Top 5 India-South Africa ODI matches so far

India and South Africa have played some memorable ODIs over the years

With India and South Africa beginning another ODI series from tomorrow, we take a look at the past, and at five of the most enthralling contests played out between the two teams.

1. 1993 Hero Cup Semifinal, Kolkata

Eden Gardens. Under lights for the first time. No better time than to play out a classic ODI. After Azharuddin had won the toss and chosen to bat, India were pegged back early, reduced to 18/3. But the skipper played a fine hand, scoring 90, and was ably assisted by Pravin Amre to get India out of trouble.

But the 195 that India managed still didn’t seem to be enough. But South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals and found themselves needing 45 runs off the last 5 overs. They brought that down to 6 needed off the last over. And that’s when a certain Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar decided to take things into his own hands. An over that went for 3 runs, and India had won the game by 2 runs.

2. ICC World Cup 2011, Nagpur

A whirlwind start. A spectacular century from Sachin. India found themselves at 267/1 in the 40th over after having won the toss and chosen to bat first. What followed was a collapse of spectacular proportions. 29 runs and 9 wickets later, India were bowled out for 296, Dale Steyn leading the way with a 5-wicket haul.

For South Africa, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis set it up, AB De Villiers kept up the momentum and Robin Peterson provided the finish. With 13 needed off the last over bowled by Ashish Nehra, Robin Peterson struck a few decisive blows and finished the game with two balls to spare, ensuring South Africa, for a moment, shed their tag of ‘Chokers’.

3. 2nd ODI, 2011, Johannesburg

After Sachin and Virat Kohli threw away starts, it was left to Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni to resurrect the innings. They were midway through doing that Yuvraj fell for 53, and that led to a middle and lower order collapse which resulted in India getting bowled out for 190.

South Africa were cruising along, getting to 152/4 in the 32 overs. That’s when skipper Graeme Smith was bowled by Munaf Patel for 77. South Africa panicked and collapsed. They ultimately needed 2 runs off 8 overs with two wickets in hand, and Munaf Patel got the wickets of both Morne Morkel and Wayne Parnell to give India a one run victory.

4. 2nd ODI, 2010, Gwalior

One of the more one-sided games between these two sides, but it makes the list because of a special innings from a special cricketer. Sachin Tendulkar made ODI cricket’s first individual double century and against an attack containing Steyn, Parnell and Langeveldt, it was no mean achievement.

Sachin was ably supported by Dinesh Karthik(79), Yusuf Pathan and MS Dhoni, all of whom helped India pose an imposing total of 401/3. South Africa, in reply, were never really in it, losing quick wickets in search of quick runs. AB de Villiers, with a fine hundred only delayed the inevitable as India won by 153 runs.

5. ICC Champions Trophy 2002, Semifinal, Colombo

After Sourav Ganguly had won the toss and chosen to bat first, contributions from Sehwag, Dravid and Yuvraj got India up to a fighting total of 261/5. In reply, South Africa were making a mockery of the total, getting to 192/1 in the 37th over, when Herschelle Gibbs, who had scored a magnificent century, had to retire hurt, due to a bout of cramps.

Ganguly sensed an opening, and got his spinners, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh into action. After brilliant spells from Sehwag and Bhajji, India ensured that South Africa would finish 10 runs short and booked a place in the final of the Champions Trophy.