Team India thrashed a below-par South Africa side by seven wickets to win the third encounter and clinch the ODI series by 2-1. 

South Africa’s innings never really took off as they were bundled out for 99, courtesy of some brilliant bowling by the hosts. Heinrich Klaasen top scored with 34 off 42 to spare his team’s blushes. 

In reply, the Indian batters breached the total within 20 overs, with Shubman Gill missing out on a well-deserved half-century by just one run. 

Team India won the toss and elected to field first. 

While the Shikhar Dhawan-led side went ahead with the same XI that featured in the second ODI, there were a few changes in the South African starting line-up. 

Skipper David Miller, who captained the side for the first time in ODIs, addressed a few health concerns in the visitors’ camp. Tabraiz Shamsi and Temba Bavuma continued to miss out, whereas Keshav Maharaj, Wayne Parnell and Kagiso Rabada were the latest additions to the treatment table. Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Andile Phehlukwayo were named as replacements. 

After a steady start, the hosts got their first breakthrough in the form of Quinton de Kock, who has been in fine form recently. Washington Sundar struck in his second over to provide the perfect start. 

Janneman Malan, who looked in good touch, was the next to depart in the eighth over. Siraj continued his wicket-taking form from Ranchi to give India the second breakthrough. 

Siraj bagged his second wicket with Reeza Hendricks’ departure, who never looked settled in his rusty 21-ball 3 runs innings. 

At the end of the first powerplay, the Proteas’ scorecard read 26/3. The hosts took complete control of the proceedings to pile pressure on the visitors. This was also Team India’s best powerplay bowling post the 50-over World Cup 2019. 

Things did not get better post powerplay for the visitors as there was no significant improvement in the scoring rate and the wickets continued to tumble. This time all-rounder Aiden Markram fell prey to some clever bowling by Shahbaz Ahmed in the 16th over. 

Shortly thereafter, Washington Sundar dismissed David Miller in the 19th over to help his team dominate further. With the skipper’s departure, half of the team was back in the pavilion.

Kuldeep Yadav joined the party after getting a wicket off his first over, getting the better of Andile Phehlukwayo for a run-a-ball 5. 

Heinrich Klaasen, South Africa’s last hope to reach a respectable total, departed for a fighting 42-ball 34. The visitors were left reeling at 93/7 as Shahbaz Ahmed struck his second wicket of the game. 

Indian bowlers were proving to be too good for the visitors as Kuldeep Yadav bagged his second and third wicket of the game to send Bjorn Fortuin and Anrich Nortje packing in the 26th over. 

A miserable batting performance finally came to an end with the wicket of Marco Jansen. With just 99 runs on the board, it was going to be a daunting task for the Proteas’ bowlers to defend this ordinary total. 

Chasing a target of 100 runs, the absence of ace pacer Kagiso Rabada was felt by the visitors as the opening pair of Gill and Dhawan started with attacking intent. However, an unfortunate run out in the seventh over gave the opposition their first breakthrough in the seventh over in the form of Shikhar Dhawan. 

Nonetheless, the hosts crossed the halfway mark by the end of the powerplay phase, cruising towards the total at 5.3 runs per over. 

Ishan Kishan’s wicket in the 11th over off Bjorn Fortuin gave the visitors something to cherish for. 

Shreyas Iyer joined Shubman Gill in the middle and the duo accelerated the innings, taking on the opposition bowlers. 

Lungi Ngidi took the wicket of Shubman Gill, who got dismissed at 49. However, Team India had reached within touching distance of the win with just three runs required.

Shreyas Iyer finished things off with a huge six off Marco Jansen to seal the series for the Men in Blue. 

Brief scores: South Africa 99/10 (Heinrich Klaasen 34, Kuldeep Yadav 4/18) lost to India 105/3 (Shubman Gill 49, Bjorn Fortuin 1/20) by seven wickets 

Team India end the bilateral series with a one-sided win over the Proteas, who find themselves in a serious situation where the chances of their direct qualification for next year’s 50-over world cup diminishing with each passing day. 

Nevertheless, South Africa will now travel to Australia for the T20 World Cup hoping for a change in fortunes, where they will again face India in Group B along with Pakistan, Bangladesh and two more teams, who will reach through qualifying rounds.