A target of 288 was below-par on a flat track and the host team eventually reached the target in 48.1 overs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series.
A target of 288 was below-par on a flat track and the host team eventually reached the target in 48.1 overs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series.
Seasoned Quinton de Kock (78 off 66 balls) in the company of rising sensation Janneman Malan (91 off 108 balls) added 132 for a match-deciding opening stand.
It has paid really well for the hosts so far. However, the absence of killer instinct in India had shown so prominently in Australia and during the New Zealand series at home. So, what happened there?
The match slipped away from India's grip during their innings once Pant was gone as the others simply failed to get going when the ball didn't come on to the bat and it was not a track that offered firm and even bounce.
Had Pant not played the role of an enforcer to perfection, even a target of 288 wouldn't have been possible. And this was after it seemed India would score close to 315 when he was having a steady stand of 115 with his skipper.
India ended up with a score that was at least 20 runs less than what could have been considered challenging. For that, Pant needed to make a deserving maiden ODI hundred, which didn't happen.