India Innings
South Africa have won the fourth ODI at Centurion by 48 runs by the D/L Method. The match was called off after two rain interruptions and India finished at a below par 142 for 6 in 32.5 overs. Virat Kohli was the only batsman to come good for India and unfortunately had to miss out on a well deserved century due to the rain stoppage. The youngster was unconquered on 87 from 92 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes.
All the South African bowlers succeeded in sustaining the pressure on the Indians right from the three quicks to the spinners. India had a slow start and when Yuvraj Singh perished to Johan Botha through a superb catch from Smith, the score was a dull 49 for 3 in 15 overs. Suresh Raina provided some hope with Kohli with a good looking partnership but he got out in the 27th over stumped out off Peterson. Raina scored 20 from 36 balls leaving India at 112 for 4. After this, Dhoni and Pathan walked in and left the middle in quick time hardly scoring any runs.
By the 30th over, it was all over for India as Kohli was left all on his own and only a miracle could take them to a win. Rain eventually had the last laugh as it brouught an abrupt finish to the proceedings. Duminy got the Man of the Match for his 71*.
South Africa Innings
JP Duminy struck a crucial 71 not out from 72 balls to help South Africa post a stiff target of 266 for India in the fourth ODI at Port Elizabeth. South Africa batting first after winning the toss were in huge trouble at 118 for 5 in the 23rd over and were in the danger of folding to 180 or so! But Johan Botha rallied along with Duminy to put up 70 runs for the sixth wicket and then Robin Peterson hung in there to help Duminy add up 53 runs for the seventh wicket. Botha contributed 44 from 59 balls while Peterson scored 31 from 35 balls.
Early on SA after an initially slow start off the seamers got going thanks to Hashim Amla's attacking 64 from 69 balls with 8 fours. But the hosts lost their way between the 11th over and the 20th over to get peggeg back in the rest of the match. Yuvraj Singh was the pick of the bowlers for India taking 3 for 34 in 10 overs. Harbhajan Singh disappointed though on what was a turning track as he leaked 61 runs in 10 overs without taking any wickets.
Toss and Teams
South Africa in a must win situation to save the Series have won the toss in the fourth ODI at Port Elizabeth. The hosts have decided to bat first on a pitch that has been traditionally taking spin and has been slower and lower compared to the other pitches in this country. SA have made two changes with Morne van Wyk and Robin Peterson replacing Colin Ingram and Wayne Parnell. India have made just the one change with Parthiv Patel coming in for Murali Vijay.
South Africa : HM Amla, GC Smith (C), MN van Wyk, AB de Villiers (WK), JP Duminy, F du Plessis, DW Steyn, J Botha, RJ Peterson, M Morkel, LL Tsotsobe
India : PA Patel, RG Sharma, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, SK Raina, YK Pathan, MS Dhoni (C&WK), Harbhajan Singh, MM Patel, Z Khan, A Nehra
- BV Swagath
