South Africa Bundle out India for 211 in Collective Effort

Following their disappointing performance in the series opener, South Africa made a strong comeback in the second ODI against India. They put up a collective bowling display at St George Park on Tuesday (December 19), successfully bowling out India for a below-par total. Nandre Burger was the standout performer for the hosts, picking up three wickets for 30 runs, with support from Beuran Hendricks (2/34) and Keshav Maharaj (2/51). Although Sai Sudharsan and KL Rahul scored half-centuries for India, their efforts alone were not enough to rescue the team's batting performance.

After winning the toss, the Indian team suffered an early blow when Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed on just the second ball of the game, courtesy of an excellent inswinger from Burger. The pitch was tricky to start on, with uneven bounce and swing on offer with the new ball. However, Sudharsan displayed composure and built on his debut half-century from the previous match to notch up another fifty. Tilak Varma struggled during his stay at the crease and eventually fell victim to Burger's excellent opening burst.

Sudharsan and Rahul managed to stabilize India's innings, steadily increasing the scoring rate despite the challenging pitch conditions. The surface offered variable bounce and was not easy-paced, making runs hard to come by. While the partnership between the two batsmen flourished, South Africa remained patient without panicking. However, once the vital partnership was broken, India's wickets started falling rapidly. From 114/2, India found themselves in a precarious position at 169/6. Had it not been for some valuable contributions from Arshdeep Singh towards the end, India would have struggled to surpass the 200-run mark.

Hendricks received excellent support from Burger, who troubled the Indian batsmen throughout his spell. Williams and Maharaj also played their part in maintaining the pressure on the visitors. Maharaj, though relatively expensive, claimed the crucial wicket of Rinku Singh, who made a quick start. India's total of 211 runs falls short of a par score on this pitch by about 40-50 runs. However, their bowlers will back themselves after their impressive performance in the previous game in Johannesburg. South Africa, on the other hand, might face a psychological challenge if they lose a few early wickets, given their previous game's performance.

Brief scores: India 211 in 46.2 overs (Sai Sudharsan 62, KL Rahul 56; Nandre Burger 3-30, Beuran Hendricks 2-34) vs South Africa