India rode on Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten century to beat South Africa by seven wickets in the second ODI at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday. The win helped India level the three-match ODI series at 1-1. Set up the third ODI on Tuesday as the decider. India had lost the first ODI to the Proteas by nine runs. South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first at Ranchi. Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks scored half-centuries while putting up a 129-run stand to ensure a formidable base for the Proteas to score 278/7.

India lost Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill early in the run chase, however, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer consolidated. The innings for Team India before stepping up gears in the second half of the innings. While Kishan was dismissed in the 90s, Iyer reached the three-figure mark to guide India home. For South Africa, Temba Bavuma and Tabraiz Shamsi were deemed unwell before the second ODI and were replaced by Reeza Hendricks and Bjorn Fortuin. Keshav Maharaj took charge of the Proteas, while Lungi Ngidi made way for Anrich Nortje in the playing XI. 

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Shreyas Iyer’s ton helps India beat South Africa to level ODI series 1-1

Considering the slow nature of the pitch at the JSCA International Stadium, India altered the team combination. Washington Sundar made his way into the playing XI while Shahbaz Ahmed also made his ODI debut. The duo replaced Ravi Bishnoi and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the lineup. Mohammad Siraj began proceedings for India and picked up an early wicket. Removing the in-form Quinton de Kock in his second over. 

The other South African opener, Janneman Malan, looked in good touch, scoring a few boundaries in the first powerplay. However, his composed start was brought to an end by debutant Shahbaz Ahmed, who scalped the opener in the 10th over. South Africa were 40/2 after the first powerplay. Reeza Hendricks was joined by Aiden Markram in the middle. The former capitalised in his first game on the tour. The Proteas consolidated in the next 10 overs while maintaining a run rate of over five runs per over. 

The duo of Hendricks and Markram did well to keep the Indian bowlers at bay and the Proteas’ score read 122/2 after 25 overs. Hendricks and Markram both got to their respective half centuries and kicked it up a notch, taking the attack to the Indian spinners. Mohammad Siraj was brought back into the attack and he provided India with the breakthrough, picking up the wicket of Reeza Hendricks, who was caught at deep square leg in the 32nd over. Hendricks scored 74 runs off 76 balls to set up the innings for the Proteas. 

India batter Suryakumar Yadav was adjudged the player of the series as India beat South Africa 2-1 in the three-match T20I series. Suryakumar Yadav smashed two half-centuries in the series, scoring 119 runs. Speaking after the third and final T20I, which India lost by 49 runs, Suryakumar said he doesn’t look at statistics.

“I’m not a stats man, but my friends keep sending me stuff on WhatsApp [when asked if he knew he hit 50 sixes this calendar year],” said Suryakumar. The India middle-order batsman went on to say that he hasn’t thought much about Australia yet but it’s a challenge that he is really looking forward to. “I haven’t thought about Australia just yet but it’s a challenge am really looking forward to,” Suryakumar added.

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We look toward the World Cup, also the team is good to go

South Africa ended the T20I series on a high with a comprehensive yet consolatory 49-run win over India in the third and final T20I at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Tuesday. However, India clinched the T20I series 2-1 as the Rohit Sharma-led side had won the first T20 in Thiruvananthapuram by eight wickets and the second game in Guwahati by 16 runs.

“Good to get the right results in both series. In this format, you need luck, things to go your way, especially in close games. We didn’t have that in the Asia Cup, but had some luck in Australia. We were able to rotate the squad a bit, pleased with how it’s gone overall,” said Dravid. The Indian squad will now travel to Australia for the pre-World Cup camp. Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan will lead the men in blue in a three-game ODI series, starting on October 6.

In front of a jam-packed crowd at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Rahul sizzled with an eye-pleasing 57 of 28 balls, before Suryakumar brought out full carnage of 360 degree shots to make 61 off just 22 balls. Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik played their parts well as India made merry and enthralled the fans by feasting on an ordinary bowling performance from South Africa, barring Keshav Maharaj’s 2/23 in four overs. 

India were off to a fiery start right from the word go when Rahul placed a length ball from Kagiso Rabada between backward point and cover for four. The aggression from India then upped in the fourth over when Rahul nonchalantly flicked off wrists to send a Wayne Parnell delivery over deep backward square leg for six. On the very next ball, Rahul crisply brought out square drive off Parnell for four more. Before Rohit glanced through fine leg to make it the second four of the over. Rohit and Rahul took a four each in the next two overs off Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj to end the power-play at 57/0.

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David Miller’s century goes in vain as IND beat SA by 16 runs

Post power-play, Rahul thumped Anrich Nortje all around the park. Smacking him for a brace of sixes and a four over the keeper’s head. Rohit increased the thrashing by taking successive boundaries in the ninth over costing 21 runs. The 96-run opening stand was broken by Maharaj when Rohit dragged a slog-sweep to deep mid-wicket. Rahul reached his fifty in 24 balls when he danced down the pitch to smack. Aiden Markram over long-on for six and brought up India’s hundred in the process. In the next over, Rahul missed the sweep on a skiddy delivery from Maharaj and was trapped lbw.

Suryakumar wept and cut through for fours in his first four balls to maintain the run-rate tempo. He then took Kagiso Rabada for cleaners in the 15th over. Flick-off wrists went for six over deep square leg, followed by loft over long-off for four. A scoop-pull over fine leg for four was followed by a scooping a flick over fine leg for six to take 22 runs of the over. Suryakumar’s carnage continued when he slapped a full toss off Ngidi over deep mid-wicket for six. Followed it up with a slice over the third man for four. He brought up his fifty in 18 balls with a fantastic uppercut over backward point for six on a no-ball off Parnell.

Kohli joined the boundary-hitting party with a six and two fours off Parnell, followed by a four off Ngidi. Kohli hit two more fours before Karthik applied finishing touches with a four and two sixes in the final over. To end a memorable batting show by India.

In front of one of the bluest seas of spectators you would ever see, India’s new-ball bowlers came up with a superlative show of swing bowling on a starless Wednesday night. The cream of the South African batting had no answer to Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep Singh, neither of whom had figured in the recent series against Australia. They broke the back of the formidable Proteas batting and justified their captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to bowl first in the opening T20I at the Greenfield Stadium.

South Africa could make only 106 for eight. Despite a slow start, which saw India registering its lowest PowerPlay score of 17 for one, the host romped home with 3.2 overs to spare. Much to the delight of the massive crowd, which would have probably liked to see a few more big hits. They nevertheless were able to witness some brilliant bowling by India up front. As the visitors slid to nine for five inside the third over.

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Pacers took 5 wickets in just 15 balls, taking away a victory from South Africa

It all began with the last ball of the first over. After swinging three balls, back-to-back, away from the South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, Chahar moved one in. The middle stump was knocked off as the ball sneaked through the gate. In the second ball of the next over, Arshdeep incredibly struck thrice. The young left-armer had Quinton de Kock playing away from his body only to get dismissed playing on. That happened on the second ball.

Three balls later, Rilee Rossouw was caught behind, for a golden duck, by Rishabh Pant off one that moved away. Off the next ball the dangerous David Miller has bowled an inswinger. Earlier, India entered the field, showing four changes from the side that defeated in the series-decider against Australia three days ago. Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, who has complained of back pain. Yuzvendra Chahal made way for Pant, Arshdeep, Deepak and R. Ashwin.

India opener KL Rahul heaped praises for his teammate Suryakumar Yadav for his approach against South Africa. Both, Rahul and Yadav touched the fifty mark to take India to a comfortable 8-wicket win in Thiruvananthapuram. Rahul, who remained unbeaten on 51 off 56 lauded Yadav’s phenomenal aggressive approach. In the post-match presentation, the Indian opener said, “This was hard work. Was unbelievable for Surya to come out and play the shots. We saw how the ball was flying and for Surya to come out with that approach was phenomenal.

After the first ball, he wanted to be aggressive and take on the bowler. He said he wanted to play his shots and gets some runs. That helped me to take my time and play one end.” He further said that the team had come prepared for the pitch as they had experienced it during the practice sessions. “We did practice here yesterday, and there was a humbling experience as well. So we came in prepared for a scrap. It was not an easy wicket. I wanted to be challenged and wanted to do the job for the team,” added Rahul.

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Surya couldn’t control his aggression after he saw the pace of it

Rahul also hailed Arshdeep Singh’s bowling performance as he mentioned that that the young bowler is not afraid of big stage and big batters. “When the bowlers do such a phenomenal job, it becomes easy for the batters. [Arshdeep] He is growing with each game, and with each outing, he gets better. I have seen him at close quarters in the IPL. He is not afraid of the big stage, bowling to big batters. He keeps growing.

This season what he did for his franchise was phenomenal, He is carrying the confidence and doing the job for the team. You always want a left-arm seamer in your line-up,” said Rahul. Both Yadav and Rahul scored impressive half-centuries that helped India to chased down 107-run target in 16.4 overs. Before that, Indian bowlers also displayed powerful performances as  Singh and Deepak Chahar destroyed South Africa’s batting line-up, leaving them at 9 for 5 at one stage. India will now face South Africa in the second match of the three-game T20I series in Guwahati on October 2.