Team India bounced back from a humiliating defeat in Gqeberha to win the three-match ODI series against South Africa in Paarl in the decider on Thursday, December 21. Sanju Samson led India's batting with a maiden ODI century, supported ably by Tilak Varma with a half-century and then the bowlers wrapped it up nicely as 296 eventually got too much to chase for the Proteas. The Indian team won the third match by 78 runs and hence the series 2-1 as KL Rahul became only the second captain after Virat Kohli to win an ODI series in South Africa for his country.
India lost the toss again and were put in to bat first by South Africa skipper Aiden Markram. India lost both the openers inside the powerplay and the Men in Blue made a tweak in the batting order by sending Sanju Samson at No. 3 and the wicketkeeper batter made it count. Samson, who has been in and out of the side far quite often, finally gave a performance that matched his talent and the hype, as he came of age in Paarl on Thursday.
The situation wasn't ideal as by the 19th over India had also lost skipper KL Rahul and it wasn't a T20 that he could hit his way out of trouble. So Samson had to be patient and grind his way out and he did that remarkably well. Samson curbed his natural instincts and made sure that he got his team out of trouble and in a position of strength. Tilak Varma played well alongside him for his maiden ODI fifty.
Samson got to his century off 110 balls as it took 40 matches to get to his first hundred for the country. The duo stitched a 116-run stand for the fourth wicket. Both got out after their respective milestones but not before taking India to a respectable score but Rinku put the icing on the cake with a 27-ball 38-run cameo. India put a commanding score of 296 runs.
South Africa haven't been a great chasing side of late and even though 296 looked like a safe score, how they chased down 212 in the previous match kept the hopes alive for the home fans. At 141/2, South Africa were going great guns with the centurion in Gqeberha Tony de Zorzi playing well and captain Aiden Markram looking in supreme touch.
However, one wicket and it all came downhill for the Proteas. Washington Sundar, playing his first game of the series, sent back Markram getting him caught behind. Arshdeep Singh, the highest wicket-taker then took care of the rest of the line-up as he first dismissed the set de Zorzi for 81, followed by the tail.
Avesh Khan finished it off with the wicket of Beuran Hendricks as India bowled out South Africa for just 218. This is India's second ODI series win in South Africa and the focus will now shift to the Test matches with the first one set to begin on December 26 in Centurion.
