An excellent bowling performance hands South Africa a series victory. India got off to a horrendous start as they lost Dhawan and Kohli for a duck. Rohit and Rahane didn't last long either as they went playing some poor shots. Dhoni and Raina hung around and added 40 runs for the fifth wicket before the latter was sent packing by Philander. It was just a matter of time till the end was near. Jadeja and Ashwin prolonged the inevitable for a while before succumbing to the pace and bounce of the Proteas bowlers. The South African bowling was at its best as all the bowlers were among the wickets but Tsotsobe and Steyn were at their lethal best as they shared 7 wickets between them.
The Indian bowlers actually managed to pull things back in this game, when compared to the previous one but the last over from Umesh Yadav undid a lot of good work done until then. Before that South Africa had slipped up considerably after the departure of de Kock. The South African openers laid a superb platform yet again but this time the middle order could not capitalise fully. In the previous game, 100 runs were scored in the last 6 overs whereas today India gave away 'only' 70 in the last 10.
This is India's first series loss this year (series starting in 2013). They had won 6 series before losing this one. There was no bounce and pace on this wicket as compared to the Wanderers but the batsmen played some poor shots and did not show any application at the crease. The only positive for India in this match is the way they bowled at the death except the last over.
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