5 talking points from the 1st ODI between India and South Africa

South Africa proving too strong to defeatAt Green Park in Kanpur, the game was scheduled for a 9 am start as it gets dark early in the evening. The toss was won by De Villiers who chose to bat first; Dhoni wanted to bowl first, hence both teams got what they desired from the toss. Interestingly, SA has won all the tosses in the series right from the warm up game.Indian bowling yet again failed as Team SA heaped 303 runs in 50 overs with a speedy ton from De Villiers. In reply, after losing Dhawan, Rohit made 150 runs before getting out. There were 5 incidences which have become the talking points from this match.

#1 AB de Villiers\' Fast & Furious 104

Abraham Benjamin De Villiers plays a Captain’s Knock and helps team cross 300

The Number 1 ranked batsman in the ICC ODI rankings was at full steam in the Kanpur ODI as he made 104 runs at a staggering strike rate of 142. Now there’s a huge difference between simply scoring a ton at a strike rate of 80 or less and scoring at De Villier’s pace. What ABD does is break the bowlers’ confidence by piling runs at that speed.

South Africa made an average start with openers back in the hut sooner than they would have hoped for. At 23.2 overs, Amla got out and AB De Villiers came in at number 4. He smashed 6 sixes and 5 fours, most of which came in the On side of the field. ABD was on 98 while facing the 300th delivery of the SA innings when Umesh Yadav’s length ball was dispatched over the ropes to reach his century in a dramatic way.

There are not many instances when Indian spectators show pleasure and joy for the opposition batsman’s century and this was one of those instances.

#2 Ashwin\'s Absence

Ashwin experiences side strain after bowling 4th delivery of 31st over

Ravichandran Ashwin has played the role of wicket taker for Team India for quite a few months now. He has become the go to bowling option for Captain Dhoni whenever India needs to take a wicket. Even against South Africa, Ashwin has proved to be effective, unlike other Indian bowlers.

During the 1st ODI, Ashwin scalped the wicket of De Kock in his very first over. After that, he came in to bowl the 32nd over and experienced a shooting side strain. He went off the field for examination by the team’s physio while Virat Kohli completed his over. Ashwin did return to the field at the beginning of the 38th over, only to leave the ground again during the 44th over. Such incidents got the crowd very curious about Ashwin’s status.

As a result of Ashwin’s exit, South African batsmen certainly benefitted as they faced him for only 4.4 overs and his quota of 10 overs was completed by Stuart Binny and Suresh Raina who are not as threatening.

#3 Another Century, Another loss

Rohit Sharmaacknowledges the crowd after scoring a ton.

Team Indias Opener Rohit Sharma did exceedingly well at Kanpur in the first ODI as India began the chase with a required run rate a little over 6. The Partnership ofRohit Rahane (149 runs) made the Indian spectators believe that India had taken this match away from South Africa. Rohit played shots on both the sides of the field and showed no signs of fatigue throughout his brilliant knock of 150.

With Rahane at the other end ensuring no further wickets fell, Rohit continued to tame oppositionsbowlers and kept a check on the required run rate. Even as Rohit departed at 46.1 overs, 35 runs off 23 balls with 6 wickets in hand was gettable. However, things only went downhill for team India for those 23 balls and they fell short of 5 runs as the match ended.

Rohit must have been gutted by the fact that he couldnt get his team across the finishing line. Also, AB de Villiers (104*) was adjudgedthe Man of the Match award despite Rohit scoring the highest in the match. Just like the T20 atDharamshala where Duminy got the award instead of Rohit.

#4 Imran Tahir\'s Last over and breakthrough

In the picture, Imran Tahir reaffirming the phrase ‘Catches Win Matches’ in the Kanpur ODI

Proteas very well realise whom to thank for this thriller 1st ODI win against India. The Leggie Imran Tahir earned the crucial breakthrough for SA with the 1st ball of his last over by dismissing a well-set Rohit Sharma with a caught and bowled. At this stage, India was still the favourites to win the encounter. The Story of next 5 deliveries was 1,1,2,W,0.

The Second wicket was of Suresh Raina that Tahir accounted for. Before completing his quota of 10 overs, the leggie ensured that his team had more than a fair chance of winning the match. Pacers Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn bowled the last 3 overs and did their best to not let Tahir’s efforts go in vain. Rabada let India score only 6 out of the 11 runs required in the final over giving Team SA a 1-0 lead in the ODI series.

#5 Dhoni perishes instead of finishing

MS Dhoni looks skywards as he mishits in the final over

India seemed to be in the driver’s seat throughout their innings and South Africa pulled the game back in their favour only in the last 24 balls. After Rohit Sharma had departed, the onus was on MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina to win the game for India. Despite losing Rohit in the same over, Raina went for a risky shot that cost him his wicket.

However, the job was only half done for South Africa as India’s most reliable finisher was still on the crease. Kagiso Rabada, the young pacey bowler, held onto his nerves and he managed to dismiss Dhoni. Stuart Binny as well headed back to the pavillion the very next ball and it seemed like the Kanpur crowd had gone into coma.

MS Dhoni’s inning of 31(30) is not ideal as India needed 90 off 60 balls when Dhoni came in at number 4. MS Dhoni has more often than not delivered regardless of how deep in trouble his team is whenever he has walked onto the pitch. Let’s hope our world-class finisher regains his lost ‘Midas touch’ before the 2nd ODI.