Top 5 ODI wins for India in South Africa

India have not tasted much success in the ODIs in South Africa

South Africa have not always been the kindest of countries for India when it comes to limited overs cricket and although they did amazingly well in the 2003 World Cup, the fact remains that there have not been as many success stories against the hosts.

India have never won a One Day International (ODI) series or tournament against the hosts either.

However, in spite of all that, India have had some great moments in South Africa as an ODI team and over the course of the last quarter, the Indian limited-overs team has completed some wonderful victories in the country.

As another ODI series kicks off between the two teams tomorrow, let's take a look at some of India's finest wins in South Africa.

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#5 Win at Centurion Park, 1992

WV Raman

After having lost the first two games of the 7-match ODI series, India bounced back by winning the third game with an excellent display at Centurion Park. India sent South Africa in to bat first and the hosts started well, with the openers, Kepler Wessels and Andrew Hudson, putting on 92 for the first wicket. Hudson went on to score 87, but a superb spell from Anil Kumble (10-0-29-2), kept South Africa under control and they reached 214 for 5 in their 50 overs.

India started the chase well as the openers, Ajay Jadeja and WV Raman added 56 for the first wicket in 19 overs. The latter scored a well-deserving century, which ensured that India won the game in the 50th over.

#4 Win at East London, 1992

Pravin Amre

During the tour to South Africa in 1992, India had been totally outplayed by the hosts and when they reached East London for the final ODI, the tourists were only playing for pride. South Africa were leading 5-1 and were put in to bat first by India at East London in the final game. Manoj Prabhakar and Venkatpathy Raju took 3 wickets apiece as South Africa struggled to score freely and eventually they ended up with a score of 203 for the loss of 8 wickets in their quota of 50 overs. Kepler Wessels was the top scorer with a gritty 57 and Hansie Cronje chipped in with a fine 55 (off 56 balls and four boundaries) at number 6.

India looked to be on the verge of another ignominious defeat, as they slumped to 43 for 3 in the 16th over, but number five batsman Pravin Amre played a match-winning innings. He scored 84 off 98 balls and remained not out till the end to wrap up the chase in 47.2 overs. He got able support from captain Mohammad Azharuddin, Kapil Dev and the wicketkeeper Vijay Yadav.

#3 Win at Cape Town, 2011

Zaheer Khan appeals in third ODI in 2011

The 5 match ODI series, back in 2011, was a competitive one, with the series tantalizingly poised at 1-1.

South Africa chose to bat first in the third game at Cape Town. The Indian bowlers, led by Zaheer Khan, reduced South Africa to 90 for 4 but some gritty batting from JP Duminy (52 off 59) and Faf du Plessis (60 off 78) helped the hosts reach 220 in 49.2 overs.

India's reply was not a smooth sailing either, as they lost Murali Vijay in the 3rd over and despite a 52-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, they were staring down the barrel, having lost three quick wickets. They had been reduced to 93 for 5 in the 25th over and it was South Africa's game to lose. However, Suresh Raina and Yusuf Pathan had other ideas. Pathan slammed 59 off 50 balls and hit 6 fours and 3 sixes to help India get back in the game. Finally, Harbhajan Singh's lower order heroics (23 off 25 with two sixes) saw India scamper home by 2 wickets to complete a famous win.

#2 Win at Centurion Park, 2001

The Indian team, led by Sourav Ganguly, arrived in South Africa back in 2001, only to be beaten soundly in the first game of the tri-series by the hosts. In the second game, India battled back with a superb bowling display under the lights at Centurion Park. Electing to bat first, India did not have much of an answer to the guile of Shaun Pollock, who took 5 wickets for 37 runs in 9.5 overs, that ensured India's innings folded for 233 in the 49th over. Only Rahul Dravid scored a fifty (54) and while other got starts, they did not threaten to do much. In the end, 233 did not seem to be a winning score.

However, under the lights, India's bowlers put together a splendid effort as Javagal Srinath, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar and Anil Kumble tied the South Africans in knots. South Africa were reduced to 106-7 and just when they were threatening to win the game due to the efforts of Mark Boucher and Lance Klusener, Virender Sehwag struck to swing the game India's way by taking Boucher's wicket. Boucher was the 8th wicket to fall and South Africa were soon dismissed for 192, as India completed a memorable win.

#1 Win at Johannesburg, 2011

India completed a dramatic 1-run win against South Africa at the Wanderers

The reason why it is India's greatest win against South Africa in South Africa is that they had looked completely out of sorts right throughout this game and somehow scrambled to a win by 1 run, as the hosts made a mess of a routine chase under lights at the Wanderers. After electing to bat first, India found the South African bowling attack too hot to handle and had it not been for Yuvraj Singh's 53 (off 68 balls), they would not have reached the total of 190. Even then, it was a paltry score and no one quite gave them a chance against the hosts, who had already won the 1st game of the series.

It looked to be going South Africa's way when they reached 66 for 1 in the 13th over, with captain Graeme Smith and Colin Ingram completely in control. Ingram departed and was soon followed by AB de Villiers. They had been reduced to 120 for 4 but with JP Duminy batting, the match was still in the host's favour. However, it all changed when the well-set Smith was dismissed in the 33rd over, having scored 77 in 98 balls.

The next few overs turned into a frentic affair, as India kept picking up wickets every time South Africa threatened to run away with the game. It was an incredible collapse as they went from 152-4 to 189 all out in the space of 11 overs to lose by a run. It remains one of India's most memorable wins in that country.