South Africa vs India, 3rd ODI – Who Said What

There are matches you have a lot to talk about and then there are games that just slip by in favour of one team. If South Africa dominated proceedings in the first two Tests, India have been in complete control since. The third ODI in Cape Town was a similar story – Indian batsmen got the runs, South Africa started off fine, as soon as the wristies got into action they were out of waters.

Aiden Markram asked India to bat first and though Kagiso Rabada got rid of Rohit Sharma pretty early their problems just got worse. Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan had a brilliant partnership to defy them any further success. While Dhawan got another half century Kohli converted it into a hundred and a big one. At the end of the 50 overs he was unbeaten on 160 and India posted 302/6.

In their response, South Africa were just ordinary. Hashim Amla was dismissed cheap and though Markram and JP Duminy got together a stand in the middle once mandatory power-plays ended, the wrist spinners were in the attack and just ripped through the Proteas. They shared 8 wickets in 18 overs and spent just 65 runs. South Africa lost the match by 124 runs and now trail the series 3-0.

Indian captain Virat Kohli was awarded the Man of the Match for his magnificent knock:

Well, did not start off that well (talking about the tour). I knew I had to come in and get stuck in for us to give ourselves a good chance. I take that kind of mentality into every game. Another pleasing day, individually and as a team as well. I think the pitch started with good pace and bounce.

After the 30-over mark it was a drastic change. We immediately cut down our target from 320-330 to 280-290 and ended up with 300-plus. The wicket got slower with the old ball. You had to get adjusted to the pace of the wicket. It got slower as the game progressed. If you lead from the front, it feels even better. Another outstanding partnership with Shikhar. He played outstandingly well. Few runs with MS and a good partnership with Bhuvi in the end helped us.

I was struggling a bit while on 95 but I knew I had to carry on and pull the team out. These are times when you are tested and it is pleasing to go through it and do well. This wicket was not supposed to help the wrist spinners. These two got the maximum out of it. These two back themselves. Today it was outstanding from them as they picked 8 wickets between them. We wanted to bat first and change things a bit. I think our intensity should be more than the previous games (for the next game). We would try and close the door on them. Having an opportunity, we would take the confidence into the fourth game.

Aiden Markram said:

Everything is disappointing about this. Yet again not up to the mark. we’ve got ourselves to blame, have to try harder. I felt when we’re in the field we were in. We managed to claw our way back and restrict them to 303 which I thought was chaseable. Unfortunately, we didn’t take it deep enough and you don’t win a match like that.

We’ve come across them (wrist spinners) and after all that time if we’re still struggling to pick them, it speaks of their quality. It’s a bit about that and about confidence as well. I’d love it! I think that would spur the guys on (Talking about AB de Villiers’ comeback in the next ODI).