India raced to a 2-0 lead in the six-match series after a thumping nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the second ODI at Centurion.
Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan made short work of the 119-run target as India won with 29 overs to spare.
Here are the key talking points of the clash.
SOUTH AFRICA CRUMBLE TO LOWEST TOTAL AT HOME
Although they have registered six totals lower than 118 on tour, the score is the lowest the Proteas have posted in one day internationals at home.
Previously, the lowest ODI total South Africa had recorded at home was 119 which came at Port Elizabeth against England towards the end of 2009.
It is also their lowest score against India with their previous worst against the Men In Blue being 117 which came at Nairobi in Kenya during 1999.
It definitely wasn’t the best of starts to Aiden Markram’s captaincy, and on his home ground to boot. It was in fact the lowest total posted by any side at Centurion, one run worse than the 119 Zimbabwe managed in a defeat during 2009.
South Africa hit a new low at home.
QUINTON DE KOCK IS HAVING A HORRID 2018
So far, 2018 has not been kind to South Africa’s dashing wicketkeeper-batsman who has yet to register a fifty across all formats. He had a miserable run during the three-match Test series where he scored a combined total of 71 in six innings.
At Centurion, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar exposed how horribly out of touch the 25-year-old currently is with the bat. He looked uncomfortable from the very first delivery he faced as he endured an uncomfortable time at the crease courtesy of India’s pacers.
He scratched his way to an unconvincing 20-run knock before being caught at deep mid-wicket while attempting to smash a rank long-hop from Yuzvendra Chahal. An in-form de Kock would have deposited that poor delivery a few rows into the stands.
de Kock was made to hop,, skip and jump by India’s bowlers.
PROTEAS UNABLE TO HANDLE INDIA’S WRIST SPIN TWINS AGAIN
The difference between the two sides in the first ODI had been the performance of India’s wrist-spinners Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav who picked up five wickets between them.
They caused even more destruction on Sunday as they completely decimated South Africa’s batting order, picking up a combined tally of eight wickets. It was Chahal who was the chief architect of India’s win with his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.
Chahal and Kuldeep both extracted some big turn and grip from the Centurion track as they had the South African batsmen in their cross hairs. Their willingness to toss the ball up once again was refreshing to see and it paid huge dividends as the hosts were unable to handle their wrist-spin.
Chahal picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.
SOUTH AFRICA’S BATTING CUPBOARD LIES BARE WITHOUT DU PLESSIS AND DE VILLIERS
As Chahal and Kuldeep sent South Africa’s batsmen packing one after the other, it exposed their palpable vulnerability to spin. That South Africa’s best player of spin, Hashim Amla, has been dismissed in both ODIs so far before the spinners have even come into the bowling attack is telling.
Without the presence of AB De Villiers and Faf du Plessis, both excellent players of spin, South Africa’s batting card does not inspire much confidence at the moment.
Markram was playing in only his third ODI while Zondo was just making his debut. As such, a lot of the responsibility of leading South Africa’s batting order lies with Amla, David Miller and JP Duminy. If the experienced trio do not fire soon, it could be a long six-match series for the hosts.
Too much responsibility lies on Amla’s shoulders.
