Aiden Markram-Reeza Hendricks 129-run stand and Shreyas Iyer-IshanKishan 161-run stand are top three performances. India beat South Africa by 7 wickets and level the 3-match series 1-1 with the decider to be played in Delhi
Brief Scores: South Africa 278/7 (Markram 79, Hendricks 74, Siraj 3-38) lost to India 282/3 (Shreyas Iyer 113*, Kishan 93, Parnell 1-44) by seven wickets
Player of the Match: Shreyas Iyer – 113* (111) & 1 catch
After losing the first ODI in Lucknow ever so closely by 9 runs, hosts India led by Shikhar Dhawan took on South Africa in a bid to level the series at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Sunday. The Proteas had a new skipper, Keshav Maharaj for this game as regular captain Temba Bavuma was rested.
Team India made two changes to their side with Washington Sundar returning to the side in place of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shahbaz Ahmed making his ODI debut. Ravi Bishnoi unfortunately had to miss out. Likewise, South Africa too made a couple of changes with Bjorn Fortuin and Reeza Handricks finding a place in the playing XI.
India’s bowlers excel in powerplays and death; middle-order shows tremendous intent
The major talking point of the game has to be the bowling performance of the Indian team, especially in the powerplays and the death overs. India got two wickets in the first 10 overs giving away just 40 runs, and this has been one of the pain points for the team as far as ODIs are concerned. Equally impressive was their performance at the death. The bowlers led by Mohammed Siraj went for just 57 runs in the end where a batter of the calibre of David Miller was batting and he has been in tremendous form of late.
The other point of note was India’s middle-order playing with a lot of intent. Despite losing two wickets in the first 10 overs, India managed to stay ever agile in their pursuit of 279 thanks to some positive batting intent shown by Ishan Kishan (93 off 84) and Shreyas Iyer (113* from 111). India eventually won the game comfortably by 7 wickets with more than 4 overs to spare, thus levelling the series 1-1.
Read More: ICC World T20 2022: Aggressive batters, in form bowlers make South Africa the team to beat in WC
South Africa set India a target of 279
South Africa, after opting to bat first, lost Quinton de Kock early in the innings when the latter inside-edged a ball off Mohammed Siraj. Janneman Malan played some pleasing shots for his 25 until his stay was cut short by debutant Shahbaz Ahmed who got his maiden international wicket. After getting a good start with the ball, India let South Africa score at a brisk pace in the middle overs. The duo of Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram struck a solid 129-run stand to lay a solid foundation for the lower order to capitalize on.
However, last match hero Heinrich Klaasen (30 from 26) and Aiden Markram fell in quick succession as South Africa let a great start slip from their hands. In the death overs, thanks to some spirited bowling from India, the Proteas could manage to post only 278/7, with David Miller scoring a run a ball 35.
India’s chase started on a wrong footing as they lost their captain Shikhar Dhawan for 13 to Wayne Parnell. Shubman Gill who looked pretty set to score a big knock was done by change of pace by Rabada as he departed for a 26-ball 28. India reached 55 in the first 10 overs losing two wickets. Shreyas Iyer continued from where he left in Lucknow, but Ishan Kishan after a slow start got in the thick of action.
The duo brought their respective half-centuries in back-to-back balls and got their 100-run stand from 108 balls. Their extraordinary 161-run partnership ended when Ishan Kishan went out trying a big shot for a personal score of 93; but Iyer went onto make his 2nd ODI century and with Sanju Samson playing a useful hand with a 36-ball 30, India reached the target with 25 balls to spare.
Let us analyse the top three performances from the 2nd ODI between India and South Africa in Ranchi.
Mohammed Siraj produces one of his best white ball spells for India taking 3-38
One of India’s concerns in the ODI format has been their inability to take wickets in the powerplays. In this game, Mohammed Siraj got India a breakthrough in his 2nd over, sending back a dangerous Quinton de Kock. He bowled tightly and broke the 129-run stand between Hendricks and Markram, when he dismissed the former for 74.
Siraj then capped off his impressive outing in Ranchi with some immaculate death bowling. His last 4 overs went for just 18 runs and he ended with figures of 3-38 from his 10 overs.
Read More: Ind vs SA, 1st ODI, 2022-23: Klaasen-Miller 139* stand, Rabada-Ngidi 5 scalps dent Ind; SA lead 1-0
Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks stitch 129-run stand to propel the Proteas to 278
Aiden Markram (79 off 89) joined Reeza Hendricks at the crease after the departure of Janneman Malan in the last over of the powerplay with South Africa at 40/2. Hendricks who came in for Bavuma, started to score freely but his partner Aiden Markram took some to settle. With the pitch easing for run-making, the duo once they got their eyes set were able to penetrate India’s inexperienced bowling attack.
They got boundaries at will off pacers and spinners alike, while rotating the strike. En route their 129-run stand they both reached half-centuries and began to play strokes freely, until Hendricks lost his wicket to Siraj for a well-compiled 74 from 76 deliveries.
Read More: Ind vs SA, 3rd T20I, 2022-23: Rossouw's 100*, Keshav's 2-34 salvage Protea pride; SA win by 49 runs
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer produce a match-winning 161-run stand for the 3rd wicket
Similar to the South African innings where they lost two wickets in the powerplay, India got off to a similar beginning as well. Ishan Kishan who struggled to put bat to ball in the last game in Lucknow, started shakily here as well but once the spinners came, he was a completely different player. Ishan Kishan struck some massive sixes off both left-arm spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin, reaching his 50 off 60 balls. After this, the left-hander didn’t spare the pacers either with Nortje taking much of the punishment.
Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, seems to have understood ODI run chase rather well and eased the pressure off Kishan with yet another solid start to his innings. After an initial dull period, both began to get boundaries at will bringing their 100-run stand in 108 balls. The duo took the team to the brink of a series-levelling win, but Kishan departed after making a stunning 84-ball 93 and this included 7 sixes. Their partnership of 161 was India’s 2nd highest against South Africa for the 3rd wicket in ODIs.
Iyer continued to be at the crease till the end of the chase, bringing up his 2nd ODI ton and eventually leading the side to a comfortable 7-wicket win.
Read More: Ind vs SA, 2nd T20I, 2022-23: Surya's whirlwind 61* helps India win 1st home T20I series against SA
What’s Next
The two sides will take on each other in the 3rd and final ODI at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on October 11. This one will be a must-win for the Proteas not just in this series but also in the context of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League where they have to win every game to make it to the World Cup without playing the Qualifiers.