India beat South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi. (PHOTO: AP)A master century from Virat Kohli and his 136-run stand with Rohit Sharma, a new ball burst from Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav’s exploits in the middle overs denied Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen’s late charge and helped India beat South Africa by 17 runs in the thrilling first ODI at the JSCA Cricket Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday to take a crucial 1-0 lead in the three-match One-Day series.
Chasing 350, South Africa were off to a poor start with their top three batters back in the hut by the fifth over. Rana dismissed both left-handers — Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock — for a duck in his very first over. Arshdeep Singh accounted for Aiden Markram’s wicket, reducing South Africa to just 11 for three in 4.4 overs.
Proteas’ middle order consisting of Matthew Breetzke (72), Dewald Brevis (37) and Tony de Zorzi (39) stabilised visitors’ innings before Jansen’s 39-ball 70 pulled things back for South Africa. Bosch, with his 51-ball 67, kept them in the fight until the last over with 18 required to win in six deliveries before holing out to Rohit off Prasidh Krishna.
Earlier, Kohli’s 52nd ODI century propelled India to 349 for 8 after being asked to bat first by South Africa’s stand-in captain Aiden Markram.
Kohli reasserted his relevance and authority in the only international format he plays with a fluent 135-run knock that formed the spine of India’s innings. His commanding knock came off 120 balls with seven sixes and 11 fours. His 136-run stand with Rohit (57 off 51) for the second wicket set up India’s big total on a largely flat track in Ranchi.
The 36-year-old responded with trademark authority, reminding the selectors and team management that he remains India’s most bankable batter in the format.
Rohit too had a great platform to assert himself after being dropped at 1 and scored 57 before being trapped by Jansen. En route to his half-century, Rohit also broke Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi’s record for most sixes in ODI cricket. Rohit has clobbered 352 sixes in ODI and went past Afridi’s long-standing record.
India skipper KL Rahul (60) and Ravindra Jadeja (32) gave Men in Blue the much-needed impetus towards the business end, helping India post what appeared to be a good total.
(With PTI inputs)
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