Finance
Aiden Markram’s stunning century, combined with easy fifties from Matthew Breetzke and Dewald Brevis, helped South Africa chase down a huge 359 and beat India by four wickets to draw the three-game series 1-1 on Wednesday at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.
After Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s centuries powered India to 358/5 in 50 overs, Markram anchored the chase with a brilliant 110 off 98 balls, while Breetzke’s fluent 68 and Dewald Brevis’ enterprising 54 gave the middle-order muscle to finish with four balls to spare.
Markram’s century was the focal point of the Proteas chase, built on partnerships of 101 and 70 with Temba Bavuma and Breetzke, and he took full advantage of being dropped on 53 by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Breetzke and Brevis then put up a 92-run stand for the fourth wicket to maintain South Africa ahead of the target in misty conditions, as India made costly mistakes with the ball and in the field.
Corbin Bosch added the final touches with an unbeaten 29 to help the visitors complete their third-highest ODI chase and hush the Raipur crowd. Chasing 359 also ranks as the joint-highest score ever chased against India in ODIs, following Australia’s victorious pursuit in Mohali in 2019.
South Africa’s chase was off to a flier when Markram and Quinton de Kock hit five boundaries between themselves in the first three overs. But India struck when Arshdeep Singh forced de Kock to hit over leg-side, and the leading edge was caught by mid on and dismissed him for eight. Though Arshdeep and Harshit Rana continued to trouble Markram, the right-hander produced crisp strokes once the new ball threat was gone.
He and Temba Bavuma took a boundary each off Prasidh Krishna, as South Africa ended the first Power-play at 51/1. With dew setting in, Markram grew in confidence against spin by taking boundaries off them consistently to reach his half century off 52 balls. Kuldeep Yadav’s introduction offered India little respite, as a dropped catch by Jaiswal at long on gave Markram a reprieve on 53.
Prasidh ultimately claimed his maiden wicket, striking Bavuma for 46 with a short ball that the batter hooked to deep midwicket. Markram, on the other hand, marched forward with crisp striking against Prasidh, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja, scoring his first century as an ODI opener in 88 balls. His quiet joy reflected the work ahead: getting South Africa home in a long chase.
But Markram fell for 110 as he was caught off guard by Rana’s brilliant off-cutter and holed out too far. With the Proteas pace the pursuit nicely in dew-soaked conditions, Brevis increased the tempo by hitting Kuldeep for a straight six and launching Arshdeep over the keeper. Breetzke, more circumspect against spin, punished Prasidh by hitting boundaries to keep the rate in check.
While Breetzke scored his seventh fifty in just 11 ODI innings, Brevis showed off his skills with double sixes against Rana. He reached his half-century in just 33 balls by lofting Kuldeep over long-off for six. But the very next ball, he collapsed attempting another big shot and holed out to long on, handing Kuldeep his first wicket.
Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi continued to hit boundaries until the former was stranded lbw by Prasidh for 68, and Marco Jansen holed out to long-off against Arshdeep. Though de Zorzi had to retire hurt due to a hamstring injury, Bosch hit three boundaries and knocked off the remaining runs to take South Africa over the line and make Saturday’s clash in Visakhapatnam a tantalising decider.
Brief scores:
India 358/5 in 50 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 105, Virat Kohli 102, KL Rahul 66 not out; Marco Jansen 2-63, Nandre Burger 1-43) lost to South Africa 359/6 in 49.2 overs (Aiden Markram 110, Matthew Breetzke 68, Dewald Brevis 54, Temba Bavuma 48; Arshdeep Singh 2-54, Prasidh Krishna 2-82) by four wickets
Source: IANS
