Ind SA ODI 4: SA Level Series After Amla, Duminy, Botha and Rain Have a Say

India would have hoped to levelled the series, particularly when they had South Africa on the mat at 121 for five. But as it turned out, South Africa did fight back and India could not hold their own on a day when rain brought an early end to proceedings.

hashim amla v india

Hashim Amla was both, the hero and the reason for South Africa's downfall. That was because while he was going with sixty-four runs to his name, South Africa were on course to level the series 2-2. However, his needless run out meant that South Africa found themselves in a bit of a hole at the half way mark.

The rescue act between JP Duminy and Johan Botha was what saved the day for South Africa. Their partnership worth runs, as Duminy struck a fine seventy-one while Botha's contribution of forty-four was equally valuable, ensured that South Africa recovered from the doldrums to post a rather healthy total of 263 with a little cameo knock from Robin Peterson.

India's response was rather shambolic considering they had the early momentum in the match. At three for forty-nine, hopes began to dwindle and pretty soon, India's attempts were a one man army of Virat Kohli who remained unbeaten on eighty-seven.

As the pressure began to mount, so did the threat of rain and within no time, rain was upon the dull and dreary Indian effort to the point where Messrs. Duckworth and Lewis played their part as well. Suresh Raina indulged a bit with Kohli for the best partnership of the innings with sixty-three runs. But India's efforts became paler at six down for 128 with the hero of the previous match, Irfan Pathan, back int he den as well as Robin Peterson and Lonwabo Tsotsobe enjoyed the spoils. With rain and the D/L method, India could only manage 142 runs in thirty-three overs, losing the match by forty-eight runs, making the fifth ODI on Sunday the decider of the series.