Highlights India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI: Virat Kohli, spinners give India unassailable lead

WICKET! Kuldeep Yadav to Lungi Ngidi, OUT! How silent was this wicket! Dhoni told Kuldeep to bowl the other one and he does. Lands it on middle and gets it to turn away. Ngidi swipes across the line but misses the ball completely. The players don't even bother appealing. The umpire raises the finger. Hold on, Hawk Eye shows the ball to be PASSING OVER THE STUMPS. The hosts didn't have any review left, though. India (303/6) beat South Africa (179-all out) by 124 runs in Cape Town to take unbeatable 3-0 lead in six-match series.

OUT! Chahal removes Tahir for 8 runs. South Africa 167/9, need 137 runs to win vs India (303/6) at Newlands.

FOUR! Nice way to get off the mark. A low full toss outside off, Tahir reached out to that and drives it square on the off side. The ball has enough in it to go to the fence.

OUT! Kuldeep removes Phehlukwayo for 3 runs. South Africa 158/8, need 146 runs to win vs India (303/6) at Newlands.

OUT! Chahal removes Zondo for 17 runs. My partner here, Praky, wonders if Kohli had held his spinners back just to get some night allowance. He had the chance to go for the kill earlier but he didn't. Now he has brought both of them back and each has struck. Chahal tosses this one up around off, Zondo gets down to slog it away. Gets a top edge, the ball goes up, touches eternity and comes down to Pandey, the sub, at covers. As easy as it gets. The end is nigh for the hosts now. Third wicket for Yuzvendra.​ South Africa 150/7, need 154 runs to win vs India (303/6) at Newlands.

Andile Phehlukwayo is the next batter in.

WICKET! Morris departs for 14. As plumb as it gets. Morris is done with playing his shot during breakfast while the ball is served for lunch. He gets across the stumps and wears it on the box as he missed his pull. An appeal is just a formality as the finger is raised immediately. 154 off 88 needed as Chris walks back vigorously shaking his head. Not sure if it is because of him missing the ball completely or if someone from the opposite camp had something to say to him.​

After 35 overs, SA are 149/5, need 155 to win.

Chris Morris strides out to bat next. Ability to take the side home, there. Can he do it.

OUT! Bumrah removes Miller for 25 runs. This was always on the cards, wasn't it? Miller was fishing outside the off stump in the past couple of overs and now, although this isn't the same action, the edge is induced nevertheless. Bumrah runs in from round the wicket and delivers a length ball angling in to the batsman. David looks to pull it off the front foot. Wrongly positioned and a wrong choice of shot, as well as the ball, wasn't really shot. What's more, he advanced down the track as well. All he managed to do was get an inside edge through to the keeper. That's that. The Indians appeal, get the umpire's nod and the southpaw doesn't even bother to wait. The Proteas still need 175 runs in just 105 balls. South Africa 129/5, need 175 runs to win vs India (303/6) at Newlands.

Meanwhile, cricket fans enjoy watching spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal domination the best of batsmen in South Africa.

FOUR! With this, Miller pinches Bumrah's ego. Streaky, Miller won't mind it. Banged short around leg, the southpaw swivels and pulls it. Gets it through fine leg for a boundary. SA 117/4, need 187 runs.

Another change. Jasprit Bumrah is called up to bowl with some pace.

Khaya Zondo is the new batsman.

OUT! Chahal removes Duminy for 51 runs. That's hitting leg and Duminy, the set batsman, has to depart. Body blow to South Africa's chances. Chahal has his second. Another traditional leg spinner has earned him a wicket. He lands it around off and gets it to spin back into the left-hander. Duminy stays back to flick it on the leg side but misses. He is thudded on the pads, they appeal and this time the umpire thinks a bit before lifting his finger. South Africa 95/4, need 209 runs to win vs India (303/6) at Newlands.

FIFTY! JP Duminy hits his 25th ODI half-century off 64 balls. Kuldeep Yadav to JP Duminy, 1 run. 25th ODI fifty for JP Duminy, gets one after 17 innings. Fuller and on middle, Duminy clips it a bit aerially towards backward square leg for a run. South Africa 91/3, need 213 runs to win vs India (303/6).

David Miller is the new batsman.

OUT! Chahal removes Klaasen for 6 runs. Trapped in front! Chahal also tastes blood. Ominous signs for the Proteas. Is this once again going the same way like the last ODI? A nicely tossed up leg spinner, landing on leg and spinning away to beat the bat of Klaasen. He is rapped on the back leg, they appeal and the finger goes up almost immediately. The debutant has a chat with his senior partner but Duminy advised against the use of DRS. Heinrich walks back and South Africa lose their third wicket. South Africa 88/3, need 216 runs to win vs India (303/6) at Newlands.

FOUR! Strong drive! Unforced error in the field. Who is the culprit? It's Bhuvneshwar. Loopy and full outside off, Klaasen presses forward and drills it through the line. Kumar runs across to his right at the edge of mid off but dives over the ball and lets it through for a boundary. SA 87/2, need 2017 to win.

Heinrich Klaasen, the debutant, arrives in the middle.

OUT! Kuldeep removes Markram for 32 runs. 400th dismissal for MS Dhoni in ODIs! Kuldeep slows this up in the air and lands it full around middle. Markram fails to read the googly there as he walks forward to flick it on the leg side. But the ball spins away to beat the outside edge and Dhoni takes the bails off in a flash. The chinaman strikes almost immediately and South Africa will hope this has not opened the floodgates. End of a handy partnership too. 225 needed off 202 balls! South Africa 79/2, need 225 runs to win vs India (303/6) at Newlands.

FOUR! Markram handles it his way, slides it to deep mid wicket. Nice shot! Markram stands back to a shortish ball and powers it over mid-wicket for a boundary. SA 68/1, need 236 runs.

In women's cricket, opener Smriti Mandhana slammed a quickfire 135 to help India beat South Africa by 178 runs in the second ODI and clinch the three-match series in Kimberley on Wednesday. By virtue of this win, India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, which is part of the ICC Women's Championship. (Read full story)

Powerplay 2 time. The field can relax now with a maximum of 4 fielders allowed outside the ring until the 40th over. Now comes the real test, it's spin time. Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl with a leg slip.

Jasprit Bumrah to Aiden Markram, 2 runs. Good fielding! A back of a length ball around off, it's punched straight back past the bowler. Kuldeep runs across to his left from mid on and dives to parry it towards his skipper, who has come from mid off. They take a couple.​ Eight overs gone, SA are 40/1, 264 runs away from win.

SIX! Markram had all the time to craft it to perfection. Skipper has cleared the rope here! This is an outstanding pitch for stroke making. Markram rocks back, fetches a short ball from outside off and clubs it over long on for a biggie. SA 21/1, need 263 runs.

FOUR! Beautiful shot! Bumrah overpitches it outside off, Duminy presses forward and caresses it past mid off's right. A dive was needed but it never came. Once it crossed the ring, it was always a boundary.​ SA 15/1, need 289 to win.

Wait on, shouts Duminy, as Kumar runs in to bowl the delivery. Some disturbance behind the sightscreen, perhaps.

JP Duminy walks in one drop for the hosts. Can this promotion do him and his side a world of good? Remember, he had a good outing with the ball earlier today.

WICKET! Bumrah removes Amla for 1 run. Bumrah strikes off his first delivery! Dream start for India with the ball. He runs in from over the wicket and lands it on a length around off. Amla hops to flick it away but misses and is caught right in front of the stumps. The Indians go up in appeal and get the nod from the umpire. Amla has a chat with his skipper at the other end, who says it isn't a good idea to review that. He is right there as the Hawk Eye returns three reds. The home side is jolted early in their run chase. South Africa 1/1, need 303 runs to win vs India (303/6) at Newlands.

Back for the chase! Hashim Amla has a new partner in skipper Aiden Markram. South Africa need a solid beginning from this pair. For India, it's Bhuvneshwar Kumar to kickoff proceedings. A single slip in place. 

Kagiso Rabada to Virat Kohli, FOUR! Finishes it off in style! Rabada overpitches around off, Kohli attacks it with all his might and drills it down the ground for a boundary at long off. End of first innings. India score 303/6 in their innings, give South Africa a target of 304 runs in Newlands.

150 comes up for Kohli. Kagiso Rabada to Virat Kohli, 1 run. Third 150-plus score for Virat Kohli, first as the skipper of the Indian cricket team. He is just getting better with every passing day. A short ball on off, Kohli pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run. Seems he is running out of gas, no celebration this time, just a raise of the arm to acknowledge the crowd.​

With 1 over left, India are 288/6. Chris Morris to Virat Kohli, 1 run. A full toss on middle, Kohli powers it over mid-wicket for a run. 12 from this over, spoiling Morris' bowling figures.

SIX! Kohli stretches his muscles further. But an excellent piece of fielding by Miller too. The catch won't count but don't take anything away from his effort. Fuller in length and on middle, Kohli launches it over widish mid on and Miller rushes across to his right in the deep. He dives to take the catch but the momentum takes his beyond the rope. He didn't get the opportunity to release the ball. My colleague pings, this would have been one of of those rare instances where a fielding side would have hoped that the catch gets dropped. Would have saved at least 4. Hmm...fair point! IND 284/6 in 48.3 overs.

Chris Morris to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, no run. Too full and on off, Kumar moves back and squeezes it out to point. Straight to Amla and it ends an excellent over, just 5 singles off it.​ IND 270/6 in 47 overs.

Long off is called back inside the ring.

Chris Morris returns. 7-0-28-1, so far from him. Can he finish well?

FOUR! A fine shot by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Lovely hit! A length ball around off, Kumar moves back to create room and whacks it past the diving mid off fielder for a boundary.​ India eye a strong total in Cape Town.

Kohli's 34th ODI ton earns acclaim from cricket pundits.

NOT OUT! Imran Tahir to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 2 Leg byes.​ Missing leg. A quicker delivery, full and on middle, skidding down at 96 kph, Kumar shuffles across to flick but misses. It hits him on the pads, they appeal and the batsmen cross for a couple of times. The umpire signals it leg byes and South Africa go for the referral. Missing leg, confirms the replay. Review lost for the home team.​

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the new batsman.

OUT! Phehlukwayo removes Jadhav for 1 run. Catching practice for the wicketkeeper. Not a wicket taking delivery but Jadhav has found a way to make it one. Tries to run a length ball wide outside off to the third man but gets a faint top edge to Klaasen. He makes no mistake, his third catch of the match and he is having a good debut. India in a few bothers now. India 236/6 in 42.4 overs vs South Africa at Newlands.

FOUR! Another authoritative shot by Kohli. Width on offer outside off, Kohli latches onto it and thwacks it through point for a cracking boundary.​ IND 234/5 in 42.2 overs.

Kedar Jadhav walks in next.

OUT! Tahir removes Dhoni for 10 runs. Well, well, well, Tahir and Lungi, the Chennai recruits in the Indian T20 League have combined to remove the Chennai skipper. This was coming with MS struggling to get his innings going. He decides to attack the leggie. Dances down the track, tries to emulate his 2011 World Cup winning shot but there isn't enough venom behind the shot. Easily caught by Ngidi at long on. Big wicket for the Proteas. India 228/5 in 41.3 overs vs South Africa at Newlands.

India captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday hammered yet another one-day international hundred in the third match against South Africa in Newlands, Cape Town. Kohli, who had hit a century in the first match in Kingsmead Durban, continued with his scoring spree to notch up his 34th ODI ton as India look to take an unbeatable lead in the six-match series. With this century, Kohli is now just 15 short of Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI hundreds. (Read full story)

CENTURY! Virat Kohli hits 34th ODI hundred off 119 balls. JP Duminy to Virat Kohli, 2 runs. It's usual business for the Indian skipper. A quiet celebration from him, just takes his helmet off and acknowledges the crowd. A tossed up ball on middle, Kohli gets back and deflects it towards fine leg for a couple of runs. The run machine continues to inflict damage on the opposition teams. Seems there is no way to stop him at the moment. Batting in a different world altogether. Take a bow, Captain Consistent! India 214/4 in 39.1 overs vs South Africa at Newlands.

FOUR! Excellent placement by Virat Kohli. Sliced away! Flighted full ball outside off, Kohli tries to loft it over covers but it goes over point for a boundary. Not where he intended but a boundary nonetheless.​ IND 206/4 in 37.1 overs.

Chris Morris to Virat Kohli, 1 run. Goes back and guides it to third man. The initial call from Dhoni was no, but then they cross over for a single.  After 35 overs, India are 194/4 with Kohli (86*) leading from the front. 

Drinks break. A good period of play for the Proteas. They have managed to pick three quick wickets and are trying to claw their way back after a big partnership between Kohli and Dhawan. The Indian skipper is still out there and that's the biggest danger for them as he nearing yet another century. We now enter into an unknown territory as the Indian middle-lower order have not been tested so far.

WICKET! Morris removes Pandya for 14 runs. The move to send Pandya up the order has flopped. Morris provides width and plays with the patience of the batsman. Two dot balls before this and Hardik sees the opportunity to free his arms. He flashes his bat at it but gets a thick outside edge behind to the new South African keeper. Klaasen makes no mistake and India have lost their fourth wicket. Good going from South Africa.​ India 188/4 in 32.5 overs vs South Africa at Newlands.

Chris Morris is back on.

SIX! Hardik Pandya mauls Duminy over long on for a maximum! Duminy tosses it up and lands it full around off, Pandya latches onto it and powers it over the bowler's head for a maximum. He is sent up the order for doing this! India 186/3 in 32 overs

This is interesting. Hardik Pandya is promoted in the batting order.

WICKET! Duminy removes Rahane for 11 runs. Very unnecessary piece of cricket by Rahane and he has thrown his wicket away. Sunil Gavaskar on air is very angry with the shot selection, says that he just came in and all he needed to do was rotate the strike. Fair point, sir. Duminy has another wicket in the kitty. He serves a loopy full ball on middle, Rahane runs down the track aiming for a big shot across the line but fails to reach the pitch of the delivery early. He ends up miscuing it completely in the air as his bat turns in his hands and Phehlukwayo backtracks from mid off to take a well-judged catch. A disappointed Rahane walks back and South Africa would like to build on this wicket. India 160/3 in 27.4 overs vs South Africa at Newlands. 

Meanwhile, seasoned India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami added yet another feather to her already decorated cap when she became the first women cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets. Jhulan reached the milestone in the second ODI of the three-match series against South Africa at Kimberley on Wednesday. (Read full story)

Ajinkya Rahane walks in at number 4. He stroked his way to an unbeaten half-century in the first game of the series and will make yet another opportunity count here.

WICKET! Stand of 140 broken. Duminy removes Dhawan for 76 runs. Dhawan throws it away! There was a hundred for the taking, but he has shut shop and let it pass. Tossed up around off, Dhawan gets down the track and looks to go big on the on side. Doesn't get the elevation that he wanted and ends up chipping it towards mid-wicket. Markram has stationed himself there and he takes a wonderful catch tumbling to his left. End of the 140-run association between Dhawan and Kohli, South Africa get a breakthrough against the run of play. Duminy the man with the golden arm. India 140/2 in 23.1 overs vs South Africa at Newlands.

Jean-Paul Duminy is called up for his bowling service. A slip in place for him. Good to see this, as when Tahir came on, there was no one close-in.

FIFTY! Virat Kohli scores his 46th ODI half-ton off 64 balls. JP Duminy to Virat Kohli, 1 run. This is his sixth against the opposition and fourth in this nation. He gets a nicely tossed up ball around middle, knocks it down to long on and gets to the other end.​ India 128/1 in 21.1 overs vs South Africa at Newlands.

FOUR! Dhawan on fire; hits it precisely between the two fielders. IND 125/1 in 20.4 overs.

FOUR! How are you, thank you, says Dhawan! Short and wide outside off, he stays back and clobber this past backward point for a boundary. IND 112/1 in 19.1 overs.

If Dhawan scores a century today, he will be the second Indian southpaw batsman to do so.

FOUR! Shikhar Dhawan scores his 25th ODI half-ton off 42 balls. India 91/1 in 16.2 overs vs South Africa at Newlands. It is Dhawan's second in the Rainbow Nation and fourth against the Proteas. Back-to-back ones for him, showing that he is continuing from where he left out on the other day. Gets down on a knee and nails this sweep shot through square leg for a boundary.​

Spin time! Imran Tahir is brought into the attack. Can he be effective on this drier surface?

Drinks are on the field. South Africa would have felt that it's their day today after snapping up Rohit Sharma for a duck and giving Indians a scare with Virat Kohli's dismissal. But the latter survived, thanks to a good use of the DRS. Ever since, it has been a one-way traffic as Shikhar Dhawan and his skipper have went along scoring runs at ease. Yes, there were a few edges here and there in their 87-run unbeaten stand. But they have made sure the hosts toil hard on the field. Kagiso Rabada was the only one who looked like troubling the visitors and so too was Chris Morris, who is going through a good spell. Debutant Lungi Ngidi has been a disappointment so far.

FOUR! Shikhar slams a one-bounce four. Dhawan is getting in the mood now. This is when he starts getting dangerous for the opposition. Reads the leg cutter early and charges down the track. Goes through with the aerial flick shot that he had planned and gets it over mid-wicket. Almost goes the distance.​ IND 75/1 in 14.2 overs.

FOUR! What a timing! Finally a pull shot played to the right ball. Short and angling down leg, Shikhar gets inside the line and pulls it through fine leg for a boundary. IND 67/1 in 13 overs.

Time for Powerplay 2. A maximum of 4 fielders can man the boundary line till the 40th over. Also, Andile Phehlukwayo comes into the attack.

Chris Morris to Virat Kohli, FOUR! Streaky! Lucky for Kohli. On a length just outside off, Kohli looks to force it through the off side.​ ​10 overs gone, IND are 50/1 with Kohli (25*) and Dhawan (24*) leading the charge. 

Chris Morris to run in as the first change.

Former India batsman Aakash Chopra hails captain Kohli for his "superb discipline".

FOUR! Delectable cover drive! Full in length outside off, Kohli lines himself up well for that. Gets his front foot to the pitch of the ball and just times his drive through covers for a boundary. Didn't try to hit it too hard. IND 34/1 in 7.3 overs.

South African cricket fans continue to slam inexperienced skipper Aiden Markram for dropping  fast bowler Morne Morkel.

Mike Haysman states some figures on air, saying that Morne Morkel has picked up wickets in the last four games. Despite this, the pacer has been benched today. The commentator fails to understand the reason behind this move, especially in such an important clash.

Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle is worried to see Rohit Sharma struggle in South Africa. He claims that these are the kind of pitches he should enjoy batting on.

FOUR! Kohli continues his amazing form in South Africa. Authoritative! Short in length around off, Kohli stands tall and pulls it powerfully in front of square on the leg side. The ball races away to the fence.​ IND 23/1 in 4.4 overs.

Earlier on the eve of the third ODI, India opener Shikhar Dhawan claimed, "I feel Rohit is playing well, looking at the way he is timing the ball. Even in the last match, he was playing really good. Unfortunately, he got out, but I don't feel concerned about his batting at all." (Read full story)

A quick stat attack sheds lights on Rohit Sharma's current miserable form.

FOUR! Kohli drives it for four. Not the ideal delivery. Sprayed on the pads, Kohli flicks it away through fine leg for a boundary to get going. An eventful over ends.​ IND 8/1 in 3 overs.

NOT OUT! Kagiso Rabada to Virat Kohli, no run. Oh wow! The South African crowd cheers as they want to see Kohli bat. NOT OUT is the call from the TV umpire! Ian Gould can not believe it.​

REVIEW! Time for Kohli to depart? HUGE MOMENT! Kohli has been adjudged LBW and after a chat with Dhawan he opts for the DRS. Looks to be close.

Virat Kohli finds himself in the middle in as early as the second over. Also, Lungi Ngidi, the debutant, takes the second new ball from the other end.

WICKET! Early breakthrough for South Africa. Rabada removes Rohit for 0. India 0/1 in 1 over vs South Africa at Newlands. Gone? Yes! Didn't seem so on the first look. This is hurled a touch fuller outside off, Rohit looks to play it at first but then tries to withdraw his bat to let it go. Seems to have done well as the ball goes to the keeper. What happens next catches us by surprise. An appeal for caught behind is made and it is upheld as well. Wow! First dismissal for Klaasen behind the wickets. Another look shows why this turns out to be a good decision. Sharma was late in getting the bat out of the way and the ball moved in as well. As a result, the faintest of inside edges was taken and that's that. India yet to put a run on the board and they lose a wicket. Just the start the hosts needed, a maiden wicket over.​

Rohit in the air, but safe.

So, the clock ticks to 1300 local time, meaning, it's time for play to get underway. The players and the umpires make their way out to the middle. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are the men striding out with the bat for India. The southpaw is on the back of a fifty from the previous game. For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada has the first new white rounded object in hand. Remember, their captain had reckoned using the 'helpful' conditions first up. Will they do that? Let's see. Two slips in place.

PITCH REPORT: Mike Haysman and Neil McKenzie are out there inspecting the playing surface. The former provides the general stats here, saying that pacers have been dominant at this venue. The latter expects this one to play a bit quicker than the previous two games. Reckons that you can always expect some movement at this venue. Adds that the bounce would be high and an even one. Both of them analyse Virat Kohli's innings in this series and state that he has used his feet nicely against spin, mainly Imran Tahir. Now after having a look at Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram's dismissals, they opine that both the Proteas weren't picking spin well and that has been their undoing. They end stating that the surface looks good for batting. They sound hopeful of the South Africans chasing down the target that they will get.

Meanwhile, Indian batswoman Smriti Mandhana has slammed a century against South Africa. 

India captain Kohli says: "It looks like a good batting track. We think it would do more under the lights with the two new balls. They are not too solid in the middle order. Early wickets and we can get stuck into them. It will only get drier in the day. The wrist spinners can turn it on any surface and it plays to their advantage when the wicket is harder. Every game is important. We want to play with the same intensity from the first two games. We don't want to let our guard down. South Africa wants to come back into the series. We want to consolidate further."

"There might be some assistance up front. It might come onto the bat nicely under lights. We have got two debutants today. Heinrich Klaasen makes his debut and takes the gloves and Lungi comes in for Morkel. The guys have been working hard. It is not about looking too deeply about what has happened in the first two games," skipper Aiden Markram says after winning the toss.

India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

South Africa Playing XI: Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram (C), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Khaya Zondo, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Lungisani Ngidi, Imran Tahir

South Africa have won the toss and opted to bowl first against India in the third ODI at Newlands, Cape Town. Virat Kohli-led India lead the six-match ODI series by 2-0.

"Perfect conditions at Newlands ahead of the 3rd ODI," confirms the Cricket South Africa (CSA).

Meanwhile, Indian women, playing their South African counterparts, bring up 150. They are 153/2 after 31.4 overs with Harmanpreet Kaur (18*), Smriti Mandhana (81*) leading their charge.

Indian opener Rohit Sharma takes a close look at the Newlands pitch before the start of the 3rd ODI.

Teams (from):

India: Virat Kohli (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungisani Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khayelihle Zondo, Farhaan Behardien, Heinrich Klaasen (wk).

India will have their sights set on an unprecedented 3-0 lead when they take on a South African team, which has quite literally fallen apart due to injury blows, in the third ODI of the six-match series in Cape Town on Wednesday. The visitors won the first two matches of the series in Durban and Centurion by six and nine wickets, respectively, dismantling the home side with consummate ease. Twice previously, India have managed to win two ODIs in a bilateral series in South Africa - in 1992-93 and in 2010-11. In the latter instance, the visitors shot into a 2-1 lead, only to lose the five-match series 3-2 in the end. They had also lost 5-2 in the other instance. But given the hosts' current travails, history repeating itself would be a major disaster for the Men in Blue. (Read full preview)