India Vs South Africa, 3rd ODI: Sanju Samson's Maiden International Century, Arshdeep Singh's Four Wickets Hand Men In Blue Series Victory Over Proteas At Paarl; RSA - 218, IND - 296 - As It Happened

India defeated the Proteas by 78 runs in the final ODI to clinch the three-match series 2-1 at Paarl. Arshdeep Singh scalped four wickets while Avesh Khan and Washington Sundar took two each. Mukesh Khan and Axar Patel took one wicket each. Despite Tony de Zorzi scoring a half-century, none of the batters around him could register a decent score as they were eventually bowled out for 218. Earlier in the day, Sanju Samson smashed his maiden ODI century as India posted a solid total of 296/8 in 50 overs against South Africa after having lost the toss. Tilak Varma made a half-century too and a blistering knock from Rinku Singh set the visitors towards a big total. Follow the important updates of the IND Vs RSA 3rd ODI from here (Scorecard | Match Report | Full Coverage) 

12:18 AM: IND Win, RSA 218 All Out (Overs 41-50 Highlights)
Indian bowlers continued their good form as they dismissed the Proteas for 2018 and ensuring yet another ODI series victory in the Rainbow Nation. Arshdeep Singh was the star of the show with his 4/30 in nine overs. Apart from Tony de Zorzi (81) none of the South African batters could muster a foothold into the contest as visitors kept picking up wickets at crucial intervals. Avesh Khan picked up the final wicket of Beruan Hendricks.

11:49 PM: RSA - 198/7 (Overs 31- 40 Highlights)
Proteas suffered a mini-collapse as they kept losing wickets in succession in this phase. From 141/3, the home side collapsed to 198/7 in this phase as Indian bowlers made merry. The seventh wicket to fall was David Miller (10) who showed little composure whilst at the crease as he was sent back by Mukesh Kumar caught by KL Rahul. Keshav Maharaj is joined by Beuran Hendricks but it is a tough task with under 100 required but only three wickets remain.

10:58 PM: RSA -163/4 (Overs 21-30 Highlights)
Tony de Zorzi continued his rich vein of from Gqeberha as Proteas batters made the Indian bowlers toil at Paarl. Just as de Zorzi and Aiden Markram were building a partnership, the latter was dismissed by Washington Sundar. However, de Zorzi continued his batting and was even dropped by Mukesh Kumar. However in the 30th over, KL Rahul got in Arshdeep Singh who trapped the southpaw leg before as the home side lost two wickets in this session. Heinrich Klaasen was joined by David Miller.

10:20 PM: RSA - 95/2 (0vers 11-20 Highlights)
Indian spinner Axar Patel bowled Rassie van der Dussen in the 15th over and after that captain Aiden Markram joined opener Tony de Zorzi at the crease. Indian bowlers tried everything but Zorzi continuing his form from the last match completed his half-century. Aiden Markram also looked in fine touch and didn't leave any chance to score boundaries when needed. Both teams are at level in the series and in the match as well. 

9:45 PM: Patel Gets Dussen!
In this inning, he never seemed at ease. RvD is hesitant in his crease, wondering whether to come forward or play from the back. Axar takes advantage of it with a spectacular arm ball that catches van der Dussen and strikes out his middle pole.

RSA - 76/2 (15)

9:30 PM: RSA - 62/1 (0vers 0-10 Highlights)
Tony de Zorzi continued his form of the last match and hit a few shots at the start of the inning to put Indian bowlers under pressure. Reeza Hendricks also provided good support. Zorzi hit two sixes and Hendricks took the grounded route. Both batters added 59 runs when Arshdeep Singh dismissed Hendricks by caught behind and provided India the much-needed breakthrough. Rassie van der Dussen joined Zorzi at the crease and both are looking in nice touch. India need another wicket at this moment.

9:25 PM: Arshdeep Gets 1st Breakthrough!
Reeza Hendricks is back with a jaffa from Arshdeep. The bowler lets out a loud shout of delight, deserving it after that delivery. A great length delivery that begins in the centre and then nips across. The batter had to try, and the most he could do was get a thin edge through to the keeper.

RSA - 59/1 (9)

8:50 PM: South Africa Start Batting
Mukesh Kumar opened the Indian bowling attack. Tony de Zorzi and Reeza Hendricks opened for South Africa. Hendricks faced all deliveries in the first over as Mukesh conceded just two runs from the first over.

RSA - 2/0 (1)

Innings Break!

Brief Score: IND - 296/8 (50)
Sanju Samson - 108 (114),  Tilak Varma - 52 (77)  | Beuran Hendricks: (9-0-63-3)

8:26 PM: IND - 296/8 (Overs 41-50 Highlights)
Sanju Samson hit his maiden ODI century and Tilak Varma also completed his maiden ODI fifty in this phase. Both got out after achieving their respective milestone. Then Rinku Singh added a few runs with Washington Sundar. Rinku played a small cameo of 38 runs to take the scorecard past 290 as India set a 297-run target for South Africa to win the match and series.

7:50 PM: Samson Falls After Century!
Sanju Samson tried to go for a big shot again and the ball was outside off, ball went high in the air and Reeza Hendricks caught it easily to send him off. Lizaad Williams got his first wicket of the match. Axar Patel is the new batter at the crease.

IND - 249/5 (46)

7:26 PM: IND - 203/3 (Overs 31-40 Highlights)
Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma batted aggressively in this period as the visitors looked to pile up pressure on the home bowlers. Samson in particular, whacked Lizaad Williams for a six as the batter neared his international ton. After a slow start, Varma too, started to conjure some boundaries as they looked to take the score past 250 mark at Paarl in the third ODI.

6:45 PM: IND - 132/3 (Overs 21-30 Highlights)
Only 30 runs came from the last 10 overs with a run rate of 3 runs per over. Tilak Varma took his time at the crease and is taking the defensive approach today. On the other hand, Sanju Samson kept rotating the strike and completed his fifty in 66 deliveries. In the last over of this phase, Tilak Varma finally breaks the shackles and hits a four. Samson survived a run-out chance. 

6:15 PM: IND - 102/3 (Overs 11-20 Highlights)
Indian batters Sanju Samson and captain KL Rahul brought stability to Indian innings and kept rotating the strike with some boundaries in between. KL Rahul lost his wicket to Wiann Mulder's down-the-leg delivery and that broke the partnership between the two veterans. Tilka Varma joined Samson at the crease and both are hoping for a good partnership to post a defendable total on the board.

6:15 PM: Zimbabwean Cricketers Wesley Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta Suspended
Zimbabwe Cricket banned allrounders Wesley Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta on Thursday for allegedly violating anti-doping regulations. Madhevere, 23, and Mavuta, 26, tested positive for a banned recreational substance in an out-of-competition instance, according to Zimbabwe Cricket, which did not specify the date of the in-house test.

6:05 PM: KL Rahul Falls
Wiaan Mulder continued his attack from his side and got the wicket of Indian captain KL Rahul after he tried to flicked the ball on his pads to fine leg but the ball got the edge and went direct into the gloves of Heinrich Klaasen. 

IND - 102/3 (19)

6:00 PM: Tom Curran Banned for 4 Matches in BBL 2023-24
Sydney Sixers' all-rounder Tom Curran was handed a four-match ban after he tried to run on the pitch before the match started even after repeated warnings from the Umpire and also tried to intimidate the Umpire.

5:35 PM: IND - 59/2 (Overs 0-10 Highlights)
After being asked to bat first, Indian openers tried to provide a flying start with Rajat Patidar targeting Nandre Burger. Burger bowled him after he smashed two boundaries in his over. Sanju Samson joined him after he was promoted to no. 3 in the batting order. Sai Sudharsan was found in front of the wickets when Beuran Hendricks LBW out him in the first over of his spell. KL Rahul joined Samson after that and both scored runs by taking calculated risks from there on.

5:15 PM: Hendricks Removes Sudharsan!
Beuran Hendricks was introduced in the eighth over of the inning and he delivered with a wicket of opener batter Sai Sudharsan. Sudharsan has already survived a close LBW call but this time, he had to walk back. Captain KL Rahul joins Sanju Samson at the crease.

IND - 50/2 (8)

5:00 PM: Burger Gets Patidar!
Rajat Patidar hit Nandre Burger for a six then a four to collect 10 runs from the first three deliveries. Burger bowled him on the next delivery and provided South Africa their first breakthrough.

IND - 34/1 (4.4)

4:47 PM: Rajat Patidar And Sai Sudharsan At The Crease
A rare sight for Team India fans as Rajat Patidar and Sai Sudharsan have opened in the third and final ODI at Paarl against South Africa. 

4:12 PM: Captain Speak
KL Rahul: Not bothered by being asked to bat first. The wicket will be even for both innings and the lights come on pretty late here. We got ourselves to a good position in the previous game but ended up losing 5 wickets for 40-odd runs. Once we get a good start, we have to make it count. Today is another opportunity for the boys to prove themselves. This looks like a much better wicket than the previous two, hopefully, we can get plenty of runs on the board. Two changes - Rajat Patidar makes his ODI debut, and Rutu misses out after doing some damage to his finger. Also, Kuldeep gets a rest and Washington Sundar comes in.

Aiden Markram: We'll bowl first. Looks like a good wicket, won't change too much. We want to keep challenging ourselves, hopefully, we can take wickets regularly and restrict them to a low total. One last push for most of the guys before a nice break, we'll try our best. Expect more of the same as we did in the second ODI. The dimensions here are certainly different, so running hard between wickets will be key. No changes.

4:10 PM: Pitch Report From Paarl
Hot day, temperatures in the mid-30s. The pitch is dry, and when the sun is out, it is slightly slow to bat. "Something in the range of 272" would be a good score, says Vernon Philander on the local broadcast.

4:07 PM: Playing XIs
India (Playing XI): Sai Sudharsan, Sanju Samson, Rajat Patidar, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul(w/c), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar

South Africa (Playing XI): Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lizaad Williams, Beuran Hendricks

3:58 PM: Rajat Patidar To Make His ODI Debut
Team India have handed a debut to batter Rajat Patidar who will be making his ODI debut at Paarl. 

3:00 PM: Preview! 

Squads

India: Ruturaj Gaikwad, B Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, KL Rahul (capt, wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep

South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Mihlali Mpongwana, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne and Lizaad Williams

Hello and welcome to the IND vs RSA, 3rd ODI in India's Tour Of South Africa 2023-24, Match Blog. Tony de Zorzi's maiden ODI century helped South Africa beat India in Gqeberha and level the series at 1-1 after the Men in Blue had romped to a victory in the first match of the ongoing tournament. In the third ODI, after being asked to bat first in the series decider, India set a 297-run target for South Africa after Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma hit their maiden century and half-century respectively in ODIs. India openers provided a good start with Rajat Patidar's (22 off 16) quick inning. Sanju Samson first rebuilt the innings with KL Rahul (21 off 35) then added 117 runs with Tilak Varma for the fourth wicket. Rinku Singh played a good cameo of (38 off 27) at the end to take the score to 296 runs. Beuran Hendricks took three wickets and Keshav Maharaj bowled an economical spell conceding just 37 runs in his 10 overs with two maiden overs and also took an important wicket of Tilak Varma