South Africa chase record 359 to beat India in second one-day international
South Africa completed the joint-highest chase in the history of one-day internationals in India by passing the target of 359 to win by four wickets at Naya Raipur.
Aiden Markram reached 110 from the top of the order, while Matthew Breetzke and Dewald Brevis notched half-centuries as the tourists beat India with four balls to spare.
Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad made centuries in the home team’s innings, but they could not maintain their score as they posted 358-6; South Africa leveled the three-match series at 1-1, completing the joint-sixth highest chase in the format’s history.
India lost their 20th consecutive toss when KL Rahul’s team were put into bat by their opponents, but they would be confident of victory after Kohli and Gaikwad put on 195 for the third wicket.
While Kohli extended his lead at the top of the ODI century scoring charts by making his 53rd hundred in the format with a score of 135 in the first match of the series, Gaikwad’s 105 was his first three-figure score in the 50-over international competition.
While Gaikwad was caught by Tony de Zorzi off Marco Jansen, Kohli was bowled out for 102 by Lungi Ngidi’s Markram, before Rahul hit an unbeaten 66 to end India’s innings strongly.
South Africa lost eight runs off Quinton de Kock, caught by Washington Sundar off Arshdeep Singh in the fifth over, but Markam put together a partnership of 101 with skipper Temba Bavuma (46) and 70 with Breetzke (68).
Markram was caught by Gaikward in the end of the 30th over off Harshit Rana, but Brevis came to the plate and hit a 34-ball 54.
The 22-year-old was dismissed when he bowled Kuldeep Yadav to Yashasvi Jaiswal before Breetzke and Marco Jansen were dismissed by Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep in the space of five balls.
However, Corbin Bosch calmed South Africa’s nerves by making 29 off 15 balls, including 1 match-winning 4, and his team secured a remarkable victory, reaching 362-6.
The series will conclude in Visakhapatnam on Saturday ahead of the five-match T20 series.
