India Edge South Africa In Thriller To Take 1-0 ODI Lead

India carved out a nerve-tightening 17-run win over South Africa in the first ODI at Ranchi, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The match swung fiercely between both sides, but India held their composure at the finish.

Asked to bat, India built a strong total of 349/8. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early to Nandre Burger, but Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli steadied the innings. They added a fluent 136-run stand. Rohit smashed 57 off 51 balls and broke Shahid Afridi’s long-standing ODI sixes record before Marco Jansen trapped him lbw.

Ruturaj Gaikwad departed quickly, while Washington Sundar contributed a quiet 17.

Kohli controlled the innings with authority and timing. He brought up his 52nd ODI ton and 83rd international hundred, accelerating sharply after crossing three figures. He struck Subrayen for two fours and two sixes in a single over. KL Rahul supported him with a measured 60 as the pair added 76 valuable runs.

Kohli’s dismissal for 135 triggered a brief slide, but Rahul and Jadeja’s 65-run partnership pushed India to a formidable total.

South Africa’s chase unravelled early. Harshit Rana struck twice in his first over of ODI cricket. He bowled Rickelton with a sharp in-seamer, then removed Quinton de Kock with a ball that moved away late.

Arshdeep Singh added to the damage by removing Aiden Markram, leaving the visitors reeling at 3 down inside the first five overs.

Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi rebuilt with a steady 66-run stand. Kuldeep Yadav broke it by trapping de Zorzi lbw.

Dewald Brevis then joined Breetzke, and the pair kept the chase alive with a 53-run partnership. India, however, kept striking at crucial moments.

Jansen changed the tempo. He launched a blistering 70, attacking every bowler. Breetzke anchored from the other end as the target came into sight. But Kuldeep returned and removed both set batters in the same over. He later dismissed Subrayen to finish with 4-68.

Bosch and Burger stretched the game deep. Bosch reached a fighting fifty, pushing the contest to the final over with 19 needed.

Prasidh Krishna held his nerve. Bosch miscued the first ball, and Rohit completed a safe catch to seal the match.

India clinched a gripping 17-run win and gained early control of the series.

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