South Africa puts up 99, their lowest score against India in an ODI

India bundled out South African batters for 99 in the first innings of the third ODI at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, restricting the target for themselves to a meager 100.  This is their lowest score against India in a One Day International match. India earlier won the toss and opted to bowl first. Both teams would like to win this match to win the series, which is now tied 1-1.

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Kuldeep Yadav stood out as the star performer, picking up 4 wickets. Although he missed the chance of a hattrick, he did not miss beats to swiftly mow through the South African tailenders.

Kuldeep remarked, “Feeling happy to take four wickets, have taken four wickets after such a long time. I was trying something different before IPL, and I am enjoying my bowling since then.”

“I missed the hat-trick, could have bowled quicker. Should have changed the angle. I think Washington bowled really well. The wicket was gripping, I tried to bowl seam-up deliveries, tried to mix it up with the pace, tried to set up the batters,” Kuldeep said.

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“I was working on my rhythm, I was a bit slower before my injury. I am not compromising with spin, just trying to work on my rhythm,” he added.

A good rhythm for the Men in Blue was already set by Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar, who rattled the Protean top-order, each picking up two wickets. Shahbaz Ahmed, relatively the most expensive bowler for India in the innings, also picked up 2 wickets with an economy rate of 4.60.

Temba Bavuma’s team will play New Zealand in a T20 World Cup warm-up game in Brisbane in less than a week.

The visitors haven’t been able to afford such privileges, whereas India was able to send their T20I regulars to the World Cup even before the ODI series against South Africa started.

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The goal for South Africa would have been to defeat an Indian squad without their key players by the score of 3-0 in order to advance in the World Cup Super League (WCSL) standings. Being stuck in 11th place, every victory was significant, and the points lost in Ranchi almost certainly meant that they would have to play in Zimbabwe for the 2023 ODI world cup qualifications.

But for now, the goal will be to finish the series with a victory in the national capital before shifting attention to the shorter format with a win in hand.