 "‘Well tried’: India go 1-0 up in ODI series but South African lower-order earns praise for fightback in Ranchi")
India registered a 17-run win against South Africa in the ODI series opener but not before the Proteas lower order gave the hosts a scare in Ranchi on Sunday, November 30. The Men in Blue thus took a 1-0 lead ahead of the second ODI in Raipur on Wednesday.
Matthew Breetzke, Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch scored half-centuries to take South Africa close to the 350-run target before India managed to hold on for a win. Earlier, Virat Kohli slammed his 52nd ODI hundred to take India to a massive total but the Proteas lower order ensured that the game did not turn into a one-sided affair.
IND vs SA: South Africa’s fightback after early collapse
With a target of 350 in front of them, South Africa were off to a terrible start. Harshit Rana struck twice in the second over of the chase and then Arshdeep Singh took the wicket of Proteas captain Aiden Markram to leave the visitors tottering at 11/3 within five overs.
Tony de Zorzi and Breetzke then put up a small stand before the former lost his wicket to Kuldeep Yadav. Dewald Brevis then thrilled the crowd with a few big hits before handing Rana his third scalp.
Then came Jansen who started tonking sixes at will. The tall all-rounder hit a 39-ball 70 to bring South Africa back into the game. On the other end, Breetzke too brought up his half-century and the game seemed to be going away from India when Kuldeep got both the set batters out in a single over.
At 228/7, the result now seemed formality but Bosch had other ideas. The right-hander brought up his maiden ODI fifty and brought South Africa close. With 18 needed off the final over, Bosch finally miscued the ball and that ended the Proteas challenge. South Africa were bowled out for 332 and lost by 17 runs.
Quick Reads
View AllOne of the best lower order batting display. Well tried Corbin Bosch pic.twitter.com/6QuCfXycwx
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) November 30, 2025
Corbin Bosch should start in the MI 11 no matter what pic.twitter.com/4aWD984Jy0
— Mumbai Indians FC (@MIPaltanFamily) November 30, 2025
SA did lose but Corbin Bosch saved his coach from all the grovel trolls 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/XItEgEX9wb
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) November 30, 2025
Well played Jansen, Breetzke, Bosch 🫡 pic.twitter.com/bQf5hlpegO
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) November 30, 2025
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