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South Africa defeated India by 5 wickets in the first one-day international of the 5-match series at the Green Park in Kanpur. Rohit’s heroic 150 runs went in vain as the visitors came back in the game eventually after getting some quick important Indian wickets.
After winning the toss, AB de Villiers led South Africa decided to bat first on a batsmen's paradise in Kanpur. Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and de Kock were back. Binny, Mishra and Rahane made the XI for India.
India XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (C & Wk), Stuart Binny, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav
South Africa XI: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (Wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (C), David Miller, Jean-Paul Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir
De Kock and Amla started the visitors innings steadily, both looked comfortable in facing India's pace attack. It was Ashwin who got the first breakthrough for the home team in the 9th over when De Kock edged it into Raina's safe hands.
Du Plessis came in next and soon brought his fifty and recorded his 12th 50-plus partnership with Amla. The South African team were 100 up in the 22nd over.
Amla was struggling and Mishra took full advantage of the moment and bowled the faster one that goes straight on, zipping through Amla's defences as he went back to play the ball on the leg side. He made 37.
The big man, De Villiers, walked in next as Kanpur gave the biggest cheer of the day. Binny was ineffective and Ashwin injured himself while making a diving stop. Raina was given he ball and he did a decent job.
Yadav came back and trapped Du Plessis (62) in front. Umpire Aleem Dar took no time give raise his finger and South Africa were 152 for 3 after 34 overs.
Miller couldn't impress much as Mishra lured him and brought easy stumping chance to Dhoni. Everyone was waiting for De Villiers to fire and he didn't disappoint either. The South African skipper started off calmly but finished the proceeding in his style.
He reached his first 50 from 54 balls, next 50 from in just 19 balls. De Villiers (104) notched up a spectacular unbeaten hundred as South Africa finished at 303 for 5 from their 50 overs.
A total of 65 runs came in the last five overs of South Africa's innings and 53 in the final three. Kanpur crowd gave a standing applause to De Villiers.
India started off with Rohit and Dhawan. The latter one was looking good and opened his account with a cracking four. Morkel struck in his first over itself as he trapped Dhawan (23) on the front. Rahane joined Rohit and both got settled quite easily.
Rohit reached his fifty and he was looking in the mood to score a big one today. He kept scoring run a ball, smashing all the loose deliveries and making it count.
Rahane on the other end kept rotating strike and went on to score his fifty as well. Both added 149 runs for the 2nd wicket before Rahane (60) got out off Behardien's ball. Rohit kept India in the chase and soon he completed his 8th ODI hundred. Kohli got out quickly as his bad form continued.
The match was set for a thrilling end. Dhoni came in next and started his supportive innings. India were 214 for 3 after 40 overs. The Indian opener looked tired and started going for big hits.
But soon Tahir got the big breakthrough as Rohit got out after making 150 runs off just 132 balls. His innings included 13 fours and 6 sixes. Tahir didn't stop there, he got new batsman Raina in the same over as well. He finished his 10 over spell with 2 crucial wickets.
It was all down to captain Dhoni and the new man in, Binny. 11 runs were needed off the final over. Dhoni was on strike and Rabada had the ball. And what a finish it was! The young man bowling under pressure kept his nerve as South Africa won the match by 5 runs.
Brief score:
South Africa 303/5 (De Villiers 104*, Du Plessis 62, Mishra 47/2)India 298 (Rohit 150, Rahane 60, Tahir 57/2)
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