Xtra Time Web Desk : Team India on Friday lost 2nd ODI of the series against South Africa as the Proteas sealed a 7 wicket win over KL Rahul’s boys to take an unassailable & decisive 2-0 lead in the much anticipated 3 match ODI series.
Batting first, after winning the toss, Men in Blue posted a decent total of 287/6 after playing out the full quota of 50 overs, courtesy of a smashing 85 from Rishabh Pant and a brilliant 40* from Shardul Thakur. After a steady partnership of 63 runs for the opening stand between skipper KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan, Team India lost two quick wickets in Dhawan (29) and Virat Kohli (0) to put the score to a tumbling 64/2. It was then a solid 115 run partnership between the attacking Pant and responsible Rahul who helped to take the team past 175 before they again lost a couple of wickets in quick succession as both the set batters were dismissed by Proteas bowlers.
After being 183/4, India couldn’t really get the partnerships going as wickets fell in quick succession. It was then a 48 run partnership between the in form Shardul Thakur (40) and Ravichandran Ashwin (25) that took the team to a respectable score of 287/6.
Coming to bat second, South Africa went of to a flyer as both the openers in Quinton de Kock (78) and Janeman Malan (91) smashed a brilliant 132 partnership for the opening stand. Although Bumrah picked up the wicket of Malan to give Team India their first breakthrough, the team couldn’t capitalize on that as the Proteas batters after that in captain Bavuma (35), Van det Dussen (37) and Markram (37) batted steadily to steer their team through to the target of 288 quite easily and take an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the 3 match ODI series.
Veterans in Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were once again off colour in this match. Thus, with the final ODI being a dead rubber, Team India are expected to make a few changes in the next match.