De Kock’s Ton Lifts South Africa, But India’s Bowlers Drag Them Back to 270 in 3rd ODI

South Africa posted 270 in 47.5 overs in the India vs South Africa 3rd ODI at Visakhapatnam on Saturday, but the total looked lighter than expected after India’s bowlers took control in the final phase. India bowled with discipline in the middle overs and closed out the innings with pressure bowling at both ends.

India won the toss and elected to field first. This toss win also made India finally end their rotten luck with the toss.

De Kock’s Century Sets the Early Tempo

Quinton de Kock walked out with clear intent and shaped the innings from the start. He played with confidence against pace, drove through the line, and made India change their fields early. His strike rotation stayed tight, and he punished every loose ball with authority.

Temba Bavuma backed him up with a steady 48 in 67 balls. Their partnership crossed 100 and silenced the early swing threat. India’s seamers searched for movement, but de Kock handled them with quick feet and timing. His half-century came without fuss, and his acceleration after that kept the scoring rate healthy.

De Kock reached his hundred with a punch through the covers. He looked set for a bigger score, but Prasidh Krishna returned for his second spell and broke the rhythm. One short ball forced a miscue, and India got the opening they needed as he got out on 106 in 89 deliveries. 

India Hit Back After the Breakthrough

De Kock’s dismissal shifted the mood instantly as South Africa went from control to damage control. India squeezed the mid-overs with tight lines and smart field placements. No one even settled and made the innings long, other than Kock and Bavuma. 

Prasidh found his groove after a tough first spell. He hit the deck hard and used the short ball with far better accuracy. His wickets came through pressure rather than surprise, and his spell changed the direction of the innings. He got 4/66 in his 10-over spell. 

Arshdeep Singh delivered the first blow of the match when he removed Ryan Rickelton for a duck in the opening over. He returned later and kept things tight, which helped India control the back end of the innings. Every dry over increased the urgency for South Africa, and the batters struggled to regain momentum.

Kuldeep Yadav Dominates the Lower Order

Kuldeep Yadav took charge when South Africa tried to rebuild. He bowled fuller, forced the sweep into play, and read the batters early. His variations gripped the surface, and the lower order crumbled under his control.

South Africa lost four wickets to Kuldeep in quick succession. His spell removed the remaining structure in the line-up and opened the tail. The batters found no comfort against him and rarely picked his wrong’un.

His 4 for 41 reflected both accuracy and game awareness. He attacked with the field up and squeezed with protection in place. South Africa never recovered from the pressure he applied.

South Africa Fell Short of a Strong Finish

South Africa’s 270 looked competitive for a few overs, but the collapse left them short of their initial projection. They lost their final eight wickets for 89 runs.

On a pitch that offered control to both spin and disciplined pace, South Africa needed a stronger finish. India’s attack never allowed it.

The target of 271 now stands between India and the series win, with the conditions likely to ease under lights.