IND vs SA: 1st ODI Review – Klaasen and Miller shine in South Africa’s thrilling win

India lost their first ODI match against South Africa after another poor performance from the bowlers. The match was reduced to 40-over a side game due to rain in Lucknow. South Africa posted a big total of 249/4 in 40 runs after brilliant fifties from David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen. Then visitors’ bowlers put impressive performance to restrict India to 240/8 runs to secure a nine-run win.

Indian captain Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and decided to bowl first at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. South African opener Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock formed a good 49-run partnership for the first wicket. The experienced pace bowler Shardul Thakur dismissed Malan in the 13^th over to give India an opening.

Shardul bowled out South African skipper Temba Bavuma in the 15^th over and spinner Kuldeep Yadav removed Aiden Markram in the next over to put India in complete control of the match. De Kock then formed a small but crucial 39-run partnership with Klaasen for the fourth wicket to avoid further fall. Bishnoi dismissed de Kock in the 23^rd over who scored 48 runs off 54 balls.

Miller then joined Klaasen in the middle and formed a big unbeaten 139-run partnership for the fifth wicket. The players dominated the innings on tough conditions and guided their team to a big 249/4 total. Miller scored the highest 75 runs off 63 runs and Klaasen smashed 74 runs off 65 balls.

While chasing a big total, India lost their both openers on just eight runs. Star pacer Kagiso Rabada bowled out Gill on three runs in the third over and Parnell removed Dhawan in the sixth over to ensure visitors’ early win. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan put a 40-run partnership for the third wicket but took 69 balls.

Tabraiz Shamsi dismissed Gaikwad in the 17^th over who scored 19 runs and veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj removed Ishan in the next over. Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson then managed to get India back in the game with a big 67-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Iyer smashed 50 runs off just 37 balls before getting caught out on Lungi Ngidi in 27^th over.

Samson continued the momentum with another big partnership with Shardul Thakur for the sixth wicket to drag his team to closer to the target. But Ngidi dismissed Thakur and the next batter Kuldeep Yadav in the 38^th over when India needed 40 runs in 16 balls. Samson smashed some big shots in the last over but India fell nine runs short in the chase.

Best performers from the match:

Sanju Samson:

Samson scored the highest unbeaten 86 runs off 63 balls with the help of nine fours and three sixes. He smashed 19 runs when India needed 31 runs in the last over but failed to guide his team to a victory.

Lungi Ngidi:

The right-arm pacer took three wickets while conceding 52 runs in his eight-over spell. He broke two big partnerships with the wickets of Shreyas and Thakur to turn the game for South Africa.

What’s next for both teams?

Both India and South Africa travel to Ranchi for the second ODI fixture scheduled at JSCA International Stadium Complex on Sunday, October 9.