India Beat South Africa By 78 Runs, Samson, Arshdeep help win India ODI series 2-1 against SA

After drawing the T20I series by 1-1, KL Rahul-led Indian team won the ODI series by 2-1, as they defeated the Proteas by 78 runs in the third ODI at Paarl on 22 December. Chasing a target of 297 runs, the Proteas lost all their wickets in 45.5 over.

For South Africa, Tony de Zorzi (81) scored the maximum runs, while Aiden Markram scored 36 important runs. Apart from this, no other batter could shine in the third match. While for India, Arshdeep Singh took 4 wickets, Avesh Khan and Washington Sundar clinched two wickets each. Mukesh Kumar and Axar Patel also picked one wickets each.

Arshdeep Singh wins Player of the Match award for picking 10 wickets in the series. While, Sanju Samson wins Player of the Match award for scoring 108 runs in 114 balls. Sanju Samson hit a fine century to guide India to 296 for eight in the series-deciding third and final ODI against South Africa. Sent into bat, India lost both the openers early before Samson (108 off 114 balls), which was his maiden ODI hundred, and Tilak Varma (52 off 77 balls) made useful contributions to take India forward.

Rinku Singh (38 off 27) also chipped in for the visitors. Beuran Hendricks (3/63) was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa, while Nandre Burger (2/64) also accounted for two wickets.

Earlier, South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl in the third and final ODI against India. For India, Rajat Patidar made his ODI debut as he came in for opener Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad had suffered a finger injury while fielding in the second ODI. “Ruturaj Gaikwad hasn’t fully recovered from the blow he sustained to his ring finger while fielding in the second ODI. He remains under the supervision of the BCCI Medical Team,” said a BCCI update earlier. Off-spinner Washington Sundar too made it to the playing eleven in place of Kuldeep Yadav. Sanju Samson scored a whopping 108 runs in 114 balls, supported by Tilak Varma (52). Rinku Singh (38) scored some important runs, leading India to a score of 296/8 in 50 overs.

For SA, Beuran Hendricks picked three wickets, Nandre Burger took two wickets, while Lizaad Williams, Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj clinched one wickets each.