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South Africa vs India 2023-24 Cricket

'We are bilateral kings' - Fans react as India clinch ODI series 2-1 against South Africa with massive win in series decider

Sanju Samson was adjudged Player of the Match for his brilliant hundred on a tricky pitch.

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Mathew K
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SA vs IND 3rd ODI (Source: Twitter)

SA vs IND 3rd ODI (Source: Twitter)

India beat South Africa by 78 runs in the third and final ODI to clinch the series 2-1 at Boland Park in Paarl on Thursday. The Men in Blue took an early lead but the hosts bounced back in the second game by the same margin to level the series. However, the KL Rahul-led team managed to outclass the Proteas completely in the series decider.

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The visitors were put in to bat first in challenging conditions and they got off to a poor start, losing the openers early on. With Ruturaj Gaikwad missing out, Rajat Paditar got the ODI cap and he started his international career on a positive note. However, he failed to continue the momentum and was dismissed in the fifth over. Unlike previous matches, Sai Sudarshan never looked settled and was eventually trapped in front of the stumps by Beuran Hendricks in the eighth over.Β 

Promoted to one down, Sanju Samson played a sensible innings with KL Rahul. The India skipper, however, failed to get going and was dismissed in the 19th over. India looked to be in some bother at 101/3 but Tilak Varma and Samson steadied the ship. The southpaw struggled in the start and dragged India's run rate behind. However, he found the rhythm later and went on to smash a half-century.Β 

Samson, on the other hand, kept the scoreboard ticking with singles and doubles. On a tricky pitch, the Kerala-born cricketer smashed his maiden international century (108 off 114) and ensured India are in a safe position. Meanwhile, Rinku Singh's contribution towards the end deserves great appreciation. The left-hander (38 off 27) took India to a competitive total with a strike rate of over 140.

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Arshdeep Singh picks four wickets to put India in command

In reply, South Africa made a cracking start with opener Tony de Zorzi scoring yet another half-century. They were going well at 141/2 at the halfway mark. However, the Indian bowlers pulled things back at the right time. The wicket of captain Aidan Markram was the turning point and they soon lost de Zorzi (81 off 87 balls) and found themselves in big trouble.

Till Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller were at the crease, South Africa had a hope. With Miller gone in the 38th over, it was only a matter of time before India recorded a clinical away win. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he finished with figures of 4/30 from 9 overs. Notably, KL Rahul became only the second Indian captain in history after Virat Kohli to win an ODI series in South Africa.

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Here's how fans reacted to India winning the series against South Africa:

India featured South Africa