South Africa won the 3-match ODI series 2-0 as the final ODI in Centurion got washed out due to heavy rain. The match was declared abandoned as rainfall continued without interruption since it came on during the mid-innings interval.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first setting up a huge total of 301-8 in their 50 overs. It was yet again Quinton De Kock who made the Indian bowlers look ordinary in spite of putting up a spirited performance. De Kock (101) scored his third century in as many matches in the series and entered elite club of players scoring hundreds in 3 matches. It earned the man-of-the-series award as well. AB De Villiers (109) also completed his century as SA crossed the 300-run mark for the second time in the series.
However it was not at all a poor display on behalf of the Indian bowlers as they bowled their heart out in order to restrict the Proteans from scoring a big total. Ishant Sharma was the star performer with the ball in hand as he picked up 4 wickets giving away just 40 runs, that too in a match where the opponents have scored more than 300 runs. 
Mohammad Shami maintained his good form as he picked up 3 wickets as well but gave away 69 runs in his quota of 10 overs. It was for the first time in the series that the Indian bowlers looked like picking up a wicket at any moment, but luck was not on their side as both De Kock and De Villiers were in sublime touch.
Such performance with the ball gave the Indian bowlers much needed confidence before the all important test match series scheduled to begin on December 18 at Jo’burg. With the Indian bowlers slowly getting their rhythm back, the test series is surely going to be an intriguing one. What India needs now is some spirited performance with the bat.
Tags: AB De Villiers india Ishant Sharma Quinton De Kock South Africa South Africa vs India
