India opt to bat in Pink ODI vs S

Proteas star batsman AB De Villiers said,”We realise the importance of highlighting awareness around breast cancer and for us to play in pink is our way of contributing to the campaign”. It’s just one loss. De Villiers has a handsome record on Pink Days. A victory from there appeared impossible.

The other bowlers too have chipped in with valuable contributions.

Johannesburg was different, though. We reckon the ball will come onto the bat nicely.

Klaasen had done the finishing act countless times in domestic cricket. Earlier, South African bowlers came back strongly in the match as they restricted India to 289/7 in 50 overs.

The next ODI is on Tuesday at Port Elizabeth and South Africa, trailing the series 1-3, will be determined to stay alive.

Overall, Kohli faced 83 balls inclusive of 7 fours and a six. They have done very well for us. There are really no sideshows to his game and really takes the game to the opposition. “I was quite disappointed in my debut game”. It is a special day for South Africa.

Like Dhoni, the mental side of the game is something Klaasen works on rigorously.

Against Kuldeep Yadav, Klaasen employed the lap and the reverse-sweep to start off with, and then pounced on flatter length. For once, the spin-twins were made to doubt themselves and Klaasen, along with David Miller, inflicted maximum punishment to pull South Africa ahead after India had dominated for much of the chase. An unbeaten 43 off 27 in a highest of pressure scenarios to seal victory is a grand return. It had everything from clean strikes and brisk running to smart field manipulation. That turned out to be the turning point as the match quickly turned on its head. Our spinners couldn’t turn the ball or grip the ball the way they did in the last three matches. It’s actually a good surface to bat on once you are set because of its hard nature and true bounce. “We’ve already won three games, just one more win and we will be through”.

Previously, Sourav Ganguly was the last Indian to miss out on the milestone, after getting dismissed on 97 in a 1999 World Cup match against South Africa in Hove.

Chahal did manage to dismiss Miller eventually, trapping him leg before.

With their top four batsmen back in the pavilion by the 17th over with just 102 runs on the board, the Proteas seemed to have lost their way and headed for certain defeat. The stylish cricketer blasted spinners, who have been troubling South African batsmen for long to mark his authority. A straight drive for four brought up his 13th ODI hundred off 99 balls, hitting two sixes and ten fours. The hallmark of this team in the shorter formats has been we look to rectify our mistakes even in wins.

There was also almost an hour’s interruption during India’s innings.