RanchiIn the ODI series opener in Ranchi on Sunday, November 30, South Africa nearly achieved the 350-run chase against India before the hosts won by 17 runs. South Africa simply never gave up. After being reduced to 11/3 at the beginning of the innings, the Proteas stormed back into the match thanks to the all-around duo of Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch's 97-run partnership for the sixth wicket off just 69 balls.
But in the middle overs, his four wickets kept the Proteas in check, and India won by 17 runs to take a 1-0 series lead. A special, India's middle order battling to raise the score to 349, wickets during the powerplay, a comeback from South Africa's middle and lower middle order, and ultimately an India victory were all that one could have hoped for in an ODI match. In the end, the match made history as the highest match aggregate in an ODI between South Africa and India was 681 (349 and 332).
The previous highest aggregate for an India-South Africa ODI was 662, but it was surpassed by the Ranchi ODI. In the Mumbai ODI, which decided the series in 2015, South Africa amassed a massive 438 runs thanks to AB de Villiers' video game knock and a century before India folded for just 224.
With 28 hits on Sunday—the most in an ODI between the two teams—the Ranchi match also exceeded the Mumbai game's six-hitting total. Virat Kohli, the game's lone centurion, hit seven runs by himself.
The 136-run partnership between the two seasoned pros, Kohli and the stand-in captain, set up the Indian victory. The Men in Blue added vital 80 runs in the last ten to bring the total near the 350 mark, which was ultimately sufficient.
Although South Africa will be pleased with the battle, they will regret the early collapse, which was an obvious loss of control for the visitors. On Wednesday, December 3, the second ODI will be held in Raipur.