RAJKOT (Staff report) – South Africa on Sunday defeated India by 18 runs in the third one-day international when the latter could score 252 runs in 50 overs in Rajkot cricket stadium.
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock remained prominent batsman who hit 103 runs to lift his team to 270-7 after electing to bat.
Morkel picked 4 wickets for 39 runs only. He was given Man of the Match award.
Faf du Plessis (60) shared a third-wicket stand of 118 with de Kock to lift the tourists to 205-2 in the 39th over when India hit back with three quick wickets to make it 210-5 in the 41st.
Du Plessis, who was caught off a Mohit Sharma no-ball when on 16, was dismissed by the same bowler to a catch at third-man, triggering the slide.
De Kock was run out in the 40th over after a misunderstanding with his skipper AB de Villiers, who was himself given leg-before in left-arm spinner Axar Patel´s next over.
Farhaan Behardien smashed a last-ball six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar to return unbeaten on 33.
David Miller, promoted to open the innings with de Kock, scored 33 in a first-wicket partnership of 72 to give the Proteas a sound start, but the Indians kept the run-rate under check.
The five-match series is locked 2-1. The one-day series will be followed by four Test matches.
