A maiden ODI century by Sanju Samson, also his first in international cricket, paved the way for India’s 78-run victory over South Africa in the Paarl decider. As a result, India won the ODI series 2-1.

Put in to bat, India compiled 296/8, their second-highest total against South Africa on these shores. And on a tricky surface which had help for pacers and spinners alike, the target proved beyond the opposition in the face of an all-round bowling performance.

That total on the board looked a long shot when India were 132/3 after 30 overs but as many as 141 runs were scored in the last 14 overs, in part thanks to Rinku Singh’s quick-fire 38 off 27. The meat of the innings though was the 116-run stand for the fourth wicket between Samson and Tilak Varma, the second-highest run-getter of the innings.

Varma hit 5 fours and six but scored his runs at a strike-rate of 67 in conditions difficult for batting, something which put pressure on Samson at the other end too. Tilak had 9 runs from his first 38 balls but was luckily able to move on from his sluggish start, scoring his next 43 runs off 39 balls en route to his first ODI fifty. Samson, at the other end, looked to be batting on a different pitch but had his fair share of luck, putting away 6 fours and 3 sixes.

Varma holed out after his fifty, and Samson after his hundred, but the duo ensured that India had a fighting total on the board. Keshav Maharaj was the standout bowler for the hosts with figures of 10-2-37-1. Markram bowled his five overs for 1-37 whereas Beuran Hendricks finished with three wickets.

South Africa’s chase got off to a solid start, thanks to the 59-run association between Reeza Henricks and Tony de Zorzi. It took a jaffa from Arshdeep Singh to nick Reeza and break that stand, following which Axar bowled Rassie van der Dussen. Aiden Markram and de Zorzi then came together for a reassuring 65-run stand but a flurry of wickets waited on the other side of it, the door opened by Markram’s ill-advised reverse-sweep against Washington Sundar. De Zorzi

The pacers needed no second invitation after that. Arshdeep trapped South Africa’s top-scorer and in-form de Zorzi in front, Avesh outwitted Heinrich Klaasen with a legcutter, and Mukhesh Kumar had David Miller edging behind. With the main actors back in the hut, it was only a matter of time for India.

Sundar finished with figures of 2-38, Axar Patel with 1-48 and Arshdeep with 4-30 as India bowled South Africa out for 218 and marked a memorable return to the ODI format after the World Cup heartbreak.

Brief Scores:
India 296/8 in 50 overs (Rajat Patidar 22, Sanju Samson 108, K L Rahul 21, Tilak Varma  52, Rinku Singh 38; Nandre Burger 2-64, Beuran Henricks 3-63) beat  South Africa 218 in 45.4 overs (Toni de Zorzi 81, Aiden Markram 36, Heinrich Klassen 21, ; Arshdeep Singh 4-30, Avesh Khan 2-45,  Washington Sundar 2-38) by 78 runs