5 Reasons why South Africa triumphed India in the 3rd ODI

5 Reasons why South Africa triumphed India in the 3^rd ODI: In what was expected to be a batsmen’s slugfest, it turned out to be a match of quite a contrary. In a battle of strategies, South Africa outclassed India by 18 runs. While Quinton de Kock and Faf Du Plessis were the stars for South Africa with the bat, it was stupendous bowling efforts from the bowlers which sealed the match, and gave South Africa a 2-1 lead in the 5-match series.

In a sort of reversal of the 2^nd ODI, South Africa edged India at critical points which were eventually decisive as far as the final result is concerned. Here are the reasons.

1. Toss:

Though the toss is an entirely unpredictable variable and cannot be considered as a factor for a team’s victory, it can be somewhat concluded that batting on the surface which was a dream surface for batsmen did give a slight advantage to the South Africans. And with no dew while bowling, the South African bowlers did not face trouble in varying their line and lengths either. Thus winning the toss, despite the pitch behaving evenly, gave South Africa a slight edge.

2. Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and the middle overs:

South Africa started strongly, but the Indians pulled back with quick wickets of Miller and Amla. At 87-2, SA were in a slightly precautious situation. But then came in Faf du Plessis. In an exhibition of some clean hitting and quick running between the wickets, the pair contributed 118 runs in just above 20 overs. Despite a couple of reprieves Faf got, this partnership, considering the situation the batsmen were in the final overs, was crucial for South Africa posting 270.

3. Bahardien’s gritty knock:

A 36 ball 33, that too coming off by batting in the last 10 overs, might not seem impressive off the paper. But considering the fact that a mini collapse left SA reeling at 210/5, Farhaan’s knock took South Africa to 270 despite batting with the lower order. Bahardien’s gritty knock, despite devoid of huge hits over the park, was a crucial knock considering the circumstances.

4. Keeping it tight in the middle:

Despite not having taken up any opening wickets other than Shikhar Dhawan, South Africa kept it really tight in the middle overs. After Rohit Sharma literally gifted his wicket, that too to a part-timer Duminy, things were still looking in India’s favor and, with Dhoni coming to the crease, it looked like Kohli and Dhoni will take India over the line. But some really tight bowling, from none other than Kagiso Rabada, along with the likes of Tahir and Duminy, kept the run rate ticking up. And the fact that Kohli and Dhoni literally couldn’t score a single boundary for 10 overs, shows their stingy bowling. The run-rate once it crept past 6 RPO, and never came down.

5. Morkel seals the deal:

With about 112 needed from 16 overs, the run-rate was just about 7, which was gettable at that stage. Morne Morkel, who bowled a good first spell of 4 overs for 10 runs, came back to tighten the screws around the Indian batsmen. The run-rate crept above 9, and things were getting harder and harder for the batsmen. Just when Kohli started to look dangerous, Morkel not only bagged the prized wicket, but on the immediate next ball picked up Rahane’s wicket, and literally sealed India’s fate. Considering the batting conditions, it was really a gem of a bowling performance by the lanky bowler.