South Africa captain Temba Bavuma did not mince words as he said the hosts were happy to prove their naysayers wrong after hammering India 3-0 in the ODI series. Bavuma’s men held their nerves in a tense thriller in the final ODI in Cape Town on Sunday to complete their first-ever sweep of India in the 50-over format.
When India arrived in South Africa, they were considered favourites for both the Tests and the ODI series. However, after Dean Elgar inspired a brilliant come-back-from behind win for South Africa in the Test series, Bavuma’s men rode on that confidence and put on clinical performances in the ODI series.
South Africa vs India, 3rd ODI: Report | Highlights
After the departures of the likes of AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Hashim Amla and the absence of Faf du Plessis, South Africa are in a period of transition but the win over India in the ODI and Test series should give them a lot of confidence.
“Very satisfying, mission accomplished for us. Many people didn’t give us much of a chance. Hope through our performances, we’ve been able to get a couple of supporters. Making good strides as a team. Challenge is to get better and better,” Temba Bavuma said.
“This was a big challenge, a big obstacle in our journey. To come out the way we did – winning Tests, winning ODIs convincingly will do a world of good. What pleased me most – if you look at the Test series, feel like it’s the hardest series I’ve been part of. Indian bowlers asking questions regularly.
“Even in the field the intensity. Physically we’ve been challenged – it’s been very hot the last couple of weeks. These conditions weren’t exactly South African like – more like the subcontinent.”
Temba’s captaincy shone through throughout the ODI series and the skipper conceded that they got a bit complacent after getting quick wickets in middle overs in the final ODI while defending 288.
Deepak Chahar scored a fine 54 from 33 balls to get India close, but they lost their last three wickets for the addition of five runs as the home side bundled out the lower order.
De Kock’s 17th ODI century boosted South Africa’s total, his 124 coming from 130 balls and he added 134 for the fourth wicket with Rassie van der Dussen who made a solid 52 from 59 balls.
David Miller weighted in with 39 at the end of the innings, but South Africa may have felt they were 30 runs short having been 214 for three in the 36th over. Prasidh Krishna was the pick of the visiting attack with 3-59.
India were on course in their chase when they reached 116 for one in the 23rd over, but two quick wickets proved a massive setback.
Shikhar Dhawan (61) skied a pull shot to wicketkeeper De Kock off seamer Andile Phehlukwayo (2-38), and off his first ball the dangerous Rishabh Pant tried to launch the same bowler for six but was caught at deep cover.
It was poor shot selection from Pant, not for the first time on the tour.
When former captain Virat Kohli (65) departed, only the lively 54 from Chahar got India within touching distance.