Centurion, Feb 4: Team India registered yet another emphatic win as they crushed South Africa by 9 wickets with 177 balls to spare in the second one-day international game and took a 2-0 lead in the Momentum series here on Sunday (February 4).
Chasing a paltry target of 119 to win, India batters overhauled the total in 20.3 overs with nine wickets in hand. Shikhar Dhawan remained unbeaten at 51 while skipper Virat Kohli made a fluent 46 and hit the winning runs for his side.
Rohit Sharma was the only wicket that the visitors lost in pursuit of 119. The right-handed batsman threw away his wicket before adding 15 runs to his tally and giving his side a decent start.
Chahal's figures in last 6 matches for India:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) February 4, 2018
ODIs v SL: 3/60 & 3/46
T20Is v SL: 4/23 & 4/52
ODIs v SA: 2/45 & 5/22
21 wickets in 6 matches. #SAvInd
This is India's biggest ever win (177 balls to spare) against a Test-playing side outside India. Virat Kohli and his boys also handed South Africa, their biggest ever defeat at home (in terms of balls to spare).
India's tour of South Africa 2018, the results so far: L L W W W#SAvInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 4, 2018
The match had its share of an awkward moment when the umpires called for the lunch break when India needed just two more runs to win. The visitors had scored 116/1 from 19 overs when the on-field umpires opted to take the break, which many felt could have been avoided for one more over.
This is the only 2nd time India have managed to win successive ODI games against the home side in South Africa, since winning their ODI games @ Jo'burg and Cape Town in January 2011.#SAvInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 4, 2018
Earlier, young wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal wreaked havoc along with his spin-twin Kuldeep Yadav as the dominant visitors bundled the hosts out for a mere 118 in 32.2 overs.
Chahal produced his finest figures (5/22) in the ODI format and completed his maiden five-for and the visitors restricted Proteas to their lowest ODI total at home. South Africa's previous lowest ODI total was 119 against England at Port Elizabeth.
Chahal banayega South Africa mein Mahal. Waah, what a wonderful spell. 5 for by a spinner.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 4, 2018
#SAvsIND
The wrist spinner was named the man of the match for producing second best bowling figures by an Indian on South African soil after Ashish Nehra's (6/23).
This has been a powerful, dominating performance from India. Four quality bowlers, each different, makes it a top bowling line-up.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 4, 2018
Chahal's spin partner Kuldeep was equally lethal from the other end as the two spun a spin web as entire South Africa battling line-up came out cracking. The Chinaman returned with figures of 3/20 from his six overs.
Together they (Chahal and Kuldeep) shared 8 wickets amongst them from 14.2 overs and proved too hot for the hosts to handle. The remaining two wickets were picked up by India's strike pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.
SA batsmen mesmerised by Chahal and Yadav. Spin pair going from strength to strength. Winning this match should be a formality for India
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 4, 2018
Earlier, India skipper won the toss and elected to chase against a vulnerable looking South African side. An inexperienced Protea side succumbed under pressure no sooner than the spinners were introduced and exposed their vulnerability.
The new ball bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah started things pretty well for the visitors as they kept things tight for the Protea openers in the first powerplay. They hardly gave an opportunity to the batters as both Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock couldn't free their arms.
It was in the final over of the first powerplay when Bhuvneshwar Kumar got Amla caught behind the stumps for 23 and gave the hosts their first jolt. Amla also went upstairs to review the umpire's decision and wasted the DRS.
Once skipper Kohli introduced his spinners the floodgates were once again opened for the Proteas as they struggled against quality wrist spin of Chahal and Yadav.
De Kock's poor form with the bat continued as he was dismissed by Chahal for the second consecutive occasion. The left-handed batsman scored just 20 before he was caught by Hardik Pandya. The scoreboard read 51 when de Kock departed and it remained the same when the hosts lost two more wickets. Markram (8) and David Miller (0) were the other two wickets to perish without adding any runs on the board.
Barring JP Duminy (25) and Khaya Zondo (25) no other batsman in the middle-order could manage to pose any challenge to the Indians as they crumbled in front of a quality spin attack. Zondo and Duminy together put up a partnership of 48 runs for the fifth wicket and took the hosts to 99/4 from 51/4.
The wickets once again started falling in patches when Zondo was removed by Chahal in the 27th over. The remaining five wickets fell in a gap of 19 runs and the entire South African side was folded for 118.
Kagiso Rabada (1), Morne Morkel (1) and Imran Tahir (0) were the rest of the wickets to perish after Duminy departed for 25 at 107/6.
It was another good toss to win from the Indian skipper as he decided to chase and come out with the same side that came out victorious in the opening ODI.
South Africa, meanwhile, made a couple of changes to their side as their regular skipper Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the series and young Aiden Markram led the side for the first time.
Here's the Playing XI for #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/jUz7t4u0BP
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 4, 2018
Khaya Zondo was included in the side in place of du Plessis and left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi replaced Andile Phehlukwayo.