Morkel derails India

South Africa opener Quinton de Kock plays a defensive push on way to scoring 103 during the third one-day international against India in Rajkot yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Opening batsman Quinton de Kock provided the early flourish with the bat with his seventh century while fast bowler Morne Morkel applied the finishing touch with four wickets as South Africa beat India by 18 runs on Sunday to take a 2-1 series lead.

22-year-old de Kock continued his purple patch in ODIs against India, scoring his fourth century in seven innings against the opponents to set up South Africa's total of 270-7 in 50 overs after they chose to bat on winning the toss.

The hosts lost opener Shikhar Dhawan early to Morkel but looked well poised for a victory charge with half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Opening batsman Rohit and Kohli added 72 for the second wicket before the former fell to a smart return catch from part-time off-spinner JP Duminy.

Kohli then added 80 for the next wicket with his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to keep India in the hunt before Morkel returned to strike.

The South African plan of bowling short at the batsmen's bodies while packing the leg side boundary with four fielders proved effective.

After Dhoni failed to negotiate a short delivery from the tall Morkel, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane holed out deep on the mid-wicket fence on consecutive deliveries in the paceman's final over, which dashed India's hopes of chasing down the total.

India could only manage 252 for six in their 50 overs.

Earlier, De Kock, who hit 11 fours and a six in his knock, added 118 for the third wicket with Faf du Plessis to set up a solid platform for South Africa for a late assault.

Du Plessis lived a charmed life on his way to his third consecutive 50 in the series. Suresh Raina and Dhawan dropped him twice while another dismissal was chalked off due to a no-ball.

His dismissal to Mohit sparked a mini-collapse and South Africa were suddenly reduced from 205-2 to 210-5 in the space of nine deliveries.

SCORES IN BRIEF

SOUTH AFRICA: 270 for 7 in 50 overs (De Kock 103, Miller 33, Du Plessis 60, Behardien 33 not out; M Sharma 2-62, Harbhajan 1-41, Mishra 1-38)

INDIA: 252 for 6 in 50 overs (R Sharma 65, Kohli 77, Dhoni 47, Harbhajan 20 not out; Morkel 4-39)

Result: South Africa won by 22 runs and lead 5-match series 2-1

Player-of-the-match: Morne Morkel