Kohli shines as India holds off spirited South African charge
Ranchi: It was a high-scoring drama at the JSCA International Stadium Complex on Sunday as India managed to defend a massive total against a resilient South African side. In the IND vs SA 1st ODI, the Men in Blue held their nerve in the final moments to secure a 17-run victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Although India posted a formidable 349 runs, the match went down to the wire thanks to a fierce counter-attack by the Proteas' lower order.
Kohli and Rohit Set the Stage
After being invited to bat first by Aiden Markram, India’s innings was anchored by the brilliance of Virat Kohli. Proving his dominance in the 50-over format yet again, Kohli smashed a fluent 135 off 120 balls, marking his 52nd ODI century. He found an able partner in Rohit Sharma, who scored a quickfire 57. During his knock, Rohit shattered a long-standing world record, surpassing Shahid Afridi to become the batter with the most sixes in ODI history (352).
Their 136-run partnership, followed by solid contributions from skipper KL Rahul (60) and Ravindra Jadeja (32), propelled India to 349/8.
Harshit Rana’s Early Strikes
Defending the total, India started perfectly. Young pacer Harshit Rana bowling with fire, decimated the South African top order. In his very first over, he removed both Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton for ducks. Arshdeep Singh soon joined the party by removing Markram, leaving the visitors reeling at 11/3.
The Late Scare
Just when it looked like a one-sided affair, South Africa fought back. Matthew Breetzke (72) steadied the ship, but the real threat came late in the game. Marco Jansen played a blinder, smashing 70 off just 39 balls, while Corbin Bosch supported him with a gritty 67.
The duo dragged the match into the final over, with South Africa needing 18 runs to win. However, Prasidh Krishna kept his cool, dismissing Bosch and sealing a hard-fought win for the hosts in this memorable Ranchi cricket match.
Image Source: Cricinfo
