India vs South Africa 4th ODI: South Africa win by 5 wickets (D/L), Virat Kohli to Wait for Series Win
With this defeat, the series scoreline reads 3-1 in favour of India. The two sides will next play the fifth match at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth on February 13.
Johannesburg, February 11: The combination of AB de Villiers and Pink Day worked once again in favour of South Africa as they stop the Indian juggernaut. Proteas defeated India by 5 wickets (D/L method) in the rain-marred fourth one-day internationals (ODIs) at the Wanderers Stadium. Heinrich Klaasen, the stand-in wicketkeeper for South Africa with good contributions from David Miller, De Villiers and Andile Phehlukwayo saw the home side maintain their unbeaten record in Pink ODIs. Their first win of the series also keeps their chances alive as Virat Kohli and Co. will have to wait for the historic bilateral series win in South Africa. It was the first victory for Aiden Markram as a captain and a sweet one. The cricket score is here at India vs South Africa scoreboard.
Opting to bat, India put up 289 for seven in the stipulated 50 overs. However, while chasing a revised target of 202 in 28 overs was set for South Africa after a second rain interruption. The home side enjoying a strong crowd support completed the job in 25.3 overs. Klaasen who hammered unbeaten 43 off 27 in pressure cooker situation was adjudged man of the match. He kept his calm in the nerve-wracking situation hitting five fours and one long six. Shikhar Dhawan is First Indian to Score Hundred in 100th ODI, Twitterati Hail Gabbar of Indian Cricket.
Klaasen found good company in form of Miller who should thank his stars for getting two chances – once when Shreyas Iyer dropped a sitter and when he bowled on a no-ball delivery by Yuzvendra Chahal. It proved crucial in the end as the left-handed batsman found form at the right time to blast 39 runs off 28 deliveries. The happy crowd also got to see a cameo by Phehlukwayo who hit three giant sixes in his 5-ball 23-run innings.
The biggest turnaround in South African fate or should we say approach was seen because of one person – AB de Villiers. The flamboyant batsman who has been missing in action for the first three games returned in Johannesburg one-dayer and immediately got down to work. De Villiers showcased true masterclass as he took the attack back to opponent’s camp in his 26-run off 18 deliveries innings. The stylish cricketer blasted spinners, who have been troubling South African batsmen for long to mark his authority.
Earlier, Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan made a strokeful 109 runs playing his 100th ODI. With his latest ton, he became the first Indian and ninth overall to knock a hundred in 100th ODI. Virat Kohli also continued with his red-hot form making 75 runs before sent back to the pavilion by Chris Morris. He took his total runs in ODI to 9,423 runs, surpassing former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin to become fifth-highest ODI run-scorer for India.
With this defeat, the series scoreline reads 3-1 in favour of India. The two sides will next play the fifth match at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth on February 13. It is to be noted that India is not only chasing the first-ever ODI series win in South Africa but also the No. 1 rank in ICC ODI rankings. With their series win, they displace current top-ranked side, South Africa. The sixth and final one-dayer will take place in SuperSport Park in Centurion.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 11, 2018 02:24 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).