India won in the end to claim a pulsating high-scoring contest by 17 runs and lead the three-match ODI series 1-0. The night, though, was Kohli’s and Rohit’s as the duo traveled back in time to treat a packed Sunday crowd with their characteristic vintage partnership, new records and a show between them.
Opting to bat in their 19th consecutive ODI on losing the toss, India were under early pressure as Yashasvi Jaiswal fell cheaply but Virat Kohli and Rohit made the most of it. Rohit Sharma, playing with freedom, slog-swept two consecutive sixes to bridge the gap in Kohli’s early rampage. His pull for six from Marco Jansen took him to the top of the tree in terms of most ODI sixes, then a swivelled slap – at waist height - over extra cover celebrated his rapid fifty before he was trapped dead in front by a ball that kept low from Jansen.
Kohli, meanwhile, seemed in total control. He struck two sixes in the first 10 overs – a rarity when he bats first – and persisted with rotating strike even as the pitch considerably became slower. India’s middle overs were sticky, both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Washington Sundar unable to find timing on the old ball that gripped the tired afternoon surface. Even during that lean hit rate, Kohli remained unperturbed, clawed his way to a remarkable century and then once again exploded at the end with two additional sixes, accelerating the innings when they needed it most. KL Rahul chipped in with an important 60, as India reached 349 for eight, with 16 sixes in the innings.
The chase for South Africa started in shambles as Harshit Rana bowled a magical opening spell. He got the ball to move both ways, pinning back Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock for ducks in the same over. Aiden Markram was then dismissed by Arshdeep Singh shortly after as the visitors were reeling at 11 for 3. But as soon as the ball came to a halt, batting was far easier under lights with heavy dew descending and India’s early advantage slipped away.
Matthew Breetzke and Dewald Brevis took them forward with a fast-moving 55-run stand before Kuldeep Yadav got rid of de Zorzi and later dismissed Brevis. But Marco Jansen swung it back with a whirlwind 70 off only 39 deliveries – the fastest fifty by a South African in India – hitting India’s pacers all over the park even as the damp outfield converted every miscalculated blow into danger.
Breetzke stepped into a backseat support role as Jansen took on the anchor’s job, and South Africa dragged themselves back into the match, before reducing the equation to 123 off 17. Kuldeep came back and generated the game’s turning point: Jansen swinging a long hop straight to deep midwicket, Breetzke holing out in the same over, and all that pressure India desperately wanted was let off.
Even so, South Africa would not fold. Corbin Bosch batted brilliantly on the counter-attack and showed good temperament as wickets fell around him. His first fifty in ODIs led the chase deep into the final overs. Arshdeep’s wicket-maiden in the 47th appeared decisive, but Bosch kept swinging, dragging the target down to 19 from 10 balls.
With just the last man remaining, Bosch finally ran out of steam to Arshdeep’s yorkers. The narrowness of that loss seemed soul-destroying for the allrounder, impossible to swallow after his late overs had earlier helped keep India below 350.
In the long run, India made their scything start with the bat and Rana’s early strikes with the ball count. Kohli’s 135 and Rohit’s six-smashing century framed that first half; the second half, even until the end, was retained on a knife-edge by South Africa’s enduring pushback. The Ranchi crowd witnessed a contest that had it all: records, swings in momentum, dew drama and a close enough finish to make the remainder of the series intriguing.
