South Africa managed to hold on to a win against India by 5 runs at Green Park in Kanpur. The hosts floundered a steady start provided by opener Rohit Sharma (150) who was ably supported by Ajinkya Rahane (60).
Earlier, captain AB de Villers completed a spectacular century with a six off the final ball of the innings to lead South Africa to a record 303 for five in the opening ODI against India in Kanpur. With premier bowler Ravichandran Ashwin not finishing his quota of 10 overs, Indian pacers leaked runs in the death, allowing South Africa to amass 109 off the last 10 overs.
Brief Scores:
South Africa: 303/5 in 50 overs (AB de Villiers 104, Faf Du Plessis 62; Umesh Yadav 2—71, Amit Mishra 2—47).
India: 298/7 in 50 overs (Rohit Sharma 150, ; Ajinkya Rahane 60, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 31; Kagiso Rabada 2—58, Imran Tahir 2—57).
Live updates:
5:02 p.m.: Twin strikes in the last over! Dhoni, Binny out in successive deliveries. SA manage to hold on to a win.
4:54 p.m.: Dhoni manages to push Binny and steal some vital runs by running hard. 11 to get in the final over.
4:48 p.m.: Equation remains simple: two overs and 22 runs needed.
4:45 p.m.: Tahir strikes again! Gets Raina for 3. Binny up next. 29 needed from 17.
4:40 p.m.: Rohit's gone! Gives a simple catch to Imran Tahir. Gone for a well-made 150. Suresh Raina is next.
4:36 p.m.: India need 35 runs with 24 balls remaining. Dhoni (9) and Rohit (150).
4:28 p.m.: India 249/3 (43.6), need 55 runs from 36 balls.
4:06 p.m.: Steyn gets Kohli for 11. M.S. Dhoni walks in ahead of Suresh Raina.
4:05 p.m.: 10 overs to go, India need 90 to win. Rohit (107) and Kohli (9) at the crease.
3:45 p.m.: 100 for Rohit Sharma, gets it in 98 balls. India 200/2 (35.5).
3:39 p.m.: Behardien breaks the partnership. Rahane gone for 60, India 194/2 (34.3).
3:24 p.m.: India need 118 off 108 balls, look set to cruise throught to a comfortable win here.
3:15 p.m.: India on the charge, at 176/1 (30.0). Rahane (51), Rohit (92), take their partnership to 134 runs.
3:00 p.m.: Harbhajan Singh has been included in the squad as cover for injured Ashwin who suffered a side strain while diving. He didn't complete his quota of 10 overs today.
2:49 p.m.: India 129/1 (23.3) Rahane (34) Rohit (63).
2:32 p.m.: Meanwhile, former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin has come out in support of Rahane. He was critical of Indian team management’s decision to bench Rahane during the Twenty20 series. >More..
2:31 p.m.: India doing it nicely at 113/1 (18.6). Rohit (59), Rahane (22).
2:12 p.m.: India 93/1 (15.4 ov)
1:54 p.m.: Rahane, Rohit will look to steady the ship, India 63/1 (10.4), going along at nearly @ 6 rpo.
1:37 p.m.: Morkel traps Dhawan lbw, out for 23. India 42/1 (7.3 overs). Rahane walks in to the crease.
1:30 p.m.: India off to a steady start, at 36-0 after 6.3 overs. Rohit (12), Dhawan (22) look comfortable against SA pacers.
1:24 p.m.: India 18-0 after 4.1, Dhawan (14) Rohit (7).
12.35 p.m.: South Africa have set a target of 304 for India to chase.
12.33 p.m.: Behardian (35) cameo helps SA post 303-5. deVilliers finishes in style with a 6, goes past 100.
12.30 p.m.: Massive over this. ABD punishes Bhuvi, scores 19 off the over. SA 282-5, last over coming up.
12.25 p.m.: SA at 263-5, two overs to go. ABD and Behardian looking to up the tempo, score 13 off the last over
12.20 p.m.: With three overs to go, South Africa are at 250-5. Will ABD (76) help the Proteas cross 275?
12.15 p.m.: SA at 241-5 at the end of 46 overs. ABD 74 Behardian 3.
12.13 p.m.: Umesh strikes in his first ball again. JP Duminy tries to fetch a wide one, but ends up nicking one to skipper Dhoni.. Out for 15.
12.10. p.m.: After 44 overs, SA at 217-4. ABD, Duminy at the crease. Ashwin's off again.. Binny to bowl
12.00 p.m.: Ashwin's back. SA at 213-4, ABD 58, JP Duminy 6. Run-rate @ 4.99
11.57 a.m: deVilliers reaches 50, will look to set a target of 275+ for India... 9 overs to go, SA 209-4.
11.50 a.m.: Amit Mishra gets Miller, stumped for 13. SA at 197-4 (40.3). JP Duminy walks in.
11.40 a.m.: SA at 189-3 (39) ABD 40 Miller 12. Proteas scoring at 4.85 rpo.
11.32 a.m.: Good news: Ashwin is back on the field, still has 6 overs to bowl.
11.30 a.m.: SA at 175-3 (37). ABD 30 Miller 9.
11.20 a.m.: Umesh bowling quick, in the 140s. South Africa at 167-3 (36). ABD 28, Miller 5. Players take a drinks break.
11.15 a.m.: Miller walks in, SA at 154-2 at 34 overs. ABD 18. No news on Ashwin yet.
11.10 a.m.: Umesh Yadav strikes, hits du Plessis on the pads. Umpire Aleem Dar thinks it's heading straight to the stumps. du Plessis out for 62.
11.05 a.m: After 31.4 overs, South Africa ar at 146-2. Ashwin seems to have hurt his back while diving, walks off the park. Kohli will complete the over.
11.00 a.m.: After 30 overs, South Africa are at 139-2. deVilliers at 12 and duPlessis at 56. Runs are drying up.
10.55 a.m.: South Africa at 134-2 after 28 overs. ABD at 9, while Faf is at 54,
10.50 a.m: Faf du Plessis hits 50 off 61 balls, slams Suresh Raina for 6 over mid wicket.
10.45 am.: South Africa at 122-2 at 26 overs. Faf 45, ABD 6. The fifth bowler's 10-over quota is over. Will Dhoni call Ashwin to bowl now?
10.35 a.m.: Mishra gets the breakthrough, finally! Goes through Amla's defence and gets him out for 37. A B deViliers walks in. South Africa at 104-2 at 23.2 overs.
10.30 a.m.: South Africa at 101-1 after 22 overs. Amla 35, Faf 32. Run rate at 4.63.
10.25 a.m.: 50 run partnership between Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis up. South Africa at 95-1 for 20 overs.
10.20 a.m.: South Africa at 90-1 at the 18th over. Amla 31, Faf 26. Raina going through a tidy spell here, has given away only 7 runs after 2 overs.
10.15 a.m.: 17 overs up and South Africa are 82-1; Amla 29, Faf 22. Suresh Raina bowls a tidy over. Players have a drinks break.
10.00 a.m.: After 14 overs South Africa at 68-1; Amla 20, Faf 17. Mishra continues.
9.55 a.m.: Mishra continues. A stumping chance against Faf, nothing threatening there. Easy decision for the umpire, not out.
9.45 a.m.: South Africa - 48-1 after 10 overs; Amla 1, du Plessis 16; Leggie Amit Mishra into the attack.
9.40 a.m.: R. Ashwin picks up the first wicket! de Kock gives a straightforward catch to first slip, gone for 29.
9.35 a.m.: South Africa off to a good start at Kanpur. 44-0 in eight overs. Quinton de Kock 29, Amla 13. Dhoni brings in R. Ashwin.
The teams:
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Mahandra Singh Dhoni (captain), Stuart Binny, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav
South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (captain), David Miller, Jean-Paul Duminy, Ferhan Behardien, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir
(With inputs from agencies)
