Following story was filed soon after the start of 3rd ODI
Shattered by back-to-back injuries, South Africa opted to bowl first in the third One Day International (ODI) at Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday, wherein the Host enjoy the winning percentage of 84.84.
Indian third ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni (Wicket Keeper), Kedar Jadav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal
South Africa third ODI Squad: Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram (Captain) JP Duminy, Khaya Zondo, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Heinrich Klaasen (Wicke Keeper), Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir
While bowling first, South Africa didn’t have a bad start as they picked up the early wicket of Rohit Sharma, and curtailed India to 27 runs for 1 in 7 overs.
Following a Test series win 2-1, South Africa failed to make further impact yet and lost both the first two ODIs against India at Durban and Centurion. In addition, though the star batsman AB de Villiers had already been ruled for first three ODIs but then the Captain Faf du Plessis and Wicket Keeper Opening Batsman Quinton de Kock also suffered injuries, resulting their ouster from the entire series.
Not only the nine-wicket loss at Centurion on February 4 brought South Africa on the verge of its first ever series defeat at the hands of India on its soil but the Host also lost the first position in ICC ODI Rankings.
If India bag another victory today, they will register their first ever bilateral series triumph in South Africa. It would also be India’s first series win against South Africa after February 2010 when India beat visiting South Africa for the last time in a three-match ODI series 2-1 at Home.
Though suffering injury issues, South Africa must bounce back in third ODI to keep the six-match series exciting. Historically, Newlands has been lucky for South Africa as they played 33 matches at the venue, and won 28.
