South Africa vs India, 2nd ODI: India win by 9 wickets, take 2-0 series lead

Centurion: India scripted a comprehensive victory against South Africa in the 2nd ODI of the Momentum Series at the SuperSport Park on Sunday by nine wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the six-match series.

After electing to bowl first, the Men in Blue bundled out the hosts for a paltry total of 118 in the first innings as the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav ran riot.

With the Proteas missing the presence of talismanic skipper Faf du Plessis (ruled out of the series due to an injury), the duo span a web around the opposition batsmen and struck wickets at regular intervals.

Despite Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock leading the team to a steady start, the hosts found themselves reeling at 51-4 suddenly after losing the first wicket for 39 runs.

Veteran JP Duminy and debutant Khaya Sondo were the top scores with 25 runs each as South Africa were bowled out for an embarrassing total.

In the 2nd innings, Aiden Markram and co failed to defend their total as Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan steered India to victory.

Kagiso Rabada got rid of Rohit Sharma early on, but following his departure, the Delhi batting duo took the game to the opposition as they sealed a comfortable victory in the end.

The two teams will now lock horns in Cape Town during the 3rd ODI on Wednesday.

India 117/1 after 19 overs:

The umpires have called for a lunch break despite India being just two runs away. Kohli has a talk with the umpires as both the teams walk off the field. Action to resume in 40 minutes.

India 101/1 after 17 overs:

India 55/1 after 9 overs:

50 up for India! Rohit's departure has made little difference for the Men in Blue as Kohli and Dhawan continue to take charge.

India 26/1 from 4 overs:

WICKET! Rohit Sharma perishes to that neither pull nor hook shot. Kagiso Rabada has given South Africa their first breakthrough.

South African innings:

It happened in Durban and it once again happened in Centurion. And if Durban was bad, Centurion was worse as South African batting came crashing down against the wrist spin of Yuzvendra Chahal (5/22) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/20) in the second South Africa versus India ODI at the SuperSport Park here on Sunday as Virat Kohli’s men bowled out the hosts for 118 with the spinners scalping eight wickets.

While the Indian pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah did not allow Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock to score freely, just when it looked that Amla was breaking the shackles, Bhuvi ended his innings. Then in space of four balls, across two overs, Chahal and Kuldeep sent three South African batsmen packing – de Kock, caught by Pandya, Aiden Markram, caught by Bhuvi and David Miller, caught by Ajinkya Rahane.

From thereon, South Africa had no chance even as the debutant Khaya Zondo showed some promise it was too little too late as the Chahal and Kuldeep scalped JP Duminy, Zondo, Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel as the South African freefall of wickets continued.

Bumrah chipped in with a wicket as he removed Imran Tahir before Chahal, who picked up a five-wicket haul, ended the South African innings by dismissing Chris Morris.

South Africa 118/9 after 32 overs:

WICKET! Straight delivery, angling into the batsman. The pace is just too good for Tahir as his stumps are rattled.

South Africa 117/8 after 31 overs:

WICKET! Another one bites the dust. Chahal's googly once again does the magic as Morne Morkel is struck on the pads.

South Africa 117/7 after 30 overs:

WICKET! The Proteas are tumbling like ninepins here. Rabada makes his way back to the crease after failing to pick the wrong'un by Kuldeep. The ball pitches and skids as the batsman is trapped in front of the stumps.

South Africa 109/6 after 29 overs:

WICKET! 3rd one for Chahal. Tossed up again by Yuzvendra Chahal and Duminy misses the sweep. The southpaw is struck on the knee roll and the umpire raises his finger. The leggie ends the over with 2 runs and a wicket.

South Africa 104/5 after 27 overs:

WICKET! Hardik Pandya takes the catch on the 2nd attempt as the Proteas lose their 5th wicket. Tossed up delivery by Chahal that turns away from the batsman after pitching outside off. Zondo bends on one knee and tries to sweep it away, but gets a thick outside edge that goes high up in the air.

South Africa 53/4 from 14 overs:

WICKET! South Africa are in tatters! Kuldeep Yadav has two in his first over. Aiden Markram and David Miller are back in the dressing room. Sensational start for the chinaman. First, Markram plays a horrendous shot and Bhuvi took a fine catch in the deep and then, Miller was caught in the slips.

South Africa 51/2 from 13 overs:

WICKET! QDK has not timed that well and his edgy stay in the middle comes to an end as Hardik holds onto an easy catch in the deep. Yuzvendra Chahal strikes.

South Africa 39/1 from 10 overs:

WICKET! A big wicket! Hashim Amla edges one straight to MSD. Bhuvneshwar Kumar strikes. Amla opted for a review but there is a clear spike on UltraEdge. SA 1 down and outcomes their second youngest skipper, Aiden Markram.

South Africa 10/0 from 5 overs:

Tight bowling this is from Bhuvi and Bumrah as QDK and Amla have struggled to get going. There was a passage of 15 dot balls, in fact as the Indian pacers tied the SA openers down.

Toss:

India have retained the same playing XI which powered them to victory in the first ODI in Durban.

South Africa have made two changes to their playing XI - one purely because of Faf's injury and the other more a strategic one, it seems, as all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo loses his spot in the team. Khaya Zondo, who bats in the middle-order, makes ODI debut and spinner Tabraiz Shamsi gets a look in.

AB de Villiers out of first three ODIs, Faf du Plessis out of the ODI and Twenty20 series, two-ODI old Aiden Markram leading the side and 1-0 down in the ODI series, the pressure will be on South Africa as they take on Virat Kohli-led Indian side in the second ODI here on Sunday.

While Kohli and co lost the Test series 2-1, they have started the ODI series on a bright note, beating Proteas in the first ODI in Durban on Thursday. While Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah struggled, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav caught the Proteas napping. Although the duo’s performance was praiseworthy, Indian team will be happy with the success of Ajinkya Rahane, batting at number four. The management had earlier wanted to have Rahane in the squad as the third opener but the plan changed as the ODI series kicked off in Durban.

While a win will power India to 2-0 lead in the series, it will momentarily take them to top spot in ICC ODI rankings.

Where to watch the match live?

Live telecast: The match can be seen live on Sony Ten 1 (English commentary) and Sony Ten 3 (Hindi commentary).

Live streaming: It can also be streamed live on Sony LIV, the digital platform on the internet.

Squads:

India: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.

South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden (captain) Markram, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungisani Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khayelihle Zondo, Farhaan Behardien, Heinrich Klaasen.