South Africa vs India, 3rd ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: India tour of South Africa, 2017-18 Venue: Newlands, Cape Town Date & Time: Feb 07, 01:00 PM LOCAL

India gained an unassailable 3-0 lead by defeating South Africa by 124 runs. © BCCI

India have the unassailable 3-0 lead now

Kohli won't mind sharing the limelight with his two favourite teammates - the wristspinners. Chahal and Kuldeep ended at par with four wickets apiece. Kuldeep sends out the googly and Ngidi had no clue about it, missed the line and was trapped plumb in front. South Africa fall short and how, bowled out for 179 and with 10 overs to go.

WICKET - Nine down!

Tahir had just hit a four down the ground but that was all part of the trap. Another carrot in the form of a juicy floater and Tahir fell for it again. Miscued slog went high up and Kohli had another simple catch for the taking.

WICKET - Eight down!

Gently tossed up outside off as Phehlukwayo tries to go for the big heave across the line - rather hopelessly, top edge sails up and Kohli takes a simple running catch at cover. Formalities remain...

WICKET - Seven down!

South Africa are quickly hurtling towards another defeat! Chris Morris was trapped leg before by a Kuldeep Yadav ball that kept a tad low, while Khaya Zondo went for the jugular against Chahal and skied one to substitute fielder Manish Pandey. SA 150 for 7 in 36.1 overs

WICKET - Game Over for SA?

That's certainly what India would believe. David Miller - the last possible batsman who could've led a late dramatic surge to an improbable victory - has perished. Miller advanced down the track as the mid off and mid off were inside the 30-yard-circle, but Bumrah's angle from around the stumps cramped the left-hander for room. The result was an under-edge that went to Dhoni behind the stumps. South Africa 129 for 5 in 32.3 overs

South Africa - 122/4 in 30 overs

The chase is going nowhere presently. David Miller is into the 20s but Khaya Zondo has been slow to provide any sort of impetus. They now need 182 off the last 120 balls!

WICKET - SA 95/4

JP Duminy is gone! He was quick to go onto the back foot to a Chahal ball that wasn't short enough. It pitched outside off and turned in sharply, beating Duminy's attempt to glance it away on the leg side. The ball hit the front pad and the big appeal was met with a raised finger. Duminy wasn't convinced but reviewed, and was still sent on his way back.

FIFTY for Duminy

JP Duminy takes SA's fight forward. He's got his 25th half-century but his job is not even half done. SA will need him to negate the relentless pressure put on the hosts by the two tweakers.

WICKET - Chahal strikes

Not a very happy debut for Heinrich Klaasen. He played inside the line of a Chahal delivery that pitched on leg stump and turned sharply to beat the bat and hit the back leg in line. JP Duminy adviced him against a review and out went Klaasen. SA 88 for 3 in 19.3 overs

WICKET - Aiden Markram is stumped!

MS Dhoni is quick as lightening, as always! SA skipper is beaten by the flight and turn and is way down the track when the ball is collected by the Indian stumper. Markram was looking good but the run rate wasn't moving as quickly as SA would've liked. And the fact that SA have been giving away wickets to spinners in the series, there was a tendency to try and attack one. Markram took one for the team, but failed to see them through it. He goes for 32 off 42. South Africa 79 for 2 in 16.2 overs.

71 20

FIFTY for Shikhar Dhawan

The left-hander has enjoyed contrasting form compared to his opening partner. He brings up his 25th half-century with a sweep shot for four behind square off Imran Tahir. He gets to his milestone off 42 balls - during which he whacked nine fours.

India 79/1 in 15 overs

India's innings is slowly building with Kohli and Dhawan. That's been India's ODI template and it seems to be working. Problem for Markram is that his fourth bowler - Andile Phehlukwayo - has not started very well. He replaced wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi in the line-up.

Rabada bowled an excellent first spell, but he's already bowled five. Markram needs the rest of his bowlers to step and fill in. The skipper should turn to Imran Tahir anytime now.

India 50/1 in 10 overs

Interesting start to the third ODI. Kagiso Rabada has been excellent with varying his lengths. He removed Rohit Sharma first ball and nearly had Virat Kohli too, only for the snicko to come to Indian captain's rescue. Even after that missed chance, Rabada has challenged Kohli well - the No.3 batter has managed to score just nine off the 20 balls he faced from Rabada.

Debutant Lungisani Ngidi has not been as good with his length and line, allowing Shikhar Dhawan to collect four our of his five boundaries so far.

South Africa have already conceded 10 boundaries - allowing India to collect 40 of their 50 runs in fours.

Saved by a spike!

And a big one, that. Kagiso Rabada was convinced he had Kohli trapped leg before. The entire South African side was convinced. Even umpire Ian Gould was. And for a moment it felt like Kohli might just not go to review route, but took it in the end. As it turned out, a massive spike showed up on Snicko as the ball passed the bat. The decision is overturned but Gould has a wry smile and a head shake as he gestures for the change in decision.

Wicket!

Rohit Sharma is gone! Kagiso Rabada has induced the faintest of nicks from the bat of an undecided Rohit, who didn't take his bat away on time while offering judgement to a length ball that came in sharply. No review from the India opener. The visitors are 0 for 1 in 1 over.

TOSS - Aiden Markram opts to put India in

Squads

SA XI :Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen(w), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Khaya Zondo, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Lungisani Ngidi, Imran Tahir

News from Cape Town

Our man Kaushik Rangarajan brings some good, intriguing and exciting news - First - "Very bright and very sunny. The usual people at the warm-up drills for India."

And - "If you didn't think it was possible, Kedar Jadhav released a ball from a lower angle than usual."

Lastly - "Lungi Ngidi having quite a serious fielding drill. Could be in for his ODI debut."

Prelude - Testing times for South Africa

Who'd have thought, we'd say this? But it is indeed testing times for South Africa as the No. 1 ODI side has looked completely out of depth, and have big changes to make, and a tide to turn at the halfway mark of the six-game long series.

All the expectant eyes have turned towards the prodigious 23-year-old Aiden Markram, who is leading the side in the absence of regular captain Faf du Plessis and stand-in captain AB de Villiers - both sidelined by injuries. Quinton de Kock isn't around too, giving another youngster - Heinrich Klaasen - the task of keeping stumps.

This 1v2 contest hasn't played out like many would've liked - but there could still be life left in the series if South Africa can turn the tables on a side that is lacking in no department at the moment. Good luck then, Aiden.