South Africa Vs India Fourth ODI Match Played at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
India 299/8 (V Kohli 138, SK Raina 53, AM Rahane 45, Rabada 3/54, D Steyn 3/61) beat South Africa 264/9 (AB de Villiers 112, Q de Kock 43, B Kumar 3/68, Harbhajan 2/50) by 35 runs.
Man of the Match: Virat Kohli
AB de Villiers is definitely the most destructive batman of the present day cricket. Many call him superman; others call him 360-degree batsmen for his striking ability all around. But yesterday at Chennai India threw a strong challenge.
First, they set a huge target and then bowled very tight making it difficult for even ABD to steer his team. Even his brilliantly aggressive innings was not enough to take his team across the target.
On a typical, Chennai Wicket which bounced and turned Virat Kohli inspired India put up a sizeable target of 300 for South Africa to chase and win the series with a match to spare. But on such wicket tailor made for Harbhajan led quality Indian spinner trio it was always a huge challenge for unaccustomed protean batsmen.
Yet with incredible ABD, they had an outside chance. But circumstances reached such a state that even his brilliant 112 could not lead South Africa go further closer than 35 runs. India won and squared the five match ODI series 2-2 making the contest in Mumbai on Sunday the epic final.
South Africa for the first time in the series encountered a wicket, which is too difficult for them to adjust. Moreover, injury to Duminy and Morkel depleted them significantly. Moreover, after winning the toss and batting first the advantage was always with Dhoni and his men.
Though Rohit and Shikhar failed to do justice to their reputation Vintage Kohli and assured Rahane delivered. Their 104 runs third wicket partnership set a launching pad. Steyn and Rabada bowled with sustained hostility. 
But Kohli looked to be in his pristine touch. He looked in his elegant self with his silky stroke play. After Rahane left Dhoni promoted Raina who was seen struggling in earlier matches. Raina responded well Him and Kohli had another major partnership of 127.
Kohli scored his first ODI century (138 in 140 deliveries) against South Africa and first in 14 innings since the World Cup .His innings anchored the sizeable Indian score of 299/8.
Raina also contributed bright 53. South African pacers Steyn (3/61) and Rabada 3/54) bowled well but unfortunately the spinners Imran Tahir and AM Phangiso failed the exploit the wicket.
Chasing a huge 300 target under light on a turning track against three quality spinner Harbhajan, Misra and Patel was never going to be easy. South Africans hardly have opportunity for playing on such a turning track. Moreover, the batting looked thinner in absence of Duminy, one of their better players of spin.
Q de Kock had a lightening start but prolific Amla failed to take off. Willy off spinner Harbhajan produced his wonderful crafts removing two dangerous left-handers de Kock and Miller and Patel accounted for du Plessis. By 88 protean lost 4 of their 6 batsmen in a huge chase.
Even superman AB de Villiers had to reassess the situation batting with his last recognized batsman Berhadien. There spinners bowling to a plan put such a strangle hold that even ABD dared to cut loose at the early stage of the innings.
The asking rate kept mounting. When Berhadin was trapped by Misra, South Africa was still way behind at 144 in the 32nd over. ABD stepped into his third gear.
The intense pressure, heat and humidity affected his fitness a little bit. ABD played some exceptional strokes all around the wicket and till he was there Dhoni could hardly breadth freely. Dhoni had to bring back his seamers in the 46th over.
Kumar bowled a bouncer to de Villiers which he bottom edged to Dhoni and with that the match was almost won. Chennai crowd witnessed two masterful centuries of VK and ABD in the same match. India went on winning the match comfortably by 35 runs. The series is even 2-2 with the fifth to be played in Mumbai on Sunday.
The problem of South Africa is well understood. When a player like Duminy, a great player of spin and having extensive experience of Indian condition is lost in a critical time of the series it becomes a huge challenge to compete on even kill against strong India on their favored turning tracks.
Moreover, prolific Amla is going through a lean patch. Imran Tahir was brought into India with high hopes .On such a wicket he was expected to deliver but he did not.
India with tails up will be going all out to wrap up the series. But South Africa is more than capable of competing and snatching it from home side. It will be a fascinating contest in Mumbai.
BDST: 0834 HRS, OCT 23, 2015
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