Middle order Batsmen need to click: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mahendra-Singh-Dhoni-c73820
After losing the fourth ODI against South Africa in Port Elizabeth, the Indian skipper has stressed the middle order batsmen to pull up their socks.
India, who could have won the series by winning this match, failed to do so owing to an unimpressive batting display by the team's batsmen. With this win, the hosts have managed to level the series 2-2, and now the team which will win the fifth and final
match at Super Sport Park, Centurion, would ultimately clinch the series.
Dhoni, talking to the media after the loss that his team suffered due to the Duckworth and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lewis-c72807 method, said, "We had fancied our chances, but it becomes difficult with Duckworth Lewis method when you are batting second. And the approach, at the start,
has been conservative in this series- not to lose too many wickets in the beginning. So when D/L method comes after the start of the second innings, it becomes tough".
Dhoni praised the 22-year old http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virat-Kohli-c95424 for his exciting innings of 87 runs.
"(Kohli's batting) is a big positive for us. He is good for us at number three. He has carried through the innings but the other batsmen also need to chip in. The middle order has not clicked and it's true for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 also", the Indian skipper said.
The Indian team have had an amazing tour so far, having leveled the Test series against the Proteas, 1-1. After losing the first ODI at Kingsmead, Durban, they bounced back and rattled the hosts by clinching nail biting victories in the second and third
ODIs. Then, in Cape Town, the visitors won by 2 wickets, with 10 balls to spare.
South Africa, while batting, first piled up a total of 265 runs, which included a commendable innings by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jean-Paul-Duminy-c66758 (71 runs, not out) and Hashim Amla (64 runs, run out). Yuvraj Singh was the pick of the bowlers from the Indian side, who took 3 wickets
in 8 overs.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 tentative start out cautiously, which basically later caused them the match, owing to the D/L method. According to D/L, India had to chase a target of 191 runs in 32.6 overs. However, the visitors ended 48 runs short and ultimately lost the match.
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