South Africa kept themselves alive in the six-match series after securing a thrilling five-wicket win over India in the fourth ODI at the Wanderers.
The hosts did well to pull things back and restrict India to 289-7 in the PinkDay ODI before getting over the line with a revised target of 202 in 28 overs due to a rain delay.
Here, we look at the things learned as India’s dream of capturing a maiden series win in South Africa was put on hold momentarily in Johannesburg.
THE GOOD
DHAWAN’S 100 IN 100TH
Playing in his 100th ODI for India, Shikhar Dhawan made it an occasion to remember as he slammed his 13th century in style. The left-handed opener did not have it all his own way as he was beaten multiple times by South Africa’s bowlers through the course of his innings, narrowly escaping playing onto his stumps on two instances.
However, he ploughed on and when chances presented themselves, he grabbed them with some emphatic pulls and flicks to the on-side. The 32-year-old brought up the second consecutive century stand of over 100 runs with skipper Virat Kohli as he became the first Indian batsman to score a century on his 100th appearance, and ninth overall.
Dhawan’s 4,309 runs make him the second-highest run-getter after 100 ODIs in international cricket, behind only Hashim Amla’s tally of 4,808.
Ton-up for Shikhar Dhawan in his 100th match.
HEINRICH KLASSEN’S CREATIVITY IS KEY
The wicket-keeper batsman only got his chance due to an injury to Quinton de Kock but he made it count with a cameo as entertaining as they come. Throughout the series, India’s wrist-spinners have been on top of the Proteas, but Klaasen had come prepared to ruffle their feathers.
The right-hander used sweeps and reverse sweeps to great effect against the spinners on Saturday to put them off their game. For once, the spin-twins were made to doubt themselves and Klaasen, along with David Miller, inflicted maximum punishment to pull South Africa ahead after India had dominated for much of the chase.
Terrific counter attack by Miller & Klaasen when the chips were down has tamed India’s dreaded spinners. SA had missed such spiritedness yet
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 10, 2018
THE BAD
YUZVENDRA CHAHAL BLOWS IT BIG TIME
It was all going well for India’s wrist-spinners at the start when Kuldeep Yadav came on. The youngster picked up two wickets in an economical first-spell to put India on top. So when Yuzvendra Chahal castled Miller in his first over, it looked like the spinners would run away with the game once again.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Chahal was found to have overstepped his mark and Miller had to be called back, all the way from the pavilion. From there, things went from bad to worse for Chahal and Kuldeep as the batsmen made hay. The former subsequently overstepped once more and was hit for a huge six off the free hit.
He finished with figures of 1-68 from his five-and-a-half overs to cap off a miserable night.
What is Chahal bowling?
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) February 10, 2018
ROHIT SHARMA’S WRETCHED TOUR CONTINUES
It is simply not happening for Rohit Sharma. The opening batsman had a poor Test series where he accumulated only 78 runs in four innings and has carried that form over to the limited-overs clashes with three poor outings in the opening three ODIs.
He did not fare any better on Saturday as he fell for just five runs as Kagiso Rabada inflicted a brilliant caught and bowled. This is now the sixth instance in eight innings that Rohit has succumbed to the young pacer.
With this, Rohit has now scored only 40 runs in the four ODIs with a high score of 20, underlining a series to forget so far for Kohli’s deputy.
Sharma slump: No change in fortunes for Rohit (l) yet.
