India had a near perfect day playing the second ODI against South Africa on Sunday. The visitors didn't face any hiccup at the Supersport Park in Centurion, barring one. And a rather bizarre one at that.
After dismissing South Africa for a meagre 118, thanks to Yuzvendra Chahal's five-for, India were cruising at 117 for 2 when the umpires decided to take a lunch break. Yes, the players were taken off with India needing just two more runs to win.
Questions were raised about the logic imposed by the officials as the players, South Africans included, looked flummoxed as they walked off. Indian captain Virat Kohli was the least impressed with the decision and made his displeasure known to the on-field umpires. He was batting on 44 at that time with Shikhar Dhawan giving him company on 51.
Twitter, too, couldn't wrap its head around the unusual turn of events. As expected, Virender Sehwag had the funniest take on the happenings. "Umpires treating Indian batsmen like PSU Bank treat customers. Lunch ke baad aana," wrote Viru.
Here are some tweets
Earlier, Aiden Markram became the second-youngest ODI skipper for South Africa. South Africa made two changes, handing Khaya Zondo his ODI debut for the injured Faf du Plessis. They also included chinaman Tabraiz Shamsi in place of all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo while India went unchanged.
Sent into bat, Hashim Amla (23) and Quinton de Kock (20) made a watchful start against Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/19) and Jasprit Bumrah (1/12). While the Indian pacers were on the money with their line and length, the Proteas' openers were more watchful and wary of losing wickets early on.
The duo nearly negotiated the first 10 overs safely, as Hardik Pandya (0/34) once again proved to be expensive in his opening spell. India got the breakthrough they wanted when Kumar, bowling from changed ends, induced a faint inside edge off Amla. The batsman asked for DRS review but the decision stayed with India. South Africa were placed at 39/1 after 10 overs and their 50 came up in the 13th over.
Chahal immediately came into the attack and struck in his second over as de Kock was caught in the deep. It became two wickets in two balls when Markram (8) played a poor stroke off Kuldeep Yadav in the very next over and was caught in the deep as well, with Kumar taking a well-judged catch.
Four balls later, Miller was bamboozled by Yadav and was caught at slip. South Africa, by then, had lost three wickets for 0 runs in a space of 6 balls, but the worst was yet to come.
Zondo (25) and JP Duminy (25) added 48 runs for the fifth wicket to somewhat stabilise the innings. But the procession began once again when the wrist spinners were brought back in action. Zondo miscued one off Chahal in the 27th over and was caught at midwicket, with Pandya latching on second attempt.
South Africa barely crossed 100 in that over, and then Chahal came with another breakthrough, trapping Duminy plumb LBW. The Proteas then their last five wickets for 11 runs. Chahal trapped Morne Morkel (1) LBW as well, while Yadav got rid of Kagiso Rabada (1) with a wrong one, out LBW. Bumrah got on the wickets' tally too, bowling Imran Tahir (0) to complete the hosts' misery.
(Inputs from PTI)
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