JOHANNESBURG – India opener Shikhar Dhawan scored a century in his 100thOne-Day International but scintillating South Africa claimed a five-wicketDuckworth-Lewis victory in a thrilling rain-curtailed clash at theWanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Dhawan’s brilliant 109 from 105 balls lifted India to 289 for seven intheir 50 overs, but after rain intervened in the contest, South Africa wereleft chasing 202 from 28 overs, a target they passed with 15 balls to spareto stay alive in the six-match series.
The home side had previously had to battle against India’s wrist-spinnersKuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in the series, but tore into them with avicious assault that yielded 119 runs in just 11.3 overs to ease them pasttheir victory target.
India lead the series 3-1 heading into the fifth match, to be played inPort Elizabeth on Tuesday.
“Super relieved to have gotten over the line today. In the last few weekswe have not played our best cricket. To be able to put some pressure on theIndians was a good feeling,” South Africa captain Aiden Markram said at thepost-match presentation.
India won the toss and chose to bat, and their innings was anchored by theexcellent left-hander Dhawan, who put on 158 for the second wicket withcaptain Virat Kohli (75 from 83 balls).
At that stage India had looked on course for a score well in excess of 320but managed only 83 runs for the loss of five more wickets in the final 15overs after the players had left the field because of the threat oflightning.
The hosts reached 43 for one in 7.2 overs in their reply when rain sweptacross the ground, keeping the players off the field for just shy of twohours.
Their shortened innings forced South Africa to be more positive against theIndian spinners and this worked to their advantage as they launched bothChahal (1-68 in 5.3 overs) and Yadav (2-51 in 6 overs) over the boundarywith regularity.
David Miller (39 from 28 balls) survived being bowled by leg-spinner Chahaloff a no-ball when he had seven and put on a crucial stand of 72 in 41balls for the fifth wicket with the impressive Heinrich Klaasen (43 not outin 27 balls) that turned the tide in the favour of the home side.
“It became a T20 game and you have to take your chances,” Kohli said. “Ifit was a full game, you never know. Give credit to South Africa, theyplayed with a lot of character and deserved to win.” – Agencies