Sanju Samson (108) and Arshdeep Singh (4/30) combined to power India to a 78-run win over South Africa in the third and final ODI in Boland Park, Paarl. With this victory, India sealed the series 2-1.
India’s total of 296 was built around Samson’s hundred, alongside useful contributions from Tilak Varma (52) and Rinku Singh (38). Samson came out to bat at the fall of Rajat Patidar, who had composed a quick-fire 22 on his ODI debut. By the end of the 20th over, India had lost three wickets. At that juncture, Tilak and Samson joined forces to string together a game-breaking stand of 116.
Tilak had his share of problems while adjusting to the slow nature of the wicket. In fact, at one point of time, he was on just eight off 35 deliveries. It was somewhere in the 33rd over that Tilak broke the shackles by lofting Aiden Markram into the downtown territories.
After a few narrow escapes, the duo pressed the accelerator in the slog overs. Samson, in particular, hit top gear. In the 38th over, he signalled his intent by going inside-out against Keshav Maharaj. He then swatted Lizaad Williams over deep mid-wicket. Even a stiff breeze couldn’t stop the elegant right-hander from clearing the boundary on that occasion. Nandre Burger also was pulled, with a touch of swagger in the 41st over.
Despite losing Tilak at the other end, Samson continued to play with freedom. Soon, in the 44th over, he reached the coveted three-figure mark. Eventually, he fell to Williams. Rinku provided the finishing touches by landing a couple of meaty blows off Burger. Even Arshdeep had some fun with the bat, tonking Beuran Hendricks into the stands.
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South Africa did have a solid start as Reeza Hendricks and the young Tony de Zorzi strung together a partnership of 59 for the opening wicket. Arshdeep, however, got one to slant away from Hendricks to find the edge. Rassie van der Dussen, batting at No.3, didn’t last long.
Zorzi and Markram then propped up the innings with an alliance of 65. Zorzi had his share of close shaves but invariably made the most of any loose ball on offer. The turning point of the game came when Markram tried to play a reverse-sweep off Washington Sundar, but could only edge it to the ’keeper.
Arshdeep followed it up by generating swing with the old ball to bag the crucial scalp of Zorzi. To make matters worse for South Africa, Sai Sudharsan pouched a brilliant catch to remove the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen. When KL Rahul too grabbed an excellent catch to send David Miller back to the hut, India had more or less sealed the game. Avesh Khan completed the formalities by dislodging Hendricks.