Sanju Samson’s historic maiden ODI century, marking his first in international cricket, played a pivotal role in India’s impressive 78-run triumph over South Africa in the decisive match in Paarl. This exceptional performance not only secured the victory in the match but also led India to clinch the ODI series with a final scoreline of 2-1, highlighting the significance of Samson’s remarkable achievement in the team’s success.
India, having been put into bat, amassed a formidable total of 296/8, marking their second-highest score against South Africa on these grounds. Despite the challenging conditions with assistance for both pacers and spinners on the tricky surface, South Africa found the target insurmountable. India’s all-round bowling performance played a crucial role in securing success in the face of the opposition’s batting efforts.
The target seemed challenging for India as they stood at 132/3 after 30 overs. However, a remarkable turnaround occurred, with 141 runs being scored in the last 14 overs. Rinku Singh’s swift contribution of 38 off 27 played a significant role in this late surge. The core of the innings, however, was defined by the outstanding 116-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, with Varma being the second-highest run-scorer in the innings. This partnership not only stabilized the innings but also propelled India to a formidable total on the scoreboard.
Despite the dismissals of Tilak Varma after reaching his fifty and Sanju Samson after his century, the duo played a pivotal role in ensuring India posted a competitive total. Keshav Maharaj emerged as the standout bowler for the hosts, delivering an impressive performance with figures of 10-2-37-1. A noteworthy contribution also came from Aiden Markram, who bowled his five overs for 1-37, while Beuran Hendricks concluded the innings with three wickets to his name. Their combined efforts contributed significantly to South Africa’s bowling performance in restricting India’s innings.
South Africa’s chase began on a strong note, courtesy of the 59-run partnership between Reeza Henricks and Tony de Zorzi. The breakthrough came when Arshdeep Singh delivered an exceptional delivery to dismiss Reeza, ending the partnership. Axar Patel further bolstered India’s position by dismissing Rassie van der Dussen. Aiden Markram and de Zorzi then forged a steady 65-run partnership, providing hope for South Africa. However, a series of wickets followed, with Markram’s dismissal, triggered by an ill-advised reverse-sweep against Washington Sundar, opening the door for India. The match hung in the balance as de Zorzi and the upcoming batsmen faced the challenge of the Indian bowling attack.
Following the breakthroughs, the pacers took full advantage. Arshdeep Singh trapped South Africa’s top-scorer and in-form batsman de Zorzi in front, Avesh Khan outsmarted Heinrich Klaasen with a well-executed legcutter, and Mukhesh Kumar had David Miller edging behind. With the dismissal of these key players, including the top contributors to South Africa’s innings, it became only a matter of time before India could seal the victory. The pacers’ effectiveness in dismantling the opposition’s batting order played a crucial role in India’s success in the match.
In a remarkable bowling performance, Washington Sundar concluded with figures of 2-38, Axar Patel contributed with 1-48, and Arshdeep Singh was the standout performer with 4-30. Their combined efforts played a pivotal role as India successfully bowled South Africa out for 218. This victory marked a memorable return to the ODI format for India, offering a positive note after the heartbreak experienced in the World Cup. The bowlers’ effectiveness showcased their skill and determination in securing a comprehensive win for the team.
Match Summary: India 296/8 in 50 overs (Samson 108, Tilak 52; Henricks 3-63) beat South Africa 218 in 45.4 overs (de Zorzi 81; Arshdeep 4-30) by 78 runs.
