South Africa Fall Short Despite Brave Fightback
India defeated South Africa by 17 runs in the first ODI played on Sunday in Ranchi. Chasing a stiff target of 350 runs, South Africa were bowled out for 332, despite a remarkable lower-order resistance.
Top-Order Collapse Hurts South Africa
South Africa suffered an early setback, losing three wickets for just 11 runs, putting them under immense pressure. However, staying true to their fighting reputation, the Proteas rebuilt strongly and even created a momentary hope of victory.
Matthew Breetzke scored 72 runs, Marco Jansen made 70, Tony de Zorzi contributed 39, while Dewald Brevis added 37.
The standout performer was Corbin Bosch, who scored 67 runs at No. 8 and kept the chase alive until the final over, before being dismissed by Prasidh Krishna, sealing India’s win.
Kuldeep and Harshit Shine with the Ball
For India, Kuldeep Yadav claimed 4 wickets, while Harshit Rana picked up 3 wickets, tightening the grip during crucial stages of the chase.
India Post 349 After Strong Middle-Order Contributions
South Africa opted to bowl first after winning the toss. India’s innings began slowly, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring only 18 runs before departing at 25 for the first wicket.
A solid partnership between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli steadied the innings. Rohit scored 57, while Virat Kohli delivered a masterclass with his 52nd ODI century, amassing 135 runs with 7 sixes and 11 fours.
Middle-order batsmen Ruturaj Gaikwad and Washington Sundar fell cheaply, but captain KL Rahul (60) and Ravindra Jadeja (32) pushed India’s total to a formidable 349/9.
South African Bowlers Share the Wickets
Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Nandre Burger and Ottniel Baartman took two wickets each, but India’s deep batting lineup ensured a giant total on the board.
India Lead the Series After a Hard-Fought Contest
With this victory, India take a 1–0 lead in the series. The match showcased brilliant batting performances and a spirited comeback attempt by South Africa, but India held their nerve to secure the win.