Calcutta: Marco Jansen cleaned Sanju Samson up for the second time on the trot. But then this time, India didn’t bungle with the bat and led by centurion Tilak Varma (107 not out off 56 balls), prevailed over South Africa by 11 runs in the third ODI in Centurion
on Wednesday, taking an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the four-match series.
Thanks to Tilak’s unbeaten ton and his explosive 107-run second-wicket partnership with Abhishek Sharma (50 off 25 balls) — coming off only 8.1 overs — India posted a formidable total of 219/6 at the SuperSport Park.
The Proteas needed to make optimum use of the Powerplay to chase down the imposing target. But the pitch appeared a bit two-paced with the odd ball keeping low. Alongside pacer Arshdeep Singh (3/37), who was the pick of the Indian bowlers, spinners Varun Chakravarthy (2/54), Axar Patel (1/29) and Ravi Bishnoi (0/33) made use of that as the hosts could only manage 208/7. That, despite Heinrich Klaasen’s 41 of 22 balls and Jansen’s late assault (54 off 17 balls).
Axar’s brilliant jump at the deep to pouch Klaasen off Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep removing Jansen in the final over were key to India’s win.
The Proteas, though, were extremely indisciplined with their bowling and ground fielding. They gave away 19 extras, of which 10 were wides and three no-balls.
Earlier, Samson was undone on just the second ball of the game after South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl. But the left-handed duo of Abhishek and Varma were undaunted, with the latter — batting ahead of captain Suryakumar Yadav — chancing his arms to perfection against left-arm quick Jansen in the first over itself.
Abhishek and Varma simply dealt in fours and sixes on both sides of the ground, laying the platform for India’s 200-plus total. If not for Keshav Maharaj (2/36), India certainly had a great chance of getting closer to the 250 mark.
Maharaj first had Abhishek stumped with a wider delivery before trapping
Pandya lbw. In between, Surya perished at the deep off
Andile Simelane as his lean patch continued.
India had slipped to 132/4 in the 13th over, but 22-year-old Varma initially focused on keeping the scoreboard ticking before taking on Maharaj as well for a six and back-to-back boundaries, getting closer to a much-deserving maiden international hundred.
Man of the Match Varma reached three figures
with a crunching drive off Lutho Sipamla.
