. Takes him to 49. |
| 17.6 : C Morris to V Kohli, Length ball outside off, climbs up a touch. Kohli adjusts well to keep it down to the off side. |
| My colleague, Rish, here was wondering who would be South Africa's fifth bowler. Just as an answer to him, Andile Phehlukwayo has been brought into the attack for the first time. |
| 18.1 : A Phehlukwayo to S Dhawan, Begins with a delivery on a length around leg. Dhawan looks to flick it away but misses and wears it on the pads. The opposition appeal even as the ball rolls to the off side. The umpire stays unmoved. Perhaps pitching outside leg. |
| 18.2 : A Phehlukwayo to S Dhawan, 26th ODI fifty for Shikhar Dhawan. He has continued his good run of form in the series. Gets there with a flick through square leg, which enables him to run two. |
| 18.3 : A Phehlukwayo to S Dhawan, Flicked off the pads through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 18.4 : A Phehlukwayo to V Kohli, Outside off, hit straight to covers. |
| 18.5 : A Phehlukwayo to V Kohli, Fuller in length, driven nicely through covers. Virat wanted two there as the sweeper had to run to his right to get to the ball but Dhawan didn't respond. |
| 18.6 : A Phehlukwayo to S Dhawan, SIX! That's hit with some style. Fuller in length around leg, Dhawan slinks down the track and whips it away to the on side. It seemed as if he has picked out deep square leg in the deep but the ball sails over the fence. Another over where 11 runs have come. |
| 19.1 : C Morris to V Kohli, FOUR! The Virat Kohli chip shot. Landed on a length around off and middle, he charges down and just lifts it over mid on. Clears the man easily and gets a boundary. |
| 19.2 : C Morris to V Kohli, On the pads, flicked away off his pads to the on side. |
| 19.3 : C Morris to V Kohli, On a length outside off, guided straight to short third man. |
| 19.4 : C Morris to V Kohli, Banged short outside off, Virat goes for the pull but misses. |
| 19.5 : C Morris to V Kohli, The stand moves to 90 with a flick shot that goes to fine leg for a single. |
| 19.6 : C Morris to S Dhawan, FOUR! Now this is getting too easy for Shikhar. Length delivery around middle and leg, he gets inside the line and just wrists it through mid-wicket. There is a man in the deep who is running towards the ball but he cannot do anything about that. Takes Dhawan to 62. 10 runs off the over yet again. |
| 20.1 : A Phehlukwayo to V Kohli, Kohli gets down the track and pushes it towards mid on for a single. |
| 20.2 : A Phehlukwayo to S Dhawan, Short in length, pulled away through backward square leg. Morkel moves to his right from fine leg but fails to stop that. A couple taken. |
| 20.3 : A Phehlukwayo to S Dhawan, Driven nicely through mid off for a single. |
| 20.4 : A Phehlukwayo to V Kohli, Nice way to bring up the 100-RUN ASSOCIATION between Dhawan and Kohli. This one is short in length, Kohli pulls it all along the ground towards deep mid-wicket for a brace. After an early wicket once again the initiative is wrested back by India. |
| 20.5 : A Phehlukwayo to V Kohli, Nudged through mid-wicket to rotate strike. |
| 20.6 : A Phehlukwayo to S Dhawan, Outside off, punched towards covers. |
| Morne Morkel is back for another spell. |
| 21.1 : M Morkel to V Kohli, Landed around off and middle, worked away through the mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 21.2 : M Morkel to V Kohli, FOUR! 46th ODI fifty in style! Fuller in length around off, Kohli gets under it and spanks it over mid off for a one-bounce boundary. What a knock this has been! Terrific to say the least. |
| 21.3 : M Morkel to V Kohli, Almost a goner next ball! Morkel lands it on a back of a length, Virat looks to work it away to the on side. Ends up getting a leading edge. Morne gets ahead and across to his right and puts in the dive, but fails to get a hand to it. He has landed very powerfully on his hips and looks to be in some pain. Could have flared up his back issue as well, reckon the on-air commentators. But thankfully, all's well as he is up and ready to bowl the next delivery. |
| 21.4 : M Morkel to V Kohli, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 21.5 : M Morkel to V Kohli, This one is guided towards third man for a single. |
| 21.6 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, Played to the point region by SD. |
| 22.1 : A Phehlukwayo to V Kohli, Kohli gets down the track and defends it towards mid off. |
| 22.2 : A Phehlukwayo to V Kohli, This one stays a touch low, Kohli adjusts well to push it towards mid on. Hares quickly to the other end for a single. |
| The keeper is up to the stumps now. |
| 22.3 : A Phehlukwayo to S Dhawan, The batsman fails to put bat on ball. |
| 22.4 : A Phehlukwayo to S Dhawan, FOUR! Well played! Length delivery just outside off, Dhawan transfers all his weight on the back foot and just deftly guides it past short third man for a boundary. |
| 22.5 : A Phehlukwayo to S Dhawan, FOUR! Flicked through third man! Read that right. This is hurled on a length angling away. Dhawan looks to flick it away but gets it off the leading edge over the short third man for a boundary. Lucky chap. |
| 22.6 : A Phehlukwayo to S Dhawan, Eased through covers for a single. Phehlukwayo has gone for 27 runs off his 3 overs so far. |
| 23.1 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, Length ball around off, defended from the crease to the off side. |
| 23.2 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, Short in length, pulled with disdain to deep square leg for a single. |
| 23.3 : M Morkel to V Kohli, FOUR! Edged but safe. In hindsight, one can say that it is deliberately played. Speared in that corridor of uncertainty, Virat looks to defend it. But he ends up getting an outside edge, a soft one, that dies down before it could reach the diving hands of Klaasen behind. Misses him and goes to the fence behind. |
| 23.4 : M Morkel to V Kohli, Guided through the point region for a single. |
| 23.5 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 23.6 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, Around middle, tucked away through mid-wicket to keep strike. |
| Jean-Paul Duminy is brought into the attack. In the previous ODI, he bowled the full quota of his overs and picked up three wickets as well. |
| 24.1 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, Starts from round the wicket and floats it full around middle and leg. Dhawan turns it through mid-wicket to rotate strike. |
| 24.2 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, Duminy bowls this one on a flatter trajectory from over the wicket. Kohli punches it past the diving mid-wicket fielder and moves to the other end. |
| 24.3 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, Nicely tossed up outside off, driven through covers for a single. |
| 24.4 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, Kohli milks it to long on for a single. |
| 24.5 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, A touch shorter in length at 85 kph, Dhawan goes back and pulls it down to long for a single Brings up the Indian 150, while the stand moves to 130. |
| 24.6 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, Collision! Floated full on the stumps, jammed back towards the non-striker. Duminy goes towards the ball and collides with Dhawan. The ball deflects towards mid-wicket and no run results. All's well as some smiles and good words exchanged between the bowler and the southpaw. |
| Lungi Ngidi is back now. 4-0-25-0 are his current figures. |
| 25.1 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Full on off, driven straight to mid off. |
| 25.2 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Dhawan goes back to this one and pats it to the on side. A run taken. |
| 25.3 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Bumper just outside off, Kohli looks to pull it with all his might but just makes contact with thin air. |
| 25.4 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Well-judged single. Back of a length ball around off, Kohli hops to block. The ball goes off his bat, onto his pads and rolls to the off side. Miller comes rushing in from covers and fires an underarm throw at the striker's end but misses. The single completed safely. |
| 25.5 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, FOUR! Andile makes a mess of it. Length ball angling away, Dhawan stays back and cuts it past backward point. Phehlukwayo runs to his right from third man and gets to the ball with a dive. But as he was completing that, his left hand ended up scooting the ball over the fence. |
| 25.6 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, WIDE! Hurled down the leg side, Shikhar fails to pull it. |
| L Ngidi to S Dhawan, On the pads, flicked round the corner for a single. |
| 26.1 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, Floated around off, driven towards mid off. The man there slides and doesn't let the ball pass him. |
| 26.2 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, Tossed up around off, Shikhar comes down the track and milks it to long off for one. |
| Silly mid on in place. |
| 26.3 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, Flatter on middle, turned towards deep mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 26.4 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, FOUR! Superb! Nicely flighted outside off on a fuller length, Kohli gets his front foot out and drives it crisply through covers. Has enough in it to roll away to the fence. |
| 26.5 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, Pushed through mid off for a single. |
| 26.6 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, Flatter outside off, Dhawan gets down on a knee and looks to glide it to third man. Ends up getting beaten on the inside. Klaasen takes that and puts in a half-shout. Denied. |
| 27.1 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Length ball outside off, Kohli walks down and slaps it straight to covers. |
| 27.2 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Similar delivery, Kohli lets it come to him before opening the face of the bat to glide it to third man for one. The stand is worth 147. |
| 27.3 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Venom! Banged short at 137, it goes across Dhawan. He looks to pull it but misses it due to the sharpness on that. |
| 27.4 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Clever, clever bowling. Ngidi lets out a slower off cutter on a full length, Dhawan fails to pick it up. Gets a soft outside edge as he looks to jam it out. Goes on a couple of bounces to the keeper. |
| 27.5 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, GONE shout my mates here! Nope, Dhawan is very much there. Length ball slanting away, Shikhar has a feel for it but just misses. |
| 27.6 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Banged short on middle, pulled straight to fine leg for one. |
| 28.1 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, Flatter outside off, Dhawan looks to cut but misses. |
| 28.2 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, Now he comes down the track and pushes it to long off for a single. |
| 28.3 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, Well fielded! This one is pushed back to the left of the bowler, Duminy does well to stop that with a dive. |
| 28.4 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, Nicely eased down to long off for a single. Now the Dhawan-Kohli partnership is worth 150. The juggernaut continues to roll on... |
| 28.5 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, Floated outside off, driven to mid off. |
| 28.6 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, Darted on the pads, Shikhar misses the flick and wears it on the protective gear. |
| 29.1 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, Length ball outside off, forced through the cover region for a single. |
| 29.2 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Another play and a miss. On a length outside off, Dhawan looks to flay it over backward point but misses. On another day that wouldn't have belonged to him, he could have easily nicked off one of the many that he missed. |
| 29.3 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Dhawan stays back and punches this one to the off side. |
| 29.4 : L Ngidi to S Dhawan, Fuller in length, Dhawan runs immediately after pushing it towards mid off. Completes the single before the ball reaches the fielder there. |
| 29.5 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, On a fuller length at 114 kph, Kohli wrists it to mid on. Dhawan wanted to help his partner get to the other end but Virat sends him back. |
| 29.6 : L Ngidi to V Kohli, This ball is guided to third man to retain strike. Just three runs off this over, good one. |
| 30.1 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, Fuller outside off, Virat gets down the track and hits it back to the bowler. |
| 30.2 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, Served just outside off, Kohli goes back and deftly guides it to short third man for a single. |
| 30.3 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, Tossed up outside off, driven through mid off for a single. |
| 30.4 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, 'Two, two, two' shouts Kohli after getting down and getting this past silly mid on. Gets just one as long on does really well. |
| 30.5 : JP Duminy to S Dhawan, Floated up nicely around off, Dhawan was shaping to play the sweep, but adjusts and plays it off the outer half towards point for one. |
| 30.6 : JP Duminy to V Kohli, Flatter on the pads, flicked away through square leg for one. 0,1,1,1,1,1 reads the sequence in the over. |
| Chris Morris is back on. |
| 31.1 : C Morris to V Kohli, OUT! The bowling change has done the trick for the Men in Pink! Who is the man walking back? The thorn in their flesh, Virat Kohli, who is dismissed after 281 runs. Morris hurls it on a length outside off, Virat walks down and across to hit it over covers. Fails to get the desired elevation and ends up finding Miller stationed there to perfection. He seldom misses such dollies and takes this nicely with a couple of steps to his left. Virat is not happy with what he has |
| 0.0 : Ajinkya Rahane is the next man walking in. He batted well in the Test here on a difficult track. This is a different surface, different format. |
| 31.2 : C Morris to A Rahane, On a length outside off, Rahane shoulders arms to let it be. |
| 31.3 : C Morris to A Rahane, Short in length, pulled away through backward square leg for a single. Rahane opens his account almost immediately. |
| 31.4 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Length ball around middle and leg, clipped away through front of square on the leg side for a single. |
| 31.5 : C Morris to A Rahane, Bouncer on middle, Rahane pulls it straight to square leg. |
| 31.6 : C Morris to A Rahane, Fuller on the stumps, driven right back. Morris gets his right hand out and deflects it past the stumps at the other end. No runs taken though. End of a successful over for Morris. |
| Kagiso Rabada is back on. Markram, the skipper with a palindromic name, wants to strike while the iron is hot, perhaps. |
| 32.1 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, Around off, defended off the back foot. |
| 32.2 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, Full in length, pushed towards mid on. Dhawan says yes initially before denying the single. Rahane responded to the initial call and then had to hurry back. There is a shy at the bowler's end by Aiden but it misses the mark. Also, it almost takes Rahane with it. |
| 32.3 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, That's hit the batsman on his pads. |
| 32.4 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, SIX! On to 98 in some style. Fuller in length, Dhawan just gets inside the line and heaves it over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen. |
| 32.5 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, On a length around leg, Dhawan taps it towards square leg and wants a run. Rahane shouts loudly in negation. |
| 32.6 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, Around off, Dhawan taps it next to the stumps. This time Rahane calls him through and completes the run quickly. The southpaw moves to 99. |
| 33.1 : C Morris to S Dhawan, FOUR! Shikhar Dhawan gets to his 13th ODI century in style. This is full in length, Dhawan just pushes it down the ground and hurries to the other end to complete his 100th run. But the ball is so well timed that it beats the diving mid off fielder and goes to the fence. The southpaw raises both his arms towards the dressing room with a smile. He has been audacious at times and commanding throughout. He is the first Indian to hit a century in his 100th ODI. |
| 33.2 : C Morris to S Dhawan, Short in length, pulled away through square leg for a single. |
| 33.3 : C Morris to A Rahane, FOUR! The confidence of the batsman at the other end seems to be rubbing on Rahane too. This is a length ball, Rahane just swipes across the line and gets it well over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 33.4 : C Morris to A Rahane, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 33.5 : C Morris to A Rahane, WIDE! This is hurled well outside off, Rahane lets it be. |
| C Morris to A Rahane, Gone? No! Length ball just outside off, nipping in after pitching. Rahane looks to flick it away but gets beaten on the inside. Klaasen takes it and puts in an appeal but is supported by none. This is a part of the wicketkeeper's job, quips Harsha Bhogle on air. |
| 33.6 : C Morris to A Rahane, This ball around off is driven towards mid on. |
| 34.1 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, A short ball, down the leg side, Dhawan pulls it through backward square leg. Lungi Ngidi starts to run to his right, does manage to get to the ball, then tumbles and somehow stops it. The ball then threatens to roll into the fence but he avoids further damage. A couple taken. |
| 34.2 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, Full on middle, pushed towards mid on for a quick single. |
| Trouble? Aleem Dar and Bongani Jele have got together. They have just witnessed a flash of lightning in the sky and for safety concern, they have taken the PLAYERS OFF THE FIELD. Fair enough. Cannot risk the player's lives. It is not raining yet, but it sure seems to be round the corner. |
| 1550 local time update - Not looking pretty. The dark clouds are still hovering around as we await the news of resumption... |
| 1620 local - Great news! The covers are off and play will resume at 1630 local! No overs lost. |
| We are about to get underway. It has stopped raining and the covers are off but the clouds are in no hurry to leave the ground. It is very dark and 1630 actually seems like 1830. The players are back on the field. Rabada vs Rahane to resume proceedings... |
| 34.3 : K Rabada to A Rahane, WIDE to start the action. Down the leg side, Rahane shoulders arms. |
| K Rabada to A Rahane, Outside off, pushed straight to point. |
| 34.4 : K Rabada to A Rahane, ANOTHER WIDE. This is for height. A short ball around off, Ajinkya thinks about the pull but then does something better. Gets an extra run and ball for his side. |
| K Rabada to A Rahane, One more long hop, pulled uppishly towards deep backward square leg. Nearly carries all the way to Morne Morkel. A run taken. |
| 34.5 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, Ahhh... more luck for Dhawan. Looks to punch this length ball through the off side but gets a thick inside edge which just misses the stumps and goes past the keeper towards fine leg. Two runs taken. |
| 34.6 : K Rabada to S Dhawan, Outside off, pushed to point. Shikhar wants the single but is sent back. |
| Morne Morkel to bowl from the other end. |
| 35.1 : M Morkel to A Rahane, On middle and leg, flicked straight to mid-wicket. |
| 35.2 : M Morkel to A Rahane, Outside off, steered to third man for a single. |
| 35.3 : M Morkel to S Dhawan, OUT! The Big Giraffe gets the Big Fish! The break breaks the momentum for India as they lose a wicket almost immediately after the break. Full and outside off, slanting away, Dhawan looks to go over the top but the ball hits the toe end of his bat. It goes low to AB de Villiers at mid off who makes no mistake. The Proteas are jubilant - a rare moment in this series for them. How long will this joy be? End of a wonderful knock from Dhawan. However, has this wicket give |
| Shreyas Iyer walks in at number 5, replacing Dhawan. |
| 35.4 : M Morkel to S Iyer, ALMOST TWO IN TWO! What a brute from Morkel. Bends his back, bangs the ball in the middle of the pitch, gets extra bounce and surprises Iyer who just fends at it, with both his feet in the air. The ball flies but wide of first slip to third man. A single taken. |
| 35.5 : M Morkel to A Rahane, Outside off, on a length, dabbed to third man for a run. |
| 35.6 : M Morkel to S Iyer, Played to the point region by the batsman. They pick up a single. 4 runs and a wicket from the over, Morkel's figures read 8-0-40-1. |
| Lungi Ngidi is brought back on. |
| 36.1 : L Ngidi to S Iyer, Very full, almost a yorker on middle, flicked through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 36.2 : L Ngidi to A Rahane, Fine shot, excellent stop. A short ball outside off, Rahane punches it through backward point but JP Duminy dives to his left to stop the ball. He is standing very close, so that makes it even more difficult to stop. |
| 36.3 : L Ngidi to A Rahane, OUT! Caught and now Rahane throws it away. That door gets opened a bit more. A needless shot under the circumstances. Perhaps the message has been to keep scoring quickly. A short ball, outside off, Rahane instinctively goes for the pull but there is some steep bounce in that, which induces a bit of a top edge and hence a miscue. It is short ground but not short enough for the ball to sail beyond the ropes. Kagiso Rabada at the mid-wicket fence pouches it calmly. So af |
| MS Dhoni walks in at number 6, replacing Rahane. India need some calming influence in the middle. |
| 36.4 : L Ngidi to MS Dhoni, Full and outside off, driven back to the bowler. The crowd gets excited, thinking it is a catch but it is a crowd catch. |
| 36.5 : L Ngidi to MS Dhoni, A short ball, around off, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 36.6 : L Ngidi to S Iyer, Another short ball outside off, Iyer looks to play the upper cut but misses. 2 runs and a wicket from that over, Ngidi has figures of 8-0-40-1. |
| 37.1 : M Morkel to MS Dhoni, Landed outside off, Dhoni makes an exaggerated leave, like Steven Smith. |
| 37.2 : M Morkel to MS Dhoni, SIX! What timing! Only MS knows how has that crossed the ropes. A short ball outside off, Dhoni initially goes hard at it, looking to play the upper cut. But then the ball stops off the surface a bit. Strange, considering that the speed gun shows it to be 141 kph. The ball seems to be carrying off the miscue towards sweeper cover but somehow, it goes over the fielder. Andile Phehlukwayo at the boundary, waits, waits, waits, then leaps but still misses. |
| 37.3 : M Morkel to MS Dhoni, Down the leg side, tucked towards fine leg for a single. |
| 37.4 : M Morkel to S Iyer, FOUR! Fine shot. Authoritative from Iyer. Comes forward and drives it down the ground. Aiden Markram from mid on gives it a chase but comes second in the race. |
| 37.5 : M Morkel to S Iyer, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails. |
| 37.6 : M Morkel to S Iyer, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| Andile Phehlukwayo to bowl now. |
| 38.1 : A Phehlukwayo to MS Dhoni, Short and outside off, punched through the covers for a single. |
| 38.2 : A Phehlukwayo to S Iyer, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 38.3 : A Phehlukwayo to S Iyer, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. They pick up a single. |
| 38.4 : A Phehlukwayo to MS Dhoni, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 38.5 : A Phehlukwayo to MS Dhoni, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. They pick up a single. |
| 38.6 : A Phehlukwayo to S Iyer, Another punch down the ground to long on for a run. |
| 39.1 : M Morkel to S Iyer, WIDE. Down the leg side, Iyer cannot connect his flick. |
| M Morkel to S Iyer, Short and outside off, cuts it through point for a single. |
| 39.2 : M Morkel to MS Dhoni, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 39.3 : M Morkel to MS Dhoni, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single. |
| 39.4 : M Morkel to S Iyer, Defends this from back in the crease. |
| 39.5 : M Morkel to S Iyer, A short ball now, Iyer attempts the hook but misses. |
| 39.6 : M Morkel to S Iyer, The batsman guides it to third man. They pick up a single. 177/3 in Powerplay 2 for India. Pretty decent but just that since the break, they have scored 30/2 in 5.4 overs. |
| POWERPLAY 3 time. 5 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. South Africa will be the happier side if India do not cross 325. |
| 40.1 : A Phehlukwayo to S Iyer, WIDE. That will help India. A short ball down the leg side, Iyer lets it go. |
| A Phehlukwayo to S Iyer, Outside off, worked through mid-wicket for a quick single. |
| 40.2 : A Phehlukwayo to MS Dhoni, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. They manage to come back for the second. |
| 40.3 : A Phehlukwayo to MS Dhoni, On middle and leg, flicked straight to short mid-wicket. |
| 40.4 : A Phehlukwayo to MS Dhoni, A short ball again, MS goes for the upper cut but misses. |
| 40.5 : A Phehlukwayo to MS Dhoni, Down the leg side, Dhoni misses his flick and is hit on the pads. |
| 40.6 : A Phehlukwayo to MS Dhoni, Landed outside off, bounces steeply, MSD is surprised and looks to fend. The ball goes off the leading edge but does not carry to cover. |
| Lungi Ngidi is the bowling change. |
| 41.1 : L Ngidi to S Iyer, A short ball outside off, Iyer looks to play the upper cut and does so, straight to third man for a single. |
| 41.2 : L Ngidi to MS Dhoni, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 41.3 : L Ngidi to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Outstanding work in the field. A length ball outside off, MS throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge. The ball races towards the third man fence but Andile Phehlukwayo dives to his left and almost saves the boundary. The ball however, does not respect him for the effort and scoots away to the fence. |
| 41.4 : L Ngidi to MS Dhoni, On middle, Dhoni looks to work it to the leg side but gets a leading edge which does not carry to cover. |
| 41.5 : L Ngidi to MS Dhoni, Full and outside off, driven straight to mid off. |
| 41.6 : L Ngidi to MS Dhoni, A short ball, pulled through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 42.1 : A Phehlukwayo to MS Dhoni, No run. |
| 42.2 : A Phehlukwayo to MS Dhoni, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 42.3 : A Phehlukwayo to S Iyer, Stays back in his crease and blocks. |
| Caught behind? Yes, says the umpire. No, says Iyer. He has taken the review. |
| 42.4 : A Phehlukwayo to S Iyer, NOTHING ON THE SNICKOMETER. Not even a minor spike. Iyer survives. A short ball on middle, Iyer comes down the track and has a hack, only to miss. The Proteas, however, appeal and the umpire raises his finger! Iyer straightaway takes the review and in replays, we seem to be hearing a noise. But Snickometer detects nothing. Strange. Thankfully I have an off tomorrow. Will get my ear checked for wax. |
| 42.5 : A Phehlukwayo to S Iyer, WIDE. The ball is way wide on the leg side but the batsman still goes after it. The umpire has signalled a wide. |
| A Phehlukwayo to S Iyer, Pushes this through mid on and gets a single. |
| 42.6 : A Phehlukwayo to MS Dhoni, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 43.1 : L Ngidi to S Iyer, FOUR! Up and over! A length ball outside off, Iyer clubs it over mid off and clears the fielder, finds the fence as well. |
| 43.2 : L Ngidi to S Iyer, OUT! Not this time! A length ball again, this time Iyer looks to go over the leg side but does not have enough strength to clear long on. Easy catch for Chris Morris. |
| Hardik Pandya walks in. |
| 43.3 : L Ngidi to H Pandya, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| 43.4 : L Ngidi to MS Dhoni, Another flick, another run. |
| 43.5 : L Ngidi to H Pandya, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 43.6 : L Ngidi to H Pandya, Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover. That is it for Ngidi - 10-0-52-2. |
| Here is Kagiso Rabada. |
| 44.1 : K Rabada to MS Dhoni, Outside off, Dhoni pushes but misses. |
| 44.2 : K Rabada to MS Dhoni, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. They pick up a single. |
| 44.3 : K Rabada to H Pandya, On a length outside off, Pandya pushes at it and is squared up. The ball runs off the outside edge to third man. Just a run. |
| 44.4 : K Rabada to MS Dhoni, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads for a single. |
| 44.5 : K Rabada to H Pandya, Full on middle, pushed through mid on for a run. |
| 44.6 : K Rabada to MS Dhoni, Defended off the back foot by the batsman straight to point. |
| Here is Chris Morris. Meanwhile, Dhoni asking for a change of weapon. Which one will he choose? A heavier one or a lighter one? |
| 45.1 : C Morris to H Pandya, FOUR! Rubbish, on this track. Or on any track. A half-tracker, a loosener from Morris, pulled with disdain over mid-wicket for a one-bounce boundary. The stand moves to 10 from 11 balls. |
| 45.2 : C Morris to H Pandya, Excellent follow-up delivery, a fiery yorker on off, Hardik manages to dig it towards the leg side. |
| 45.3 : C Morris to H Pandya, Now the off cutter, outside off, Pandya looks to push and run to the off side but finds point. |
| 45.4 : C Morris to H Pandya, A short, pulled nicely all along the ground, towards fine leg for a single. |
| 45.5 : C Morris to MS Dhoni, A better short ball, at the ribs, MS tucks it towards fine leg for a run. |
| 45.6 : C Morris to H Pandya, Oohhh... swing but no connection. Full and outside off, HP looks to swing it into the atmosphere, perhaps into the stratosphere, out of Jo'burg, but connects with thin air. Excellent comeback from Morris, after going for a boundary on the first ball. |
| 46.1 : K Rabada to MS Dhoni, Excellent yorker, dug out to the leg side for a quick single. |
| 46.2 : K Rabada to H Pandya, Another yorker, this is outside off, squeezed to third man for a run. |
| 46.3 : K Rabada to MS Dhoni, A short ball outside off, Dhoni looks to pull but is beaten by pace. 146 ks, that ball. |
| 46.4 : K Rabada to MS Dhoni, Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 46.5 : K Rabada to H Pandya, A short ball outside off, Pandya looks to hook but misses. He looks at the umpire for a signal for a wide but does not get any. |
| Fine leg comes up now. Ok. He is pushed back again. Third man comes up instead. |
| 46.6 : K Rabada to H Pandya, OUT! It is a bird, it is a plane, it is superman but it is not AB! W-H-A-T-A-C-A-T-C-HHHHHHH! Stunning. Absolutely. Aiden Markram it is. The ball is full and outside off and Hardik bashes it with brute power. The ball goes over cover and seems like it has cleared the fielder. But no, Markram leaps full stretch, sticks out his right hand and takes a stinger! Take a bow, skipper. Brilliant. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar walks in at number 8, replacing Hardik. |
| 47.1 : C Morris to MS Dhoni, A short ball, pulled through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 47.2 : C Morris to B Kumar, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 47.3 : C Morris to B Kumar, WIDE. A short ball outside off, Kumar slashes hard but it flies way over his head. Morris straightaway apologizes to his keeper. Way too high. |
| C Morris to B Kumar, Very full on middle, Bhuvi pushes it towards long on but mid-wicket intercepts. |
| 47.4 : C Morris to B Kumar, Finally gets one away, flicking it towards fine leg for a single. |
| 47.5 : C Morris to MS Dhoni, Full on middle, pushed down to long on for a run. |
| Uh oh... it has started to drizzle again. The ground staff is getting active. Can we get the 50 overs in this innings done at least? |
| 47.6 : C Morris to B Kumar, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot for a single. |
| 48.1 : K Rabada to B Kumar, A short ball around off, Kumar backs away and swats it through mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 48.2 : K Rabada to B Kumar, A dot ball this time. A short ball again, Bhuvi backs away and slashes hard but misses. |
| Third man has come a lot finer now. Or short third man, rather. |
| 48.3 : K Rabada to B Kumar, Full and outside off, squeezed through the covers for a single. |
| 48.4 : K Rabada to MS Dhoni, There is that bottom hand into play, swung powerfully wide of long on for a couple. |
| 48.5 : K Rabada to MS Dhoni, FOUR LEG BYES! India need more of these. A short ball, Dhoni charges at it, swings hard but misses. But the ball hits his back, then his helmet and flies behind. Heinrich Klaasen dives to his right but cannot stop it. |
| 48.6 : K Rabada to MS Dhoni, A short ball following the batsman, MSD looks to pull but gets a top edge. The ball is very fine, well away from fine leg and Chris Morris does an extremely good work of taking his own sweet time to get to the ball, encouraging Dhoni to take the second. But MS is smart enough to not even think about the second. 10 from the over, 10-0-58-2 for Rabada. |
| 6 balls left. MSD on strike. Can India get to 300? |
| 49.1 : C Morris to MS Dhoni, FOUR! CLOBBERED! 19 needed from 5 now! Full and outside off, Dhoni blasts it wide of cover and finds the boundary! |
| OUT? Morris thinks he has Dhoni caught and bowled but the umpire is unmoved. They refer it upstairs. |
| 49.2 : C Morris to MS Dhoni, NOT OUT. The ball has bounced. A yorker length outside off, but MS takes it on the full and gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. The ball lobs towards Morris who runs ahead and claims the catch. Aleem Dar is not sure, so he calls his partner over for a chat. They then refer it upstairs and replays confirm it on the very first look - the ball hitting the pitch, then the boot. The entertainment can continue. |
| 49.3 : C Morris to MS Dhoni, OUT! Bhuvi is run out but India will not mind. Dhoni is back on strike. A low full toss outside off, MSD hits it hard towards long on and calls for two. JP Duminy collects the ball calmly and returns a straightforward throw to Morris. Simple run out, which is not even referred upstairs. |
| Kuldeep Yadav is the new man in. |
| 49.4 : C Morris to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Up and over! Short and outside off, Dhoni leaps and cuts it over cover for a boundary! |
| 49.5 : C Morris to MS Dhoni, Excellent running. Full on middle, Dhoni whips it a la helicopter style through mid-wicket. AB de Villiers gets across in a flash to his right, slides and stops the ball. MS takes a very late call to go for the second and puts in the hard yards. De Villiers' throw is not the best and India get two more. |
| 49.6 : C Morris to MS Dhoni, Just a single to end the innings. Full and outside off, MSD hits it hard but straight to Hashim Amla at cover. 22 runs off the final 2 overs takes India to 289/7! |
| 'I think India are 20-25 runs short,' says Mike Haysman on air. We would rather stick to the old saying - 'Do not judge a pitch until both sides have played on it.' South Africa definitely have the momentum, but India have a score on the board. |
| An innings which was played in different conditions. The first 34 overs seemed to be played on a belter when Kohli and Dhawan were belting the ball to all parks. They added 158 runs in 163 balls for the second wicket, before the Indian skipper got dismissed. The southpaw then registered his 13th ODI ton and became the first Indian to score a century in his 100th ODI when an unforeseen break occurred. |
| Owing to a massive bolt of lightning, the umpires decided to play safe and halted play. That was followed with rain and thunder and we did not resume for over an hour. Then, eventually, when play resumed, we got to see a different type of pitch. |
| South Africa struck quickly after the break, getting rid of Dhawan and then India lost their way. In their quest to get quick runs on a smallish ground, batsmen started to throw their wickets away, getting consumed on a track which suddenly became slow. Balls started to stop and come which meant that scoring quickly was not the easiest option. The visitors managed only 89 runs in 94 balls after the rain/lightning break, for the loss of 5 wickets. |
| The rain certainly did help South Africa for the last few overs. They conceded just 7 fours and a six after the break, with the momentum shifted towards them. All the bowlers combined well to restrict India, with Rabada and Ngidi taking 2 wickets apiece. |
| 290 then. Can South Africa chase it down and stay alive in the series? There is a bit of rain around, so expect another break after the innings break. Duckworth-Lewis-Stern is set to come into play. What about the pitch? Will it make 289 a terrific score? The answer will be clearer in a few minutes' time. |
| 0.0 : Welcome back for the chase! Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla are the openers. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to start off proceedings with the first new ball against Markram. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : B Kumar to A Markram, Outside off, swinging away, Markram gets a big stride forward and shoulders arms. |
| 0.2 : B Kumar to A Markram, Outside off, played through point for a single. |
| 0.3 : B Kumar to H Amla, Wide outside off, let through. |
| 0.4 : B Kumar to H Amla, The bat has broken! A piece of the willow has come off. Amla looks to work it through the leg side but the ball goes off the inner half towards fine leg. A single taken. |
| 'THODA THODA GIR RAHA HAI'... says Kohli. Seems like it is drizzling. Meanwhile, Amla gets a change of bats. |
| 0.5 : B Kumar to A Markram, FOUR! Shot! That should get the captain going. On a length outside off, Markram gets on top of the bounce and punches it through the covers, on the up, for a boundary! |
| 0.6 : B Kumar to A Markram, On a length outside off, a touch wide, left alone. |
| Jasprit Bumrah to bowl with the second new ball. |
| 1.1 : J Bumrah to H Amla, Landed outside off, some away movement, dabbed to third man for a single. |
| 1.2 : J Bumrah to A Markram, Around off, solidly blocked beside him. |
| 1.3 : J Bumrah to A Markram, He likes that back foot punch, gets this straight to point. |
| 1.4 : J Bumrah to A Markram, Outside off, played to the off side. |
| 1.5 : J Bumrah to A Markram, FOUR! Not in total control. A length ball outside off, Markram deliberately opens the face of the bat to guide it towards third man but gets it off the bottom edge, wide of first slip to the fence. 279 more needed from 289 balls. |
| 1.6 : J Bumrah to A Markram, The ball hits the batsman low on the pads. One run added to the total. Leg bye signalled by the umpire. |
| 2.1 : B Kumar to A Markram, Excellent stop! Short and outside off, Markram punches this on the up through the covers but Shreyas Iyer dives to his left and half-stops the ball. Just a single. Markram moves to 10 from 10 balls. |
| 2.2 : B Kumar to H Amla, Well, the openers seem to be middling the ball well. Short and outside off, Amla flashes hard and gets it behind point for a couple. |
| 2.3 : B Kumar to H Amla, Short again, there to be hit, but Amla misses out on his cut shot. |
| 2.4 : B Kumar to H Amla, EDGED, FOUR! This would have been a wicket if this had been a Test match. Kumar bowls this on a length outside off, then gets it to nip back in. Generates extra zip and bounce off the deck which catches Amla by surprise. He fends at it but only gets an outside edge. Luckily for him, the ball goes wide of first slip to the third man fence. |
| Slip moves wider. |
| 2.5 : B Kumar to H Amla, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 2.6 : B Kumar to H Amla, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 3.1 : J Bumrah to A Markram, Landed around off, solidly defended. |
| 3.2 : J Bumrah to A Markram, Action replay of the previous delivery. |
| 3.3 : J Bumrah to A Markram, Another good piece of fielding. Markram drives this through the covers and should have got a boundary but for the fielder diving to his right and stopping the ball. |
| 3.4 : J Bumrah to A Markram, JUST OVER! A length ball on middle, Aiden gets across and looks to go over mid on but does not quite time it. Luckily for him, the ball clears mid on and races towards the fence. Actually, no. It slows down near the boundary and does not even meet the ropes. Enough time for Kuldeep Yadav to run to the ball and pick it up. The batsmen take three. 268 more needed from 278 balls. |
| 3.5 : J Bumrah to H Amla, Walks across his stumps and looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. He is wandering out of his crease and Bumrah smartly runs across towards the ball and tries to affect a run out but Amla quickly gets back in. |
| 3.6 : J Bumrah to H Amla, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 4.1 : B Kumar to A Markram, FOUR! Edged and through again! Kohli brought third man up inside the circle and moved the slip wide. Markram looked to push at that ball and got a bit of an outside edge. It went onto the ground and raced past that wide slip and went fine than short third man! |
| 4.2 : B Kumar to A Markram, Short and outside off, punched through the covers for a single. |
| 4.3 : B Kumar to H Amla, Gets across and works it through the leg side for a run. |
| 4.4 : B Kumar to A Markram, Full and outside off, driven towards mid off for one. |
| 4.5 : B Kumar to H Amla, Looks to drive but gets an outside edge wide of point for another single. |
| 4.6 : B Kumar to A Markram, Short and outside off, Aiden looks to cut but gets a bottom edge which goes on the bounce to point. A quick single taken. |
| 5.1 : J Bumrah to A Markram, Ahhh... a length ball outside off, Markram looks to punch it through the on side but gets an inside edge which goes off his pads pretty fine. Just a single. |
| 5.2 : J Bumrah to H Amla, FOUR! Shot! Typical Amla. Short and outside off, Amla gets across and punches it through the covers and finds the gap. |
| The man on the square on the off side drops back now. |
| 5.3 : J Bumrah to H Amla, Full and outside off, Hashim gets across an defends. |
| 5.4 : J Bumrah to H Amla, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 5.5 : J Bumrah to H Amla, Another forward defense. |
| 5.6 : J Bumrah to H Amla, Gets across and looks to flick but the ball trickles off the inside edge towards fine leg. A run taken. |
| 6.1 : B Kumar to H Amla, The batsman has been struck on the thigh pad. They pick up a single. Leg bye signalled by the umpire. |
| 6.2 : B Kumar to A Markram, Outside off, comes back in a long way, Markram looks to flick but gets it off the inner half towards mid-wicket. |
| 6.3 : B Kumar to A Markram, Outside off, punched through the covers for a single. |
| 6.4 : B Kumar to H Amla, A length ball outside off, once again Hashim shuffles across, is squared up and the ball goes off the outside edge towards point. |
| 6.5 : B Kumar to H Amla, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| Suds - Is it only me or does anyone feel that Hashim Amla is moving a bit too across his sticks tonight? My weak eyesight tends to give me problems so confirming. @Suds - Love your modesty and honesty, mate. Indeed. You are spot on. The Mighty Hash is moving a long way across in this ODI. He did this a lot in the Test matches as well but not with much success. |
| 6.6 : B Kumar to H Amla, FOUR! What a shot. On a length outside off, Amla punches it through the covers. Kuldeep Yadav races to his left and dives but cannot stop the ball. |
| 7.1 : J Bumrah to A Markram, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 0.0 : There is that first wicket! Markram has been adjudged LBW. He has a chat with Amla and eventually signals for the review. In fact, both batsmen ask for the review. |
| 7.2 : J Bumrah to A Markram, OUT! LBW! The decision stays as it is! Don't think it was the wisest of calls to review this in the first place. The ball landed outside off, Markram walked across and then looked to heave. But missed the ball and got hit, just over the knee roll. It looked plumb and Aleem Dar agreed. Markram had a long look at Amla and then both these players signalled for the review. Hawk Eye showed it to be hitting the stumps. Waste of a review. |
| Someone should have walked in at number 3, but instead, the players and the umpires are walking off. Another flash of lightning was observed and it is starting to drizzle. So a delay. |
| It is raining very heavily now, from what we hear. The wicket could not have come at a better time for India. South Africa got their best opening stand this series and were going at a pretty decent rate. But the skipper is gone now and with the rain coming down hard, there are chances that this game could be reduced. That will certainly play into the chasing side's mind. |
| 2015 local time - The umpires are currently doing an inspection. I am not a lip-reading expert or someone who deals in figuring out facial expressions but Aleem Dar does not look too happy with the outfield. He rolled the ball on the grass and seemed to indicate to the groundsman that the outfield is very wet. We wait. |
| 2025 local time - We are playing! Told you I was not an expert with facial signs or lip-reading. Seems like Aleem Dar has fooled me. Play set to begin at 2030 local, with the revised target being 202 from 28 overs. |
| The players are back out in the middle already. JP Duminy is the new man in. |
| Powerplay 2 has been signalled as well. |
| 7.3 : J Bumrah to JP Duminy, A misfield straightaway. Full and outside off, Duminy pushes the ball straight to cover where the fielder gets across but fumbles and concedes a single. |
| 7.4 : J Bumrah to H Amla, HOWZZAT? Not out. A lovely ball, landed outside off, Amla gets across to defend but the ball nips back in a long way and goes off something to the keeper. India appeal but umpire Dar is unmoved. Virat Kohli is anxious and excited about the review but both Dhoni and Bumrah share a smile and shake their head. Replays show the ball hitting the pad. No inside edge. |
| 7.5 : J Bumrah to H Amla, Vicious movement, coming in from way outside off, Hashim misses his flick and is hit on the pads. |
| 7.6 : J Bumrah to H Amla, Outside off, HA pushes it towards cover and sets off for a single but is sent back. |
| Expected. Kuldeep Yadav is the first bowling change. |
| 8.1 : K Yadav to JP Duminy, Full and outside off, pushed towards the bowler. |
| 8.2 : K Yadav to JP Duminy, Leans, takes the ball on the full and pushes it down to long off for a single. |
| 8.3 : K Yadav to H Amla, Down the leg side, could have been left alone, but Amla plays it through fine leg for a couple. |
| 8.4 : K Yadav to H Amla, Comes down the track but is not to the pitch of the ball and misses his flick, getting hit on the pads. |
| 8.5 : K Yadav to H Amla, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 8.6 : K Yadav to H Amla, Full and around off, solidly defended. Good start by Kuldeep with the wet ball. |
| Hardik Pandya to bowl now. |
| 9.1 : H Pandya to JP Duminy, WIDE to start. A short ball around off, angling away, comfortably high over the batsman who lets it go. Dhoni leaps to collect. |
| H Pandya to JP Duminy, A better short ball, landed in the half of the batsman, cramping him for room, Duminy hops and guides the ball down to third man for a single. |
| 9.2 : H Pandya to H Amla, Landed outside off, much fuller, shaping away, Amla steers it behind, towards the gully region for a run. 50 UP FOR SOUTH AFRICA. 152 more needed from 112 balls. |
| 9.3 : H Pandya to JP Duminy, Full and straight, watchfully pushed to cover. |
| 9.4 : H Pandya to JP Duminy, Around off, moving away, steered down to third man for one. |
| 9.5 : H Pandya to H Amla, Full and outside off, swinging away, driven beautifully through the covers for a couple. 149 more needed from 109 balls. The stand is worth 10 from 15 balls. |
| 9.6 : H Pandya to H Amla, A short ball outside off, seaming away, Hashim slashes but misses. |
| 10.1 : K Yadav to JP Duminy, Tossed up outside off, pushed down to long off for a single. |
| 10.2 : K Yadav to H Amla, The leg spinner, pitched around off, watchfully flicked towards fine leg for a run. |
| 10.3 : K Yadav to JP Duminy, That was stone dead. Had it hit the pad. The googly, around off, zips back in, Duminy is squared up but somehow, manages to get his bat in front of his pad. |
| 10.4 : K Yadav to JP Duminy, Comes down the track now, looks to flick but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and is hit on the pads. |
| 10.5 : K Yadav to JP Duminy, Down the leg side, flicked wide of short fine leg for one. |
| 10.6 : K Yadav to H Amla, A tad short, punched down to long off for another single. |
| 11.1 : H Pandya to H Amla, Almost an action replay of the last ball of Hardik's previous over. Short and outside off, not that wide, Amla slashes but misses. |
| 11.2 : H Pandya to H Amla, This one nips back in, Hashim looks to punch this through the off side but gets a thick inside edge which goes between his legs towards square leg. A single taken. |
| 11.3 : H Pandya to JP Duminy, Short ball, around off, Duminy hops and cuts it behind point for a run. |
| 11.4 : H Pandya to H Amla, FOUR! Up and over! Fine shot. Half volley outside off, Amla leans and lofts this over cover for a boundary. Welcome one for South Africa. 139 more needed from 98 balls. The stand moves to 20 from 26 deliveries while Amla is now on 31 from 36. |
| 11.5 : H Pandya to H Amla, On middle, a bit too straight, whipped through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 11.6 : H Pandya to JP Duminy, How did he play that? A short ball on middle, Duminy plays the swat-pull through backward square leg for a run. |
| 12.1 : K Yadav to JP Duminy, Landed outside off, spinning away, Duminy comes forward, then goes back and cuts it in front of point for a couple. Seemed like he picked that. |
| 12.2 : K Yadav to JP Duminy, OUT! Adjudged LBW! Well, not a convincing appeal at all but the umpire has raised his finger. Duminy might have picked the last ball but he certainly did not pick this one, nor does he look like picking to agree with the decision of the umpire. Looks totally gutted. To be honest, that did not look out at all. Duminy came way down the track, but was nowhere near the pitch of the ball. Missed his flick and was hit on the pads. Kuldeep was the only one appealing and tumb |
| AB de Villiers walks in at number 4, replacing Duminy, with the series slipping away... |
| 12.3 : K Yadav to de Villiers, Tossed up on middle, de Villiers gets across and defends it to the leg side. |
| 12.4 : K Yadav to de Villiers, Oohhh... AB looks to defend but the ball spins in, goes off the inside edge edge and scoots through fine leg. Two runs taken. |
| 12.5 : K Yadav to de Villiers, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 12.6 : K Yadav to H Amla, Tucks it behind square leg and sets off for what looks like an easy single but AB sends him back as he sees Dhoni rush across to the ball. 5 runs and a wicket from the over, Kuldeep's figures read 3-0-12-1. |
| 13.1 : H Pandya to de Villiers, WIDE. Slashes at that flat-footedly, well away from his body and misses. |
| H Pandya to de Villiers, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 13.2 : H Pandya to de Villiers, A short ball, down the leg side, de Villiers looks to pull but gets an inside edge onto the hips with the ball rolling towards fine leg. Just a run. |
| 13.3 : H Pandya to H Amla, Landed outside off, Amla half-heartedly looks to run it down to third man and gets a bottom edge wide of Dhoni. But since slip was moved just a ball back, it is only a single to third man. |
| 13.4 : H Pandya to de Villiers, Short and outside off, de Villiers punches it towards point where Ajinkya Rahane dives to his right to stop the ball. |
| 13.5 : H Pandya to de Villiers, FOUR! CLOBBERED! A short ball, around off, de Villiers is ready, gets on top of it and swats it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| Pandya asks for a change in field. Deep backward square leg comes in while mid-wicket drops back. |
| 13.6 : H Pandya to de Villiers, Comes down the track and plays some shot, which is hard to describe, somewhere between a pull and a swat and mistimes it to mid on. |
| 14.1 : K Yadav to H Amla, OUT! Game awareness, tick. Boundary-line awareness, tick. Terrific catch, oh yes! Amla, thanks for being out there for 40 balls! Spin is amidst it all, again. This is nicely tossed up around off and middle, Amla slinks down a couple of steps and lifts it aerially towards long off. Bhuvneshwar stationed there goes backwards and takes it, but then seems to be going over the ropes and hence throws it in the air, goes out, comes in and completes the catch. Seems to be a good |
| 0.0 : Oh what a catch, if Kumar has taken it! He looks to have done a marvelous job, but as always, the umpires want to be cent percent sure. Hence they have gone upstairs. |
| David Miller is the next man in. Good situation for him to walk out to, doesn't have to bother about sticking it out. Go bam bam! |
| 14.2 : K Yadav to de Villiers, WIDE! Fired down the leg side, AB looks to flick but misses. |
| K Yadav to de Villiers, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 14.3 : K Yadav to de Villiers, Floated around off and middle, de Villiers looks to play the reverse sweep. Get an inside edge onto the pad and the ball goes towards point. A stifled appeal for LBW put in by Dhoni. |
| 14.4 : K Yadav to de Villiers, Turned away through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 14.5 : K Yadav to D Miller, Blocked back towards the bowler from the crease. |
| 14.6 : K Yadav to D Miller, FOUR! Tossed up on the stumps, Miller gets down and sweeps it powerfully through backward square leg for a boundary. |
| More spin. Yuzvendra Chahal is brought into the attack. |
| 15.1 : Y Chahal to de Villiers, Outside off, punched through covers for a single. |
| 15.2 : Y Chahal to D Miller, Flatter on the pads, turned away off the pads for one. |
| 15.3 : Y Chahal to de Villiers, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. They manage to come back for the second. |
| 15.4 : Y Chahal to de Villiers, SIX! BANG! This is nicely tossed up outside off, de Villiers gets down on one knee by moving across and slog sweeps it high and handsome over the deep mid-wicket fence. |
| 15.5 : Y Chahal to de Villiers, SIX! Tripe! Chahal bowls a half-tracker and that's a gift for someone like AB. He goes back and has enough time in the world to collect a biggie. Does so with a pull over deep mid-wicket. |
| 15.6 : Y Chahal to de Villiers, This one is pushed through the cover region for a single. 100 up for South Africa, they need another 102. 17 runs off Chahal's first. |
| Hardik Pandya is back on. Change of ends for him. |
| 16.1 : H Pandya to de Villiers, On a length outside off, de Villiers taps it towards point and gets to the other end. |
| 16.2 : H Pandya to D Miller, Length ball angling away, Miller looks to flay this over point but misses. |
| 16.3 : H Pandya to D Miller, Short in length, Miller looks to pull it away but does so towards mid on. Mistimed, clearly. |
| 16.4 : H Pandya to D Miller, This time David pulls this through square leg for a single. |
| 16.5 : H Pandya to de Villiers, OUT! Know what's precision? Picking out the man stationed on the fence to perfection. And AB de Villiers has done just that. Fuller in length, angling in, de Villiers flicks it away off his pads. Does so aerially and the ball flies straight to Rohit Sharma at fine leg. He didn't have to move an inch. Know who moved a lot? Hardik Pandya. He was up and running to his mate who had managed to hold on to the catch to give him the big scalp. India have the hosts needing |
| Heinrich Klaasen makes his way out to the middle. |
| 16.6 : H Pandya to H Klaasen, Klaasen taps it towards backward point to open his account and take strike for the next over. |
| 17.1 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, Floated around middle and leg, defended towards mid on. |
| 17.2 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, Flatter and shorter outside off, slapped through cover-point for a single. |
| 17.3 : Y Chahal to D Miller, GRASSED! An opportunity goes abegging. Shreyas Iyer the man at fault. Tossed up on middle, Miller gets down and sweeps it aerially. The ball travels towards deep backward square leg. Iyer comes running there from fine leg and gets to the ball, but fails to hold on to that. A run taken in the interim. Costly miss? |
| 17.4 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, Flipped around leg, the ball goes straight on. Heinrich goes back to flick but misses and gets hit on the back pad. Not in front of the sticks though. |
| 17.5 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, Floated on middle, Klaasen goes for the sweep but top edges it towards mid-wicket. Lands in between the men running backwards from the circle and running in from the fence. A run taken. |
| 17.6 : Y Chahal to D Miller, OUT b Yuzvendra Chahal. South Africa have lost their fifth wicket. |
| 17.5 : Miller is knocked over! Chahal seems to have got him, but wait! He seems to have OVERSTEPPED! Free Hit time... |
| 17.6 : Y Chahal to D Miller, BOWLED OFF A NO BALL! Nicely tossed up, around off, Miller looks to sweep it but is way early into the shot. The ball spins in and knocks the middle stick. Indians rejoice but the umpire checks for the front foot. Chahal has faltered. He has overstepped and hence, Miller survives. Another life for the southpaw. Free Hit next up... |
| Free Hit coming up... |
| Y Chahal to D Miller, Out on the Free Hit as well! Is it Miller's night? This is slogged high in the air and straight in the hands of deep mid-wicket. But a batter cannot be out and hence a run results. |
| 18.1 : H Pandya to D Miller, FOUR! Full in length, Miller clears his front leg and goes over mid off. Clears the man easily and collects a boundary. |
| 18.2 : H Pandya to D Miller, FOUR! Short and wide, punished yet again. Miller has enough room on offer and he cuts it fiercely over point. Makes enough contact and collects another boundary. |
| 18.3 : H Pandya to D Miller, FOUR! A troika of boundaries for Miller and the hosts require another 82 now. He gets his front leg out of the way and blasts it through mid-wicket. Succeeds in finding the fence there. |
| 18.4 : H Pandya to D Miller, Fuller outside off, patted towards mid off for a quick run. A wild throw is hurled at the bowler's end but David seems to have made it anyway. |
| 18.5 : H Pandya to H Klaasen, Klaasen charges down the track and pushes it to the off side. |
| 18.6 : H Pandya to H Klaasen, Banged short on the stumps, Klaasen is hurried up and he misses the pull. |
| 19.1 : Y Chahal to D Miller, Floated up on middle, pushed towards mid-wicket. |
| 19.2 : Y Chahal to D Miller, Missed! Nicely tossed up around middle and leg, the ball spins in further. Miller gets down on one knee and misses the attempted slog. Dhoni collects it and whips the bails off in a flash. However, Miller's back foot didn't go anywhere. |
| 19.3 : Y Chahal to D Miller, Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. The batsmen have picked up a couple of runs. |
| Kuldeep is seen warming up. |
| 19.4 : Y Chahal to D Miller, Darted on the pads, nudged through square leg to get to the other end. |
| 19.5 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, FOUR! Wow! Klaasen can bat! Sees this tossed up ball on the stumps, and selects the option of getting down and bashing it over mid-wicket. Succeeds in getting a one-bounce boundary to his name. The runs needed come down to 74. |
| 19.6 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. One run added to the total. 8 off this over. |
| Kuldeep Yadav comes back. |
| 20.1 : K Yadav to H Klaasen, Floated on the stumps, Klaasen gets down early and paddles it fine down the leg side. Rahane chases it down from slip and saves a run for his side. |
| 20.2 : K Yadav to D Miller, Swept away nicely through backward square leg for a single. |
| 20.3 : K Yadav to H Klaasen, FOUR! Klaasen seems to have downloaded google translator, reckons our scorer here. Dhoni had shouted just before this ball was delivered, that Heinrich would look to get inside the line and play it to the leg side. The batter does the exact opposite as he gets down and plays the reverse sweep over backward point for a boundary. |
| 20.4 : K Yadav to H Klaasen, This time Klaasen tries the switch hit, only manages to get a run towards point. |
| 20.5 : K Yadav to D Miller, SIX! Ho, ho, ho! That's out of here! Nicely tossed up around off, Miller gets down one knee and BLASTS it over wide long on. The ball goes and lands in the second tier. It has gone in the car park, reckons the on-air commentator. 58 off 43 needed. |
| 20.6 : K Yadav to D Miller, Played through covers to retain strike. 16 runs off this Yadav over. Costly. |
| 21.1 : Y Chahal to D Miller, Worked away off the pads for a single. |
| 21.2 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, Poor shot. Had he let that be, it was potentially a wide. But Klaasen hits it straight to covers. |
| 21.3 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, WIDE! Exactly like this! This is fired well outside off, Heinrich looks to slap it away but fails. This time the umpire has to stretch his arms. |
| Y Chahal to H Klaasen, FOUR! Atrocious! Chahal anticipates the batter to go after him and hence darts this short and wide outside off. This is almost outside the tramline. Klaasen moves across to the ball and pulls it over square leg for a one-bounce boundary. Looks funny as even Dhoni had moves behind the batter. |
| 21.4 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, Floated outside off, Klaasen looks to go after this but misses. Seems good till the point Aleem Dar signals a NO BALL! Yes, Chahal has overstepped yet again. What a way to bring up the 50-run stand. |
| Free Hit coming up... |
| Y Chahal to H Klaasen, SIX! Know how to take full toll of the freebie? Ask Klaasen. This is a Free Hit and so he knows he cannot be dismissed. Bashes this high over the long on fence for another biggie. Can we have a 10 in the sport, please? |
| 21.5 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 21.6 : Y Chahal to D Miller, WIDE! Floated on the pads, the ball spins down further. |
| Y Chahal to D Miller, Blocked off the front foot solidly. 14 off this one, Chahal is having a bad night. |
| The last Powerplay gets underway! Now, a maximum of 5 players can be outside the ring. Also, Jasprit Bumrah is brought back. 42 off 36 needed. |
| 22.1 : J Bumrah to H Klaasen, FOUR! Oh dear! The spinners are having a bad night not only with the ball, but also on the field. This is hurled outside off, Klaasen gets a thick outside edge towards third man. The wet outfield comes to his aid. Yadav at that position got to the ball but it spins away just a bit. Hits him on the foot and goes away to the fence. The look on Kohli's face says it all. |
| 22.2 : J Bumrah to H Klaasen, This one is nudged towards mid-wicket to get to the other end. |
| 22.3 : J Bumrah to D Miller, From round the wicket, this is bowled around off. Miller stands tall and pushes it towards covers. |
| 22.4 : J Bumrah to D Miller, Yorker, demands my colleague, gets that from Bumrah. Miller looks to dig that out but misses. Thankfully for him, the line is outside off. |
| 22.5 : J Bumrah to D Miller, Length ball angling in, David fails to pull it away. Gets it off his pads towards square leg and a leg bye is taken. |
| 22.6 : J Bumrah to H Klaasen, Well bowled. Fuller and nipping in. Klaasen looks to dig it out but gets an inside edge towards backward square leg. A run taken. |
| 23.1 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, Tossed up around middle and leg, eased through mid on for one. |
| 23.2 : Y Chahal to D Miller, SIX! Bad night for Chahal? Understatement. Lucky Miller? Very much! He gets another long hop on the stumps, all he has to do is go back and pull. Does so with utmost ease and collects a maximum over deep mid-wicket. Why lucky but? Because of the lives that he has got till here. 28 off 28 needed. |
| 23.3 : Y Chahal to D Miller, Flighted ball around leg, Miller gets beaten on the inside but his back foot is firmly grounded. |
| 23.4 : Y Chahal to D Miller, OUT! Chahal gets his revenge, though not sure we can call it that. Chahal bravely floats it around middle and gets it to turn in just a touch. Miller gets his front foot across and then tries to defend with a straight bat. Misses the ball completely and is caught adjacent to the stumps. Dar raises that dreaded finger. Plumb, shows the Ball Tracker, too. Thankfully for Chahal and India, it is not a no ball! 28 off 27 needed. Chokers, anybody? |
| Andile Phehlukwayo is next in. |
| 23.5 : Y Chahal to A Phehlukwayo, Bowled on the stumps, swept to deep square leg for a single to get off the mark. |
| 23.6 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, Flatter on the stumps, Klaasen gets his bat down hurriedly to play this through front of square on the leg side for one. 9 runs and a wicket in this one. |
| 24.1 : K Yadav to H Klaasen, FOUR! Well played. Short in length, spinning in a touch. Klaasen goes back and lofts it over covers for a boundary. |
| 24.2 : K Yadav to H Klaasen, This one is knocked through mid on for a couple. |
| 24.3 : K Yadav to H Klaasen, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 24.4 : K Yadav to H Klaasen, Swept away through square leg for a single. |
| 24.5 : K Yadav to A Phehlukwayo, FOUR! This is a night where every shot seems to be coming off for South Africa. Phehlukwayo has his intentions of reverse sweeping this displayed on a billboard. Seeing this, Yadav floats it wider. Doesn't matter for Andile who goes through with his shot and gets it through backward point for a boundary. |
| 24.6 : K Yadav to A Phehlukwayo, SIX! Up, high and above! Tossed up at a slower pace around off, Phehlukwayo gets down and slog sweeps it over the deep mid-wicket fence for another biggie. Just 9 needed now. 17 from this over and that probably averts the Proteas from being the chokers. |
| 25.1 : Y Chahal to H Klaasen, This one is punched down to long for one. |
| 25.2 : Y Chahal to A Phehlukwayo, SIX! Phehlukwayo looked clueless against the wrist spinners in the previous games and look at him now. Slinks down the track in a flash and hits it straight over the bowler's head for another biggie. Just two less than a boundary required now. |
| 25.3 : Y Chahal to A Phehlukwayo, WIDE! Cleverly bowled. Tossed up at a slower pace, Andile misses his sweep and the ball spins just past the leg stick. Wide given. Harsh call. |
| Y Chahal to A Phehlukwayo, SIX! Phehlukwayo finishes off in style as SOUTH AFRICA AVOID A SERIES DEFEAT TONIGHT! Gets down to this tossed up ball and plays the slog sweep for the umpteenth time. Gets two more than a boundary to end the game. |
| The Pink ODIs remain clean for South Africa! Wonder if color of the jersey changes things to this extent. When in their traditional green and yellow, the Proteas seemed like mere mortals who were out to get worked away by spin. But tonight, it was the South African side that oppositions feared. The one that made the others run for their money. The one that has managed to hang in in the series. |
| India would be wondering what hit them. Whether it was the thunderstorm that struck them or was Killer Miller the destroyer? Of course, a cat is said to have seven lives while David Miller got two tonight. And boy, he made the opposition pay for that. Till the time he was dropped first by Shreyas Iyer and then clean bowled by Yuzvendra Chahal, only for the bowler to have overstepped, he failed to be comfortable. But post that, he seemed an altogether different monster. The lusty strikes off his |
| Miller was ably supported by the 2-match old Heinrich Klaasen. The duo strung together a 72-run stand and took the game away from the visitors. If India would have expected a respite from the newcomer, they didn't get one. This was after Hashim Amla and Aiden Markram gave a good 43-run base. After they departed, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy couldn't contribute much. They were the prime danger for the opponents. If people doubted the ability of Andile Phehlukwayo with the bat, he washed his hands |
| Where did India lose the game? Bowling, no doubt. All the arguments about the rain-break proving beneficial to the opposite team can be kept aside for the time being. Bowling no balls and dropping catches aren't associated with the weather. The away team was guilty on that count and hence paid the price. One question remains unanswered though - why wasn't Bhuvneshwar Kumar used post resumption even though the spinners were getting carted all over? Yes, the men who picked up most wickets in the p |
| Time for presentation. Shaun Pollock is out there and he informs us that today's game, the Pink ODI has raised more funds than the last one played. VIRAT KOHLI, the losing captain, is called up first. He says that after the rain interval, the gap between the runs and balls remaining was about 30, which was slightly in favour of South Africa. Admits that his side didn't grab their chances and also to bowling no ball being as criminal. States that the wicket became faster as the evening progressed |
| HEINRICH KLAASEN, the Player of the Match, says this is his best game of the career. Admits to feeling very nervous, even though he has done such things in the domestic circuit. About playing the innovative shots, he frankly admits to trying them and they coming off tonight. |
| Finally, Aiden Markram comes to the podium with a big smile. The victorious skipper feels relieved to have gotten over the line after having some tough games over the week. Reckons the rain interval being a blessing in disguise as that helped things for them. Says that they were confident of chasing 291 at the halfway stage in the game. States that they had looked to put fear aside and turn up confidently. Adds that it is important to not put more pressure from the inside in a sport which alread |
| Four games done and the scoreline reads 3-1 in the tourists' favour. The short-form game favoured the hosts and they came out triumphs. Is this the change that the South Africans needed? Can they build on this and inflict more defeats on India? We'll find out as the next game in Port Elizabeth gets underway at 1300 local time (1100 GMT) on one day before Valentine's Day this year. Would love to have your company for that game as well. Adios, take care till then! |
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