Taking a tumble at the final hurdle
Despite Rohit’s brilliant 150, India fail to cross the line; de Villiers leads from the front for South Africa
India fell agonisingly short, depriving Rohit Sharma of the reward his imperious century deserved on Sunday. The brilliance of South Africa skipper AB de Villiers had left India chasing a record total at the Green Park ground, and Sharma almost anchored the hosts home. In the end, they fell short by five runs, handing the visitors a huge boost in the five-match ODI series.
India were left to get 11 runs in the last over, with MS Dhoni, one of the game’s best finishers, facing inexperienced paceman Kagiso Rabada. The youngster held his nerve to remove the misfiring India skipper, two wickets in the final over vindicating de Villiers’ confidence in Rabada.
India were aware they didn’t have anyone to play the de Villiers kind of role down the order. So, Shikhar Dhawan took it upon himself to pull, hook and cut. Rohit played a steady hand at the other end, displaying his touch. Dhawan was trapped in front playing across the line against Morne Morkel. But Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, sent at No 3 ahead of Kohli, played exquisite shots, posting 149 runs for the second wicket to keep the target in sight.
GREAT TEMPERAMENT
For Rohit Sharma, there were two phases when he paused --- in the 90s and soon after Rahane (60) fell. The situation tested Sharma’s patience, but he fought against his impulse. His reading of the run rate was near perfect. Sharma almost saw it through until Imran Tahir undid the chase in the 47th over. He checked his shot to give a return catch and new batsman Suresh Raina fell immediately after that. Dhoni turned the last three overs into a running competition with the fielders. But he couldn’t produce his release shots.
The pitch lacked the hardness that facilitates good carry and bounce. It afforded even bounce but the majority of deliveries didn’t rise above knee level. South Africa got a hang of the pitch and decided not to take undue risks. Dhoni too played his cards well. He brought in Ashwin when Quinton de Kock looked ominous and he got the outside edge of the left-hander’s bat. Dhoni took Ashwin out of the attack to preserve his best bowler for de Villiers.
In between, Amla and Faf du Plessis were cautious. Amit Mishra shone with two wickets, bowling with control and deceiving the batsmen with looped deliveries and straighter ones. Mishra got a quicker one to crash through Amla’s defence and then got David Miller stumped. Raina too chipped in with seven overs without any sign of assault by the Proteas. Umesh Yadav removed du Plessis.
FREAK INJURY
Dhoni had the match in his grip, and brought back Ashwin when de Villiers arrived. But Ashwin’s freak injury turned things upside down. With India’s most reliable bowler out, de Villiers joyfully picked the singles and scored boundaries without taking much risk.
De Villiers took charge at 200 in 41 overs. Within a few overs, things started to go wrong for India. The batsman chose Stuart Binny for special treatment, the all-rounder going for 21 runs in an over.
De Villiers’ assault on Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar only confirmed Dhoni’s fears about India’s death over bowling. The South Africa skipper lofted Yadav’s last ball of the innings for six to complete his century.