Visakhapatnam: A maiden century for Yashasvi Jaiswal and crucial fifties from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli gave India a nine-wicket win in the third ODI, which sealed the hosts ‘ 2-1 series triumph over South Africa, here on Saturday.
Chasing 271, India overhauled the target with 10.1 overs and nine wickets to spare.
Rohit Sharma scored 75 off 73 balls with seven fours and three sixes, while Kohli finished the formalities with a four to reach 65 not out off 45 balls with six fours and three sixes.
Earlier, South Africa endured a disappointing outing with the bat after being asked to bat first for the first time in the series. Though Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma steadied the innings with a crucial 100-plus stand following Rickelton’s early dismissal, they failed to capitalize on the solid platform. De Kock completed a superb century, his seventh against India, but once he fell, the momentum shifted rapidly. Prasidh Krishna bounced back superbly, taking three key wickets in a decisive spell, while Kuldeep Yadav dismantled the lower order with his four-wicket haul, restricting the visitors to an underwhelming 270.
In response, India chased the target with authority. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma began cautiously before accelerating, with Rohit playing his signature attacking strokes before falling short of a century. Jaiswal powered on to register his maiden ODI hundred, while Virat Kohli ensured calm at the other end. A clinical and composed performance sealed the series for India in style.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul(w/c), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant, Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy
South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Ottneil Baartman, Rubin Hermann, Prenelan Subrayen
