India vs SA 3rd ODI: Chahar's Late Challenge in Vain, SA Complete 3-0 Whitewash

South Africa bowled India out for 283.

Deepak Chahar bats during his half century in the third ODI vs South Africa.

(Photo: Twitter/BCCI)

Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan scored half centuries and Deepak Chahar staged a late fightback but South Africa pulled India back at the end to win the third ODI by 4 runs and complete a 3-0 series whitewash, on Sunday in Cape Town.

Earlier, Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen stitched together a massive 144-run partnership for the fourth wicket as South Africa crossed the 200-run mark in the 35th over but India staged a big fightback to bowl the hosts out for 287. Prasidh Krishna (3/59), Jasprit Bumrah (2/52), Deepak Chahar (2/53), and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/47) were the wicket-takers for India.

In reply, Shikhar Dhawan (61 off 73) and Virat Kohli (65 off 84) played important knocks at the start of the chase but some quick wickets saw India reduced to 223/7 in 42.1 overs. Deepak Chahar's knock under pressure ignited hopes and kept India in the game but once he got out on the first ball of the 48th over, it was curtains for India as South Africa cleaned up the last two wickets quickly to seal a 3-0 whitewash. In the end, India were bowled out for 283 in 49.2 overs.

Andile Phehlukwayo 3/40 was the most successful bowler for South Africa.

India Won The Toss, Elected to Bowl

Earlier this Sunday, KL Rahul had won the toss and elected to put South Africa into bat first. Deepak Chahar, one of the four replacement players in this match, picked up the first wicket in the third over, sending back opener Janneman Malan on 1. Skipper Temba Bavum then joined Quinton de Kock at the crease. The duo moved the Proteas innings at a brisk rate before KL Rahul ran Bavuma out on eight with a direct hit from mid-off, leaving hosts at 34-2 after 6.3 overs.

Despite losing two wickets, Proteas' scoring rate didn't drop as Aiden Markram and de Kock stitched a handy partnership. Quinton, especially, looked in superb touch and hit a few attractive shots, and took South Africa to 53/2 after 10 overs.

It was Chahar again who gave India their next wicket by getting rid of Markram (15), who played a pull shot and substitute fielder Ruturaj Gaikwad ran from his left to hold a good catch at deep midwicket.

Indian players celebrate a wicket during the third ODI.

(Photo: Twitter/BCCI)

Quinton de Kock walks back to the pavilion after getting out in the third ODI vs India.

(Photo: Twitter/BCCI)

Though, wickets were falling from the other end, de Kock kept playing his natural aggressive game along with the in-form Rassie van der Dussen at the crease. During the process, Van der Dussen was also dropped by Pant. Jayant Yadav, who is playing his first match of the series, pitched the ball outside off and Dussen edged it and Pant failed to grab it behind the wickets.

Soon, de Kock brought up his second consecutive half-century and his 28th overall in ODIs off just 59 balls, taking the hosts past 100 inside 20 overs. Inform Dussen, who got lifeline and looked a bit tentative at the beginning of his innings, also complimented his partner well by rotating strikes well.

De Kock hit boundaries and sixes at regular intervals off Indian bowlers especially spinners and kept the scoreboard ticking. In the 30th over, the duo brought up their 100-run stand, which came in just 108 deliveries. In the next over, de Kock, who marshaled the innings beautifully, notched up a stellar century which was his 17th ODI ton.

On the other hand, Dussen got the second reprieve of his innings. It was again Jayant Yadav, who forced Dussen into an edge and Pant dropped the catch. He took full advantage of the chance and brought up his fifty in 53 deliveries.

At 212/3 after 35 overs, South Africa were looking set for a big finish but India made a remarkable comeback by taking three wickets in quick succession.

Jasprit Bumrah gave India the big wicket of de Kock, who got out after scoring 124 and stitching a 144-run fourth-wicket stand with van der Dussen. The left-hander tried to clear the fence but he mistimed his shot as Dhawan moved to his right from deep square leg and took a calm catch in front of the boundary rope.

Soon after de Kock's dismissal, Van der Dussen (52) was caught brilliantly in the deep by Iyer off Chahal. Andile Phehlukwayo (4) was the next man to get dismissed via a run-out as Pant whipped off the bails on Shreyas Iyer's flat throw, leaving South Africa at 228-6 after 40.1 overs.

With nine overs to go, it was the lower order's responsibility to give the innings a strong finish. Miller and Dwaine Pretorius (20) tried their best by stitching a 44-run stand for the seventh wicket before the latter got out in the 48th over. In the last two overs, Indian bowlers bowled with much better discipline and didn't allow Proteas batters to score freely. They dismissed David Miller (39), Keshav Maharaj (6), and Sisanda Magala (0) to bowl out South Africa for 287-10 in 49.5 overs.

Prasidh Krishna (3/59), Jasprit Bumrah (2/52), Deepak Chahar (2/53) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/47) were the wicket-takers for India.

Shikhar Dhawan scored a half century in the third ODI vs South Africa.

(Photo: Twitter/BCCI)

South Africa's Chase

Chasing a stiff target, India were off to a poor start as captain KL Rahul (9) got out in the 5th over. Lungi Ngidi bowled a ball outside off and Rahul pushed his bat away from his body for a thick outside edge and the catch was taken at first slip by Janneman Malan, leaving visitors at 18/1.

Virat Kohli then joined Shikhar Dhawan at the crease and used his wrists to get off the mark with a stylish boundary. After losing Rahul early, Dhawan and Kohli need to forge a solid stand to bail India out in the run chase.

Dhawan who looked in solid touch hit a few glorious boundaries and helped India cross the 50-run mark in the 10th over along with Kohli. Proteas bowlers tried to create the pressure but the duo of Dhawan and Kohli managed to rotate strikes and hit regular boundaries, keeping hosts at bay.

The left-handed opener picked up a single off Keshav Maharaj to get to his 35th ODI fifty in 58 balls in the 18th over. On the other hand, Virat Kohli took the attack to Sisanda Magala and hit him for two successive boundaries as India crossed the 100-run mark in the 19th over. However, Dhawan couldn't carry his innings longer and got out to Phehlukwayo for 61 and his 98-run stand with Kohli came to an end in the 23rd over.

Virat Kohli bats during his half century in the third ODI vs South Africa.

(Photo: Twitter/BCCI)

Rishabh Pant, who came to bat next, threw his wicket by playing a risky shot, getting out for a golden duck.

Despite losing two quick wickets, Kohli continued his controlled innings and completed his 64th ODI fifty. With wickets falling all around him, India needed a match-winning innings from the former India skipper but once again failed to convert, falling for the second time this series to Keshav Maharaj.

From thereon, India needed a big partnership from Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer. The pressure eased when Suryakumar Yadav walked in and unfurled a flurry of attacking shots. Iyer, though, holed out off Sisanda Magal to dent India's chase again. Soon, Suryakumar Yadav followed, trying to flick Dwaine Pretorius to the leg side and the leading edge taking the ball to mid-off.

Deepak Chahar revived India's hopes with a brilliant cameo, slamming two sixes and five fours in his half-century that took India to the cusp of a win. The half-century stand with Bumrah ended when he was out caught off a slower ball from Ngidi. Things unfolded quickly afterward with South Africa wrapping up the Indian tail to complete a close win.