India clinch ODI Series 2–1 with dominant 9-wicket win over South Africa

KATHMANDU: India thrashed South Africa by nine wickets in the third and deciding One Day International to seal the three-match ODI series 2–1 on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 271 runs, India cruised home with more than 10 overs to spare, losing only one wicket.

The hero of the match was young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who smashed his maiden ODI century.

Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 116 runs off 121 balls, hitting 12 fours and 2 sixes.

He shared a massive 155-run opening stand with captain Rohit Sharma, who scored a solid 75 off 73 balls with 7 boundaries and 3 sixes.

With this innings, Rohit Sharma also completed 20,000 international runs, becoming only the fourth Indian to achieve the milestone after Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rahul Dravid.

Virat Kohli continued his brilliant form, remaining unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls, including 6 fours and 3 sixes, guiding India comfortably to victory.

Jaiswal was named Player of the Match, while Kohli—who had scored centuries in the previous two ODIs—was awarded Player of the Series.

Earlier, South Africa had a strong start thanks to opener Quinton de Kock, who hammered 106 off 89 balls, registering his seventh ODI century against India.

But the innings fell apart as India’s bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav delivered lethal spells, each picking up four wickets. South Africa were bowled out for 270 in 47.5 overs.

The match also ended India’s streak of losing 20 consecutive ODI tosses, with captain KL Rahul finally winning one and choosing to field— a decision that proved correct.

South Africa had defeated India 2–0 in the preceding Test series. The two sides will now meet in a five-match T20I series, starting Tuesday in Cuttack.