Dhoni-led India beat SA again

India made no changes to their playing eleven.

South Africa made a couple of changes to the (Mork)eleven that last played the Indians – Jean-Paul Duminy and Morne made way for Chris Morris and Aaron Phangiso.

On winning the toss, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s skipper, chose to bat.

The first Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 43, and lost a couple of wickets.

Rohit, whose 19-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 21. Twenty-nine balls into the (Shar)match, he was caught by Faf du Plessis. Morris broke the 28-run stand.

Shikhar Dhawan, who faced 15 balls, scored just seven. Eighteen balls later, he was caught by Quinton de Kock. Needless to say, Kagiso Rabada was in seventh heaven.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 11^th and the 40^th over. They scored 187, and lost a wicket.

India scored 50 off 11.4 overs (70 balls). South Africa had conceded a couple of extras at that point.

The third-wicket pair put on 50 off 48 balls. While the contribution of Virat Kohli, the player of the match, to the partnership was 32, Ajinkya Rahane’s contribution to it was 17. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run.

Sixteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had conceded 86 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While Kohli was batting on 39, Rahane was batting on 17.

India scored 100 off 19 overs (114 balls). South Africa had conceded a couple of extras at that point.

Kohli’s half-century – which included a couple of boundaries and as many sixes – came off 51 balls.

The third-wicket pair put on 100 off 102 balls. While Kohli’s contribution to the partnership was 55, Rahane’s contribution to it was 43. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple.

Rahane, whose 53-ball innings included four boundaries, eventually scored 45. A hundred and ten balls after Dhawan’s dismissal, he was caught by de Kock. Dale Steyn broke the 104-run partnership.

India scored 150 off 28.4 overs (172 balls). South Africa had conceded four extras at that point.

Thirty-two overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had conceded 169 for the loss of three wickets at that point. While Kohli was batting on 83, Suresh Raina was batting on eight.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 52 balls. While Kohli’s contribution to the partnership was 31, Raina’s contribution to it was 16. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was five.

India scored 200 off 36.5 overs (221 balls). South Africa had conceded nine extras at that point.

Kohli’s ton – which included four boundaries and three sixes – came off 112 balls.

The third Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 41^st and the 50^th over. They scored 69, and lost five wickets.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 100 off 89 balls. While Kohli’s contribution to the partnership was 53, Raina’s contribution to it was 40. The number of extras they conceded at that point gave South Africa no reason to be in seventh heaven.

India scored 250 off 42.3 overs (255 balls). South Africa had conceded a dozen extras at that point.

Raina’s half-century – which included three boundaries and a six – came off 48 balls.

The southpaw eventually scored 53 off 52 balls. A hundred and twelve balls later, he was caught by A B de Villiers, South Africa’s skipper. Steyn broke the 127-run partnership.

Kohli, whose 140-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries and five sixes, eventually scored 138. Twenty-one balls later, he was caught by de Kock. Rabada broke the 25-run stand.

The sixth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Harbhajan Singh, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was dismissed by Rabada.

Dhoni, whose 16-ball innings included a boundary, scored 15. Eight balls later, he was caught by de Villiers. Steyn broke the run-a-ball stand.

Axar Patel, who faced four balls, scored as many. He was unbeaten.

The eighth-wicket pair didn’t get off the (Ku)mark. Bhuvneshwar, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, Steyn ran him out.

South Africa eventually conceded 16 extras. India scored 299 for the loss of eight wickets off 50 overs. Farhaan Behardien, who bowled three overs, conceded 17. He was wicketless, as were Imran Tahir and Phangiso, who bowled nine overs apiece. While the former conceded 58, the latter conceded 51.

Morris, who bowled nine overs, conceded 55. He picked up a wicket. Steyn and Rabada bowled 10 overs each, picking up three scalps apiece. While the former conceded 61, the latter conceded 54.

The first Powerplay of South Africa’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 63, and lost a wicket.

Hashim Amla, who faced 10 balls, had no reason to be in seventh heaven – 31 balls into the chase, he was caught by Dhawan. Mohit Sharma broke the 36-run stand.

South Africa scored 50 off 7.4 overs (48 balls). India had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point.

The second Powerplay of South Africa’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 11^th and the 40^th over. They scored 137, and lost five wickets.

De Kock, whose 35-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries and a six, scored 43. Thirty-eight balls after Amla’s dismissal, he was caught by Rahane. Harbhajan broke the 31-run stand.

Eighty-three balls into the chase, the first drinks break was taken. South Africa had conceded 73 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While du Plessis was batting on 13, de Villiers was batting on four.

Du Plessis, whose 34-ball innings included a boundary, eventually scored 17. (Dho)Nineteen balls after de Kock’s dismissal, he was caught behind. Patel broke the 12-run stand.

David Miller, whose 12-ball innings included a boundary, scored half-a-dozen. Twenty balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Harbhajan, who broke the nine-run stand.

South Africa scored 100 off 21 overs (128 balls). India had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point.

The fifth-wicket pair put on 50 off 69 balls. While de Villiers’ contribution to the partnership was 33, Behardien’s contribution to it was 17. Extras didn’t contribute to the partnership.

Behardien, whose 38-ball innings included a boundary, eventually scored 22. Eighty-three balls after Miller’s dismissal, he was trapped leg before wicket by Amit Mishra, who broke the 56-run partnership.

South Africa scored 150 off 32.3 overs (197 balls). India had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point.

De Villiers’ half-century – which included five boundaries – came off 67 balls.

Thirty-four overs into the chase, the second drinks break was taken. South Africa had conceded 166 for the loss of five wickets at that point. While de Villiers was batting on 65, Morris hadn’t opened his account.

The sixth-wicket pair put on 41. Morris, whose 18-ball innings included a boundary, scored nine. Thirty-eight balls after Behardien’s dismissal, Rahane ran him out.

South Africa scored 200 off 39.5 overs (241 balls). India had conceded eight extras at that point.

The third Powerplay of South Africa’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 41^st and the 50^th over. They scored 64, and lost three wickets.

De Villiers’ ton – which included 10 boundaries and a couple of sixes – came off 98 balls. He eventually scored 112 off 107 balls. Thirty-eight balls later, he was caught by Dhoni. Kumar broke the 48-run stand.

South Africa scored 250 off 46.2 overs (280 balls). India had conceded eight extras at that point.

Phangiso, whose 22-ball innings included a boundary, scored 20. A dozen balls after de Villiers’ dismissal, he was caught by Patel. Kumar broke the 17-run stand.

The ninth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Steyn, whose seven-ball innings included a boundary, scored half-a-dozen. Two dot balls later, he was caught by Rahane off the bowling of Kumar.

Rabada, whose nine-ball innings included a boundary, scored eight. He was unbeaten.

Imran Tahir, who faced four balls, was unbea‘ten’.

India eventually conceded 10 extras. South Africa, who scored 264 for the loss of nine wickets off 50 overs, lost by 35 runs.

Each of the five bowlers used bowled 10 overs apiece.

Mishra, whose spell included a maiden, conceded 55. He picked up a wicket, as did Mohit, who conceded 48, and Patel, who conceded 40. Harbhajan, who conceded 50, picked up a couple of wickets. Kumar, who conceded 68, picked up three scalps.

India levelled the five-match series 2-2.