Daijiworld Media Network - Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam, Dec 6: Yashasvi Jaiswal struck his maiden ODI century, while senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli smashed fluent half-centuries as India crushed South Africa by nine wickets in the series-deciding third ODI at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing 271, India stormed to 271/1 in just 39.5 overs, completing a dominant white-ball comeback after a disappointing 0–2 Test series defeat. The win also marked India’s 10th consecutive home ODI series victory.
Jaiswal, Rohit and Kohli flatten South Africa
Jaiswal, who became the youngest Indian to score centuries in all three international formats, remained unbeaten on 116 off 121 balls. His innings, built on patience and precision, accelerated sharply after his fifty, culminating in a sparkling maiden ODI hundred.
Skipper Rohit Sharma was the early aggressor, blasting 75 off 73 balls with seven fours and three sixes. His authoritative strokeplay earned him the Player of the Match award. The Rohit–Jaiswal opening stand of 155 runs sent South Africa on the back foot early.
After Rohit fell to Keshav Maharaj, Virat Kohli took charge with a breathtaking display of controlled aggression, hammering 65 not out off 45 balls. He reached his half-century in just 40 deliveries, treating the crowd to a spectacular no-look six off Corbin Bosch. Kohli finished the three-match series with 301 runs, including two centuries.
Together, Kohli and Jaiswal stitched an unbeaten 116-run partnership to complete India’s emphatic win.
Kuldeep and Prasidh lead bowling fightback
Earlier, after India opted to bowl, Quinton de Kock’s superb 106 off 80 balls anchored South Africa’s total of 270 all out in 47.5 overs. De Kock shared key stands of 113 with Temba Bavuma (48) and 54 with Matthew Breetzke (24), becoming joint-highest (23) among designated wicketkeepers for ODI centuries alongside Kumar Sangakkara.
South Africa reached a strong 168/2, but India’s bowlers engineered a dramatic collapse.
Prasidh Krishna, expensive in his opening spell, returned strongly to take 4/66, including the crucial wickets of Breetzke, Markram and de Kock—whose middle stump was sent cartwheeling by a searing yorker.
Kuldeep Yadav (4/41) delivered a decisive middle-overs burst, dismissing Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch and Lungi Ngidi as South Africa lost their last eight wickets for just 102 runs.
Brief Scores
South Africa: 270 all out in 47.5 overs
(Quinton de Kock 106, Temba Bavuma 48, Dewald Brevis 29; Kuldeep Yadav 4-41, Prasidh Krishna 4-66)
India: 271/1 in 39.5 overs
(Yashasvi Jaiswal 116*, Rohit Sharma 75, Virat Kohli 65*; Keshav Maharaj 1-44)
Result: India won by 9 wickets; clinched series 2–1.