If you enjoy watching India and South Africa battle it out on the field, the 3rd ODI of their recent series was something to remember. This match was the series decider, and both teams came in with one win each. The excitement was real. Fans expected a tight contest, and luckily, the game didn’t disappoint.
India had momentum after winning the second ODI. South Africa, though, had home conditions in their favor. That made the clash even more interesting. Everyone was watching to see who would handle the pressure better.
From aggressive batting to solid bowling spells, this match had it all. Whether you missed the game or want to revisit the key moments, this recap will walk you through every detail. You’ll find the full scorecard, major highlights, and the turning points that decided the match. Plus, we’ll talk about who stood out and what made the difference in the end.
So, let’s dive in and break down how the 3rd ODI between India and South Africa unfolded.
Match Overview
- Match: South Africa vs India, 3rd ODI
- Venue: Boland Park, Paarl
- Date: December 21, 2023
- Result: India won by 78 runs
- Series Result: India won the 3-match ODI series 2-1
- Player of the Match: Sanju Samson
- Player of the Series: Arshdeep Singh
Toss and Playing XIs
South Africa won the toss and chose to field first. They hoped the early morning conditions would help their bowlers. But India had their plans too.
India Playing XI:
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Sai Sudharsan
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- KL Rahul (captain)
- Tilak Varma
- Rinku Singh
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Avesh Khan
- Mukesh Kumar
South Africa Playing XI:
- Reeza Hendricks
- Tony de Zorzi
- Rassie van der Dussen
- Aiden Markram (captain)
- Heinrich Klaasen (wk)
- David Miller
- Wiaan Mulder
- Keshav Maharaj
- Beuran Hendricks
- Lizaad Williams
- Nandre Burger
India’s Innings: A Solid Batting Show
India started cautiously. The pitch was a bit slow in the first 10 overs. But once the batters got used to the conditions, the runs started to flow.
Key Performers:
- Sanju Samson was the standout. He played a steady innings and brought up his maiden ODI century.
- Sai Sudharsan also impressed with his timing and stroke play.
- The middle order chipped in with handy runs.
Let’s take a look at India’s batting card:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s | How Out |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 24 | 37 | 2/0 | Caught – Hendricks |
| Sai Sudharsan | 62 | 83 | 7/0 | Caught – Miller |
| Sanju Samson | 108 | 114 | 6/3 | Caught – Klaasen |
| KL Rahul | 21 | 35 | 1/1 | Bowled – Maharaj |
| Tilak Varma | 28 | 33 | 3/0 | LBW – Williams |
| Rinku Singh | 9 | 12 | 0/0 | Caught – Markram |
| Washington Sundar | 14* | 10 | 1/0 | Not Out |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 2 | 3 | 0/0 | Bowled – Burger |
| Arshdeep Singh | 6* | 4 | 1/0 | Not Out |
Total: 296/8 in 50 overs
It was a good total on a slow surface. India paced their innings well and didn’t lose too many wickets in clumps.
South Africa’s Bowling Effort
South Africa’s bowlers did their best to contain India. Maharaj was the pick of the bowlers with his control and variations. Burger and Williams also picked up key wickets in the middle overs.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
| Lizaad Williams | 10 | 55 | 2 |
| Nandre Burger | 10 | 63 | 2 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 10 | 46 | 1 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 7 | 38 | 0 |
| Aiden Markram | 5 | 26 | 0 |
| Beuran Hendricks | 8 | 52 | 1 |
South Africa’s Chase
Chasing 297 wasn’t going to be easy. India struck early. Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan removed both openers quickly. After that, South Africa never got the rhythm they needed.
Only Heinrich Klaasen looked comfortable. He played some attacking shots, but he didn’t get much support.
Here’s a look at South Africa’s batting card:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s | How Out |
| Reeza Hendricks | 6 | 9 | 1/0 | Caught – Samson |
| Tony de Zorzi | 10 | 12 | 2/0 | Caught – Rahul |
| Rassie van der Dussen | 18 | 25 | 2/0 | LBW – Kuldeep |
| Aiden Markram (C) | 12 | 21 | 1/0 | Bowled – Sundar |
| Heinrich Klaasen | 65 | 52 | 7/2 | Caught – Sundar |
| David Miller | 29 | 33 | 3/0 | Caught – Gaikwad |
| Wiaan Mulder | 15 | 18 | 2/0 | Bowled – Avesh |
| Keshav Maharaj | 9 | 16 | 1/0 | Caught – Rinku |
| Beuran Hendricks | 3 | 10 | 0/0 | Bowled – Arshdeep |
| Lizaad Williams | 2 | 6 | 0/0 | Caught – Sundar |
| Nandre Burger | 0* | 3 | 0/0 | Not Out |
Total: 218 all out in 45.3 overs
India’s Bowling – Disciplined and Deadly
India’s bowlers were sharp. They attacked the stumps and didn’t allow the batters to settle. Arshdeep and Avesh picked up early wickets, while Sundar and Kuldeep handled the middle overs well.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
| Arshdeep Singh | 8.3 | 36 | 4 |
| Avesh Khan | 8 | 42 | 2 |
| Washington Sundar | 9 | 39 | 3 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 10 | 45 | 1 |
| Mukesh Kumar | 5 | 30 | 0 |
| Tilak Varma | 5 | 22 | 0 |
Turning Points of the Match
- Sanju Samson’s century laid a solid foundation.
- Early wickets from Arshdeep shifted the momentum quickly.
- Sundar’s double strike in the middle overs ended any hope of a comeback.
Post-Match Reactions
KL Rahul, India’s stand-in captain, praised the team’s balance. He was happy to see youngsters step up. Samson and Arshdeep were praised for their consistency.
Aiden Markram accepted that India outplayed them. He felt they could’ve handled the middle overs better.
Final Thoughts
The 3rd ODI had everything—drama, big knocks, sharp bowling, and pressure moments. India showed they could adapt in South African conditions, which is a good sign ahead of future tours. Winning the series 2-1 gives them confidence, while South Africa will reflect on their batting collapse.
In the end, it was a well-deserved win for India. And if you watched it live, you know how satisfying it was to see both teams give it their all.
