Visakhapatnam: It was the perfect game for Team India.
Skipper KL Rahul won a toss for Team India after two years and 21 ODIs, the bowlers fought back to restrict South Africa on a good batting track, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his maiden century in this format, golden oldies Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continued with their merry run-making ways.
After Kuldeep Yadav (4/41) and Prasidh Krishna (4/66) reduced South Africa from 168/2 to 270 all out, openers Yashasvi (116* off 121 balls, 12×4, 2×6) and Rohit (75 off 73 7×4, 3×6) flayed the visiting bowlers to put up a 155-run partnership.
Rohit departed, but red-hot Kohli (65 not out off 45 balls, 6×4, 3×6) played an array of attacking strokes as he and Yashasvi guided India to a nine-wicket victory with more than 10 overs to spare.
India thus won the ODI series 2-1, redeeming themselves somewhat after the 0-2 Test series whitewash.
Kohli, who along with Rohit plays only the ODI format, crossed 300 runs in the series with scores of 135, 102 and 65 not out.
BRIEF SCORES
South Africa 270 in 47.5 overs (Quinton de Kock 106, Temba Bavuma 48; Kuldeep Yadav 4/41, Prasidh Krishna 4/66).
India 271/1 in 39.5 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 116*, Rohit Sharma 75, Virat Kohli 65*).
Result: India won by 9 wickets.
Series result: India won by 9 wickets
Player of the Match: Yashasvi Jaiswal
Player of the Series: Virat Kohli.
