New Delhi: After winning the first three games in the ODI series against South Africa,

Team India was handed a shock defeat in the fourth ODI at the Wanderers Stadium in
Johannesburg. With rain playing spoilsport, South Africa seized the moment to win the
game by 5 wickets. And even as the teams gear up to play the fifth ODI at St. George’s
Park in Port Elizabeth, Virat Kohli and his boys have their task cut-out. India has played
four ODIs against South Africa on this ground and is yet to register a win at the venue.

If Kohli and his boys do manage to win the fifth ODI, it will not only be their first win at
the ground, but will also be India’s first bilateral series win against the Proteas. India has
never managed to win an ODI series against South Africa in the Rainbow Nation.
Leading 3-1 going into the fifth game, this is indeed Kohli and boys’ best opportunity to
rewrite history.

India first played at St. George’s Park in 1992 and with Mohammad Azharuddin winning
the toss, India batted first, only to be bowled out for 147. South Africa chased down the
total in 47 overs to win by six wickets. WV Raman was the only player to show some
fight as he hit 33 – the highest score in the India innings.

India next played at the venue in 1997 with Sachin Tendulkar leading the Men in Blue.
This time too India won the toss and decided to bat, only to lose opener Sourav
Gangulu for a duck. The visitors managed just 179/9 with make-shift opener Rahul
Dravid and Azharuddin scoring half-centuries. South Africa chased down the target in
45.1 overs to once again register a six-wicket win.

The third encounter between the two teams at the venue was in 2006 with Virender
Sehwag leading the side. This time the Proteas won the toss and decided to bat first
and put a decent 243/8 on the board. In reply, India managed only 163 as Irfan Pathan
was the highest scorer with an unbeaten 47 off 55 balls. South Africa won by 80 runs.

The last game between the two teams at this venue was played out in 2011. MS Dhoni
was the captain and once again it was the home team that won the toss and decided to
bat first. They scored 265/7 riding on Hashim Amla and JP Duminy’s fifties. In reply,
India could manage only 142/6 in a rain-curtailed game as the visitors lost the match by
48 runs (D/L method). Current skipper Virat Kohli was the highest scorer, remaining
unbeaten on 87 off 92 balls.
India vs South Africa