India v South Africa, 2015-16
Wisden's review of the second ODI, India v South Africa, 2015-16
Dileep Premachandran
15-Apr-2016
At Indore, October 14, 2015 (day/night). India won by 22 runs. Toss: India.
Three days after copping vociferous criticism for his failure to close out the game in Kanpur, Dhoni was a man apart as India levelled the series with a comfortable victory in a low-scoring game. They had been 82 for three when he arrived and, despite Rahane's sprightly half-century, limped to 165 for seven in the 40th over. But Dhoni brought back memories of his halcyon years, finishing with an unbeaten 92 from 86 balls, including four sixes. South Africa were cruising as du Plessis and Duminy added 82 for the third wicket. Once Patel dismissed both in consecutive overs on his way to format-best figures of three for 39, however, the pressure was on de Villiers to take his side home. Instead, he flat-batted Mohit Sharma to short cover, where Kohli took an exceptional catch. As South Africa's slide continued, Behardien fell victim to a catch that never was, wrongly given out caught behind down the leg side off Harbhajan Singh; the umpire, Vineet Kulkarni, had been the subject of an Indian complaint after the previous game. Behind the stumps, the usually phlegmatic Dhoni was an animated as he had ever been. This was his 20th match award in one-day internationals (including one for an Asia XI), but his first since July 2013.
Man of the Match: M. S. Dhoni.
Three days after copping vociferous criticism for his failure to close out the game in Kanpur, Dhoni was a man apart as India levelled the series with a comfortable victory in a low-scoring game. They had been 82 for three when he arrived and, despite Rahane's sprightly half-century, limped to 165 for seven in the 40th over. But Dhoni brought back memories of his halcyon years, finishing with an unbeaten 92 from 86 balls, including four sixes. South Africa were cruising as du Plessis and Duminy added 82 for the third wicket. Once Patel dismissed both in consecutive overs on his way to format-best figures of three for 39, however, the pressure was on de Villiers to take his side home. Instead, he flat-batted Mohit Sharma to short cover, where Kohli took an exceptional catch. As South Africa's slide continued, Behardien fell victim to a catch that never was, wrongly given out caught behind down the leg side off Harbhajan Singh; the umpire, Vineet Kulkarni, had been the subject of an Indian complaint after the previous game. Behind the stumps, the usually phlegmatic Dhoni was an animated as he had ever been. This was his 20th match award in one-day internationals (including one for an Asia XI), but his first since July 2013.
Man of the Match: M. S. Dhoni.