SA clinch a thriller
It was thrill-a-minute at the Bull Ring, testing the mettle of both teams mettle and the nerves of packed crowd. For the longest time, India were dominant, Shikhar Dhawan's 109 leading the way. Led by a miserly Kagiso Rabada, they conceded only 92 runs in the last 16 overs and earned themselves a target of 290.
Rain reduced the game to 28 overs and South Africa were told they needed 202 to keep the series alive. It was under this pressure - with their two best batsmen already dismissed - that they played shots that were absolutely jaw dropping and won moments that were nothing short of match-changing. At the centre of it all was a newbie.
Heinrich Klaasen, the stand-in wicketkeeper, took a ball of wristspin from outside the cut strip and pulled it for a one-bounce four to square leg. He then launched a free hit delivery so far into the night sky that it came down with a bit of star dust. An unbeaten 43 off 27 in a highest of pressure scenarios to seal victory is a grand return.
SCORES IN BRIEF
INDIA: 289 for 7 in 50 overs (Dhawan 109, Kohli 75, Dhoni 42 not out; Rabada 2-58, Ngidi 2-52)
SOUTH AFRICA: 202 for 5 in 25 overs (Amla 33, Miller39, Klaasen 43 not out Phehlukwayo 23 not out; Yadav 2-51)
Result: South Africa won by 5 wickets D/L method.
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