Upbeat India look to extend lead against depleted hosts
buoyant India will look to cash in on South Africa’s injury woes, compounded by the loss of captain Faf du Plessis, when the two sides meet in the second ODI here today.
The visitors won their firstever ODI against South Africa at Durban on Thursday by six wickets and took a 1-0 lead in the six-match series. That defeat ended the Proteas’ 17-match unbeaten run on home soil stretching back to February 2016, when they had lost to England at Port Elizabeth.
In the aftermath of the Durban defeat, South Africa have lost skipper du Plessis to a finger injury. He had suffered a blow during the first ODI and later scans revealed that he had suffered a fracture, thus ruling him out for three to six weeks. He will miss the remainder of the ODI series as well as the entire T20I series against India as well.
This was on top of AB de Villiers’ finger injury, sustained during the third Test at Wanderers, but he was only ruled out of the first three ODIs. Even so, the hosts will be very demoralised with this turn of events, especially since they need to fight back to avoid going 2-0 down so early in this contest.
Batsman Farhaan Behardien has been recalled to the ODI squad, after he was left out initially in favour of Khayelihle Zondo as part of their preparation for the 2019 World Cup.
While Zondo didn’t play at Durban, it is anticipated that he will continue to sit out, as Behardien will walk into the playing eleven given the circumstances. The latter had last featured against Bangladesh in October 2017.
Wicketkeeper batsman Heinrich Klaasen, who finished the third highest run-getter in South Africa’s domestic oneday tournament, has also been drafted as backup for Quinton de Kock. The latter has been struggling for form, and scored a patchy 34 off 49 balls in the first game.
No. 1 ranking under threat
It is tough to envisage that de Kock will be dropped just yet, but Klaasens inclusion ought to send him a signal of the team managements intent.
The Proteas management have another headache before the Centurion ODI, though. They are yet to announce the captain for remainder of this ODI series. De Villiers had led in the one-off four-day Test against Zimbabwe when du Plessis was last sidelined in December.
However, they might turn to former skipper Hashim Amla in this moment of need.
South Africa’s bother doesn’t end here. The hosts will momentarily lose their No. 1 status in the ICC ODI rankings should India take a 2-0 lead at Supersport Park. As it is, the Men in Blue need a 4-2 overall series
India vs South Africa
Second One-day International at Centurion. Match starts at 12 noon UAE. Live telecast on TEN Cricket. victory to step up and affirmatively claim the top spot in the 50-overs format.
They will be carrying the winning momentum into this second ODI, after a stunning victory at the Wanderers Test and another easy win at Durban. Unlike Kingsmead, India have a better record at this venue, having played 11 ODIs inclusive of four wins and five losses. Their most famous win here came against Pakistan in the 2003 ODI World Cup.