In a nail-biting encounter at Newlands Stadium, India lost by a slim margin of 4 runs in the final over. This loss meant a complete series whitewash for India, despite a heroic effort from Deepak Chahar, who blasted 54 runs from only 34 deliveries. The all-rounder's refusal to give up was evident in his explosive half-century, which nearly dragged India to an improbable win. The game shifted back in South Africa's favor, however, when Lungi Ngidi dismissed Chahar in the 48th over to secure the victory.
After opting to bat first, South Africa had a shaky start, dropping three wickets early. Temba Bavuma (8) departed via a brilliant run-out executed by KL Rahul at mid-off. The momentum shifted when Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen joined forces, stitching together a dominant 144-run stand for the fourth wicket. De Kock dominated the scoring with a masterclass 124 before being dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah in the 36th over.
Yuzvendra Chahal managed to remove van der Dussen for 52, momentarily slowing the Proteas' scoring. But David Miller contributed a vital 39, ensuring South Africa finished with a defendable score of 287. India's chase started poorly with captain KL Rahul falling for just 9. A steadying partnership then developed between Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, who combined for 98 runs with elegant stroke play. This stand was broken when Andile Phehlukwayo got Dhawan out for 61.
The drama intensified when Phehlukwayo dismissed Rishabh Pant for a golden duck on the very next ball. Then, Keshav Maharaj once again proved to be Kohli's nemesis, removing him for 65 and giving South Africa the upper hand. While the Proteas' bowlers kept the wickets tumbling to make the chase seem impossible, Deepak Chahar staged a late fightback, sharing a 55-run partnership with Bumrah at number 8. In the end, South Africa kept their composure to win the match in the final over.