The Proteas fought hard but fell short in their chase against India in the first ODI at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, losing by 17 runs.
The Proteas won the toss and elected to bowl first.
South Africa started well with the ball, Nandre Burger taking India back to 25-1 after 3.1 overs.
It was the two superstar returns who impressed India until the 22nd. Rohit Sharma (57 off 51 balls) and Virat Kohli put together 136 off 109 balls to take India to 161-2.
Baartman kept the pressure on India with two important wickets. Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed for an excellent diving catch at backward point. India were 183-3 in 26.3 overs. He struck again in the 31st over, Washington Sundar at mid-off, to reduce India to 200-4.
However, Kohli continued his dominance. He scored 135 off 120 balls (11 fours, 2 sixes). Burger dismissed the former skipper, who stormed the wicket and skied the ball. Rickeleton ran out of cover and dived full length to take a brilliant catch. India were 276-5 in 43 overs.
KL Rahul was great. He hit 60 off 56 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes) to take India to 341, before attempting a standing-over shot that found a feather off Marco Jansen’s keeper. India 341-6.
Jadeja scored a cameo 32 off 20 balls and scooped a Bosch full toss to long-on. He followed this by bowling Arshdeep Singh with a yorker. India finished at 349-8.
South Africa had a valiant chase but lost by 17 points.
Despite a terrible start that saw them reduced to 11-3 and then 77-4, the mid to lower order fought hard to keep their side in the match.
Matthew Breetzke’s 72 from 80 balls (8 fours, 1 six), Marco Jansen’s 70 from 39 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes) and Corbin Bosch’s 67 from 51 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) brought SA close, but they fell short of their target. Kuldeep Yadav was brilliant in disrupting the momentum. He took 4-68, including the wickets of Breetzke and Jansen.
South Africa were all out for 332 and India won by 17 runs.
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