7 wicket win for South Africa against India

South Africa won the second ODI by seven wickets to take a 2-0 series lead. On a flat track, a target of 288 was too low, and Quinton de Kock (78 off 66 balls) and young sensation Janneman Malan (91 off 108 balls) added 132 for a match-deciding opening partnership. The home team reached the target in 48.1 overs to secure a 2-0 lead in the three-game series.

On Friday, India scored 287/6 against South Africa in the second One-Day International. India’s top scorer was Rishabh Pant, who hit 85 off 71 balls, and skipper K L Rahul, who made 55 off 79 balls. At the end of the innings, Shardul Thakur delivered an unbeaten 38-ball 40. Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer, for example, did not take use of the occasion. Virat Kohli was bowled out for a duck. South Africa’s spinner Tabraiz Samsi was the standout performer, capturing two wickets for 57 runs in nine overs.

The game seemed to be on a knife’s edge at the end of the first innings, with South Africa needing 288 to win. However, South Africa’s pursuit has been very impressive. Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan never allowed any Indian bowler to settle, thus they kept the pressure on them from the start. Both openers fell short of a well-deserved century, but they had done their job up to that point, and it was simple for the batters to take their side home. Bavuma batted well at number three, and Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram comfortably finished the job for their side.

Once Pant was gone, India’s innings got away from them, as the rest of the team simply couldn’t get going when the ball didn’t come on to the bat and the track didn’t offer firmness and bounce. It’s not a new problem that has affected Indian cricket, but it’s concerning that nothing has been done to fix it. De Kock swiped and pulled for sixes a specialist like Bhuvneshwar Kumar (8-0-67-0), while Malan came down the track to hit him through the covers, signifying that his early 130 kmph speed, with its lack of variation, was simply not working. The great batting display of Shardul Thakur (40 not out, 5.1-0-36-0) will not save him if he does not reduce the number of poor balls he bowls per spell.

Another terrific bowling performance by Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah finishes with 1/37 in his 10 overs. He just conceded 37 runs when most of the bowlers went for more than 6 runs per over. The champion had yet another outstanding bowling effort.

What KL Rahul had to say

“I think they are playing some really good cricket at home, we are making mistakes as well in the middle. It’s a good learning for us. We are a team that takes a lot of pride in winning, but good learning for us and hopefully we can grow,” KL Rahul stated.

Gautam Gambhir called for big changes

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir called for major changes in the XI for the third and final ODI after the disappointing loss. Because the game in Cape Town would be a dead rubber, Gambhir believes the team’s bench strength should be given a chance to shine.

“Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravi Ashwin should be rested for the next match, and changes in the batting order aren’t needed. Jayant Yadav should be given a chance along with pacers like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. India need to develop their second-string team and gives chances to bowlers who can bowl above 140 kmph in South Africa,” Gambhir said