Half-centuries from Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram saw the Proteas post a 279-run target for India, which they chased down with ease for a 7-wicket win in the 2nd ODI.
It was a pitch that looked grass-less and simple to bat on. Three batters made it look exactly like that for the Proteas after they elected to bat first.
Let’s start with Reeza Hendricks, who can do nothing wrong in a Proteas shirt in recent times. A purple patch in T20 cricket, which saw him hit four consecutive half-centuries and a 40 in T20 cricket, was matched by a balanced performance in the 2nd ODI against India.
Hendricks came to the crease after Quinton de Kock chased a wide delivery and edged the ball into his stumps with 7 on the board at the start of the third over.
He took his time to get his eye in and then it was pretty much full control from there on out. He hit 74 off 76 balls, which included 9 fours and 1 six.
His partnership with Aiden Markram – 129 off the same amount of balls – was key to giving the Proteas control of the innings. Especially after losing what looked like a settled Janneman Malan after a measured 25.
Markram was a little less free-flowing than Hendricks at first, playing beautiful shots but consistently finding the fielders. That’s also how he lost his wicket, a square-drive whack off the back foot but couldn’t beat extra cover. His 79 off 89 balls, however, was crucial to helping his side over the 200-run mark.
The three quick wickets of Hendricks, Markram and Heinrich Klaasen (30 off 26 balls), put India back in control again as they managed to restrict SA to 221-5 after 40 overs.
David Miller had the duty of helping South Africa post a total that could be defendable.
He got them past 250 but lost his partner Wayne Parnell shortly after passing the milestone for 16. Maharaj added nearly no aid to Miller.
South Africa only managed 278-7 with Miller not out on 35 off 34.
India chased down the total with ease. South Africa’s bad back-end batting proved to be their downfall. Sloppy fielding and at times bowling also affected them.
But ultimately, it was the brilliance of Ishan Kishan (93 off 84 balls) and Shreyas Iyer’s century that secured a victory to draw the series.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
