Visakhapatnam, Dec 6 (UNI) A commanding century from Quinton de Kock and a stunning four-wicket burst from Kuldeep Yadav headlined South Africa’s innings before India bowled them out for 270 in 47.5 overs in the ODI decider at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.
De Kock, who struggled in the first two games, roared back to form with a brilliant 106 off 89 balls, striking eight fours and six sixes.
He weathered the early swing, shifted gears after reaching his fifty, and dominated the middle phase, taking Prasidh Krishna for three sixes in a single over while sweeping the spinners cleanly. His 113-run stand with skipper Temba Bavuma laid the base for a strong total.
Once De Kock fell — bowled by Prasidh while attempting a whip across the line — the innings lost shape. From there, India took control through the craft and control of Kuldeep Yadav, who exploited the dry, grippy afternoon surface to run through the middle and lower order.
Kuldeep dismissed Dewald Brevis with a clever wrong ’un, sent back Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch in quick succession, and repeatedly outfoxed batsmen with variations in flight and pace. He finished with a superb 4/41, triggering a collapse that stalled South Africa’s charge towards 300.
Prasidh Krishna’s spell (4/66) evolved dramatically over the course of the innings. After conceding heavy runs in the Powerplay, including De Kock’s assault, he hit back with vital breakthroughs at crucial stages. His dismissal of the centurion opened the door for India, and he later removed Jansen during his attempted counterattack.
Prasidh completed India’s effort with the final strike of the innings — a full delivery that tailed in to bowl Ottneil Baartman in the 48th over. Though expensive, his ability to rebound and deliver key blows proved decisive in keeping South Africa to a chaseable target.
Earlier, Bavuma looked set during his 48 before Ravindra Jadeja removed him. Brevis struck a few crisp blows before falling to Kuldeep. Jansen counterattacked with boundaries off Prasidh but holed out soon after, and Bosch, the last recognised batsman, chipped a simple catch back to Kuldeep as the ball stopped on him.
Keshav Maharaj added an unbeaten 20, finding two boundaries — one lofted over mid-off and another punched on the rise — but the tail folded around him.
Arshdeep Singh (1/36) and Jadeja (1/50) provided steady support, helping India tighten their grip through the second half of the innings. India now need 271 to win the match and seal the series.
