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Indore: The under fire Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India will aim for a much improved performance in their quest for a morale-boosting win against South Africa in the second One-Day International (ODI) here on Wednesday. India trail the five-match series 0-1 after suffering a narrow five-run loss at Kanpur. Rohit Sharma’s swashbuckling knock of 150 runs off 133 deliveries went in vain as India let slip the advantage to slump to the loss. [caption id=“attachment_2468102” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Can India make a comeback in this series? AFP[/caption] South Africa scored 303/5, thanks to a blistering unbeaten 104 by skipper AB de Villiers. India’s response was equally strong but they botched up at the end. The hosts are yet to taste victory since South Africa’s arrival in the country, having lost two Twenty20 Internationals, with the third one abandoned due to rain in Kolkata. After the T20 series and first ODI loss, India skipper Dhoni has been the target of critics. His poor form with the bat has made them speak loudly about his ability and position in the team. As much as it is important for the team, the second ODI is much more important for Dhoni as a skipper and a member of the squad. The player who was known as one of the best “finishers” of ODI matches has lately been unable to complete victories from winning positions for the team. The first ODI was an ideal position for him to silence his critics by finishing off the game, but his dismissal in the last over of the run chase made it all but impossible for India to snatch a win. India will again depend on opener Rohit to give them a good start and with the likes of Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane in te squad and amongst the runs, India looks a strong batting unit. But they need support from the middle order comprising Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli and Dhoni. On the other hand, the visitors will be high on confidence after scripting a victory from the jaws of defeat. Young seamer Kagiso Rabada who took two crucial wickets in the last over and defended 11 runs under pressure, will be raring to prove himself in the second match also. AB de Villiers will again pose a big threat to the opposition and it will be a huge challenge for the Indian bowlers to get rid of the South Africa skipper quickly. IANS
India v South Africa, 2nd ODI as it happened: India level series after clinical bowling effort
Live updates from India vs South Africa in the second One-Day International in Indore.
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So that’s the end of another cracking game in the Freedom series – it’s been a topsy turvy series so far. But it sets up the third match very well (on 18th October, 1330 IST). As Dhoni and co rejoice on a famous win, its time to bid goodbye from me here at Firstpost.
Adios!
I was one of them too, but Mishra could have done it too, y’know. But, hey, its a win! So who am I to say anything.
MS Dhoni, next. Surprise, surprise he is the man of the match.
Its a tough game you know. Lot of ppl wait with open swords waiting for you to make mistakes. Not a complete game, we can still play better but its always good to win. Yes we are not even playing to 80% of our capacity, but its good to have sort of a complete performance. We knew we needed two good deliveries when Rabada and Tahir was batting. Bowlers did well.
[On his performance] You always try to play well for your country. It sometimes doesn’t go your away.
[Spinners] The pace was important on this wicket. Axar varied it well. Bhajji knows how to bowl on these wickets. There was not too much of help for them but they did well.
AB de Villiers: Very manageable target, poor batting performance. There is enough experience between us in the middle-order to have handled this but we were out for soft dismissals. We will always play positively, unfortunately it did not come good today. Just a little strain in my back should be OK for the next one.
(Huge cheers of AB, AB, AB as he comes to speak – “Unbelievable!” he says)
Cricket, you beautiful, funny game!
OUT! INDIA WINS! Their first win off the series! First win of the tour. After a super straight drive by Morkel, Bhuvi gets the outside edge that is taken brilliantly by Suresh Raina at wide slip. WHAT A MATCH!
INDIA WIN BY 22 runs.
Yadav releases the pressure. Rabada is gifted two boundaries by Yadav – one short outside off and one short on the leg side, both put away. Horrendous discipline from Umesh there.
After 43 overs SA 221/8 (Tahir 9, Rabada 11)
Bhuvi concedes just three runs in that over – the run rate is beginning to tighten just a little bit. 34 runs from 48 balls.
After 42 overs SA 213/8 (Tahir 9, Rabada 11)
Touche!
CHEEKY!!
It’s going to be all pace from now for India. Just 2 runs in that over from Umesh – including a misfield. Rabada with some careless running between the wickets – jumping before grounding his bat to evade the ball – but not punished.
AFter 41 overs SA 210/8 (Tahir 7, Rabada 9)
Tahir is the new man in and swipes Bhajji over midwicket for a farewell six. End of his spell – 10-0-50-2.
AFter 40 overs SA 208/8 (Tahir 6, Rabada 8)
Umesh Yadav continues and its 4 singles. Rabada is playing with remarkable confidence for a youngster under so much pressure.
**After 39 overs 199 for 7 (**Behardien 18, Rabada 7)
Rabada sees India’s 3 slips and raises a stupendous cover drive that makes Shaun Pollock go “SHOT YAAR!!” It was a beauty, to be fair. 7 runs in that over from Mohit Sharma. A few of these will put the pressure right back on India.
**After 38 overs 195 for 7 (**Behardien 15, Rabada 6)
What I was talking about…
Just two runs from Umesh Yadav’s comeback over. There were three slips in that over to Rabada towards the end as India go for the kill.
**After 37 overs 188 for 7 (**Behardien 13, Rabada 1)
Just two runs from Bhajji’s 9th over – one of them a leg-bye. Bhajji keeping it tight from around the wickets, even putting in a dive to save a couple of runs.
**After 36 overs 186 for 6 (**Behardien 12, Steyn 13)
Three singles from that Mohit Sharma’s over – SA wouldn’t mind it. The equation is still very much within their control. 64 runs from 90 balls. Its the wickets that India need.
**After 35 overs 184 for 6 (**Behardien 12, Steyn 12)
It was a beautiful sight.
Harbhajan continues as Steyn takes the attack to the off-spinner with a slog sweep over mid-wicket off a tossed up ball to get a massive six. Bhajji goes around the wicket and gets the outside edge but it flies past Raina at slip and runs down to thrid man for 4. 10 runs. 10 crucial runs.
**After 34 overs 181 for 6 (**Behardien 10, Steyn 11)
Mohit with the mother of all breakthroughs in that over. 4 runs, including a wide. Dale Steyn is the new man in but he is no mug with the bat.
**After 33 overs 171 for 6 (**Behardien 10, Steyn 1)
AB de villiers shows who’s the boss. What a player! First an effortless flick past midwicket followed by a dance down the track to hit a huge six off the last ball from Bhuvi. Bhajji comes back into the attack and concedes 4 singles/
**After 32 overs 167 for 5 (**ABD 19, Behardien 8)
Bhuvi in the middle of a probing spell, just two singles from that over as he gets his line going on the off stump. Axar finishes his 10 over spell from the other end with 3 singles – an excellent spell to finish with 10-0-39-3. Well done, Axar!
**After 30 overs 152 for 5 (**ABD 7, Behardien 5)
Another probing over from Axar from around the wicket but SA manage five single – he is now finished with 9 overs.
**After 28 overs 147 for 5 (**ABD 5, Behardien 2)
Super over from Bhuvneshwar – probably the best he has bowled this series. Four superb balls to Behardien to follow up the beauty to Miller – got an outside edge off the last ball but falls just short of Dhoni. JUST!
**After 27 overs 142 for 5 (**ABD 2, Behardien 0)
OUT! Axar Patel is on a roll. Gets the danger man Faf du Plessis as Kohli takes an excellent catch at short covers. Just two runs from that over too. Excellent spell this. But what a knock by Faf.
**After 26 overs 141 for 4 (**ABD 1, Miller 0)