New Delhi: South Africa put up a thoroughly impressive all-round performance to defeat team India by just 4 runs in the nail-biting third and final ODI of the three-match series at the Newlands Cricket Ground on Sunday. Team India's new ODI era under stand-in skipper KL Rahul got off to a horrible start as Proteas clean swept the Men in Blue 3-0.
Chasing a tough 289-run target, Deepak Chahar's fiery cameo (54 runs off 34 balls) in the death overs pushed India to the doorstep of a memorable win but unfortunately the all-rounder failed to get his team over the line. With this, KL Rahul has also become the first-ever Indian skipper to lose all three first ODIs against any international side. Lungi Ngidi (3 for 58) and Andile Phehlukwayo (3 for 40) starred with the ball for Proteas.
Earlier, team India won the toss and invited the hosts to bat first on a tricky pitch. Quinton de Kock (124) and Rassie van der Dussen (52) stitched a solid 144-run partnership for the fourth-wicket to put a mammoth 288-run target against the visitors.
After dealing with some early blows, the hosts were in desperate need of a partnership to bring some stability to their innings. De Kock and Dussen then steadied South Africa's sinking ship by getting a century stand to put their team on top and momentum in their favour.
Young Prasidha Krishna was the pick of bowlers for team India as he ended up picking three wickets in his spell.
RSA playing XI: Janneman Malan, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Dwaine Pretorius
IND playing XI: KL Rahul (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal