Sanju Samson’s century and a brilliant display of bowling, led by Arshdeep Singh, helped India defeat South Africa in the ODI series decider at Boland Park in Paarl on Thursday, December 21.
Batting first, India posted 296 on the board and defended the total successfully to grab the ODI series 2-1. This was only the second time India has managed to emerge triumphant in a bilateral series in the 50-over format in the Rainbow Nation.
KL Rahul has now become only the second Indian captain ever after Virat Kohli in 2018 to win a bilateral ODI series in South Africa. It was redemption for Rahul as he was handed a 3-0 defeat in his maiden assignment as ODI captain during India’s last tour of South Africa in 2022.
With a star-studded team, India led by Virat Kohli had demolished South Africa in a 6-match ODI series, winning it 5-1. However, KL Rahul managed to win this series with a second-string team with new stars like Arshdeep Singh and Sai Sudharsan stepping up. In South Africa, the young players proved they were up to the challenge as Arshdeep concluded the series with 10 wickets and Sai Sudharsan scored two fifties in his first ODI series.
Samson played a ‘çareer-defining’ knock of 108 off 114 balls as India managed to put up a respectable total on the board. It was the first international hundred for Samson in his 40th match.
In reply, South Africa lost Reeza Hendricks early but Tony de Zorzi, who hit a match-winning hundred in the 2nd ODI, once again took the attack to the Indian pacers. South Africa, at one stage looked in control of the chase at 141 for 2 but due to some disciplined bowling by the Indian bowlers they lost some quick wickets and were restricted for 192 for 7.
The Proteas were bundled out for 218 in the 46th over and eventually lost by 78 runs. Sanju Samson was awarded the Player of the Match while Arshdeep got the Player of the Series award.
