Centurion: Yuzvendra Chahal’s (5/22) maiden five-wicket haul, supported by Kuldeep Yadav (3/20) chinaman bowling helped India thrash hosts South Africa in the second ODI by nine wickets, in Centurion on Sunday.
Courtesy this win, they now have taken a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
If their performance in Durban was just an indicator of things to come, then their bowling in Centurion clearly showed why India is such a strong side in ODI cricket. Some quality dominant bowling by Chahal and Kuldeep helped India ease their way to a win with 177 balls to spare, their largest victory margin in terms of ball remaining against the Proteas in South Africa.
Winning the toss, India opted to field and the decision paid off with Bhuvneshwar Kumar sending back Hashim Amla for just 23 runs with 39 runs on the board. Chahal got into the act few overs later as he dismissed wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock (20) to leave the hosts at 51/2.
Yet, perhaps no one present at the ground would have thought that this would be the beginning of a dramatic collapse as in no time, the hosts were tottering at 99/5 at the 27-over mark. None in the Proteas batting line-up stood up and batted with responsibility, after their loss in Durban, a tough fightback was expected. Barring the veteran JP Duminy (25), debutant Khaya Zondo (25) Hashim Amla (23) and Quinton de Kock (20), no one could make any significant contribution.
Instead, they started losing wickets at regular intervals and eventually got bowled out for just 118 runs, the lowest by South Africa at home. From being in a good position at 51/2, the hosts lost their last eight wickets for just 67 runs, which goes to show how dominant the Indian bowlers have been.
Needing 119 to win, India cruised to the total, with nine wickets remaining. Shikhar Dhawan, who had looked in good touch in Durban in the first ODI made the most of his form and slammed an unbeaten fifty while the quintessential Virat Kohli once again displayed his class in an unbeaten 50-ball 46-run knock.
Brief scores-
India 119/1 in 20.3 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 51*, Virat Kohli 46*; Kagiso Rabada 1/24) beat South Africa 118 all out in 32.2 overs (JP Duminy 25, Khaya Zondo 25; Yuzvendra Chahal 5/22) by 9 nine wickets