India vs South Africa: India Win the 2nd ODI Bilateral Series 2-1 in the History on SA’s Soil; Won by 78 Runs

The 3rd ODI between India and South Africa on December 21st was a thrilling match, with India emerging victorious by 78 runs and clinching the series 2-1. 

India showed a batting masterclass after they were put in to bat first by South Africa. India posted a formidable total of 296/8 on the board. Sanju Samson starred with a magnificent century (108 off 114 balls), his maiden international ton, providing the much-needed impetus. Shreyas Iyer (50) and Tilak Varma (40) also chipped in with valuable contributions. The Proteas bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batsmen, especially in the death overs.

India made a significant comeback after appearing fairly passive for the first thirty overs or so. With a stunning century from Sanju Samson, they finished with 296 after scoring 141 in the final 14 overs. It was his maiden century in international cricket, and following a career that had so far been erratic, he and his supporters were hoping it would mark the beginning of something extraordinary. When Rahul was removed from the game at 101/3, India appeared to be in trouble. Tilak Varma then emerged to join Samson, and he suffered mightily. India's run rate was rapidly falling behind the left-hander, who was unable to be found and unable to rotate the strike.

However, the collaboration managed to reverse the situation following a few fortunate escapes. Moving on, Varma earned his first fifty in an ODI, while Samson, who generally seemed at ease and fluid on a challenging wicket, reached the three-figure mark. The seamen were moving early on, and later Maharaj and Markram also found some turn. The pitch is slow and a little dry, and in the latter stages we even witnessed a number of cutters being bowled.

In reply, South Africa's chase got off to a decent start, but they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Arshdeep Singh was the wrecker-in-chief for India, taking 4 wickets for 30 runs with his precise left-arm swing bowling. His dismissals of Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Maharaj, and Williams crippled the South African middle order.

Arshdeep Singh's bowling brilliance helped India seize the series against SA for the second time on their soil in cricket history. Avesh Khan (2/45) and Washington Sundar (2/38) also picked up key wickets to restrict South Africa to 218/10.

Despite Tony de Zorzi's valiant half-century (81), the Proteas fell short of the target, handing India a comfortable victory. The win capped off a remarkable series for India, who bounced back from defeat in the second ODI to clinch the series. Sanju Samson was adjudged the Player of the Match for his match-winning century, while Arshdeep Singh was named Player of the Series for his consistent bowling performances throughout the series.

India puts on a masterful display, winning the match and the series 2-1 in the process. That's a fantastic result, especially considering that this isn't anything close to India's strongest squad. India's batsmen made a fantastic effort, scoring 296 after facing some difficulties. Sanju Samson scored his first century in international cricket, driving them to victory. Their total may not have been the highest, but they bowled brilliantly to make it appear much higher than it actually was.

Overall, the 3rd ODI between India and South Africa was a captivating encounter that showcased the talent and fighting spirit of both teams. India's clinical performance with both bat and ball proved too much for the Proteas, ultimately leading them to a well-deserved series victory.