12/03/25 12:11:00
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12/03 12:06 CST Markram powers South Africa to victory over India despite
Kohli's 53rd ODI century
Markram powers South Africa to victory over India despite Kohli's 53rd ODI
century
RAIPUR, India (AP) --- Aiden Markram's hundred upstaged Virat Kohli's 53rd ODI
century as South Africa beat India by four wickets in the second game to level
the three-match series Wednesday.
The dewy conditions also favored the Proteas in their strong chase of 362-6
after India lost its 20th consecutive toss in ODIs and made 358-5.
Markram --- dropped on 53 --- made 110 off 98 balls with 10 fours and four
sixes and laid the platform with better than a run-a-ball second-wicket stand
with Temba Bavuma (46), who returned to lead the Proteas after missing out his
team's 17-run loss at Ranchi last Sunday.
"Happy to have crossed the line," Bavuma said. "Unbelievable game ... and it
showed how tough it is to play against this Indian side. A lot of confidence we
can take from this (game) and set up an enthralling series."
Matthew Breetzke (68) hit his second straight ODI half-century and Dewald
Brevis (54) exhibited his power-hitting by smashing five sixes in his maiden
ODI half-century.
South Africa lost wickets in clusters in the death overs and Tony de Zorzi had
to retire hurt due to a hamstring injury, but Corbin Bosch eased the Proteas to
its third highest-ever successful chase in ODIs with unbeaten 29 off 15 balls.
Despite losing Quinton de Kock (8) early in the batting power play, Markram and
Bavuma scored at a healthy pace once they saw off the new ball.
Yashasvi Jaiswal misjudged Markram's catch at long-on soon after the opening
batter completed his half-century as the ball burst through his hands.
Markram exhibited his range of shots as the wet ball started to skid off the
surface and the bowlers found it tough to find the right lengths. Bavuma pulled
Prasidh Krishna (2-85) for a six over fine leg but fell in the same over when
he tried to pull another short ball and sliced an easy catch.
Breetzke upped the ante with another brisk 70-run stand as Markram completed
his century off 88 balls, but fell soon afterward when he couldn't clear
Harshit Rana's (1-70) slower ball and holed out at long-on.
Brevis played in his usual brisk style as wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav (1-78)
also found it tough to control the wet ball. Yadav had the consolation wicket
of Brevis when he had him dismissed in the 41st over and Breetzke was out lbw
to Krishna's full pitched delivery.
With South Africa needing 31 off 31 balls, de Zorzi pulled up his right
hamstring but Bosch and Keshav Maharaj saw their team home with four balls to
spare.
Kohli and Gaikwad in big stand
Earlier, Kohli followed his century in Ranchi with 102 off 93 balls as the
Indian batting great showed plenty of fitness at the age of 37 by running 45
singles, hitting seven fours and two sixes.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (105 off 83) capitalized on his chance in ODIs after Shreyas
Iyer was ruled out of the series due to injury and made his maiden hundred that
featured a dozen boundaries and two sixes.
Kohli and Gaikwad shared a 195-run stand off 156 balls after India lost both
opening batters Rohit Sharma (14) and Jaiswal (22) inside the batting power
play.
The pair exhibited lot of aggression against the left-arm spin of Keshav
Maharaj (0-70). South Africa also had to make up for the loss of fast bowler
Nandre Burger (1-43), who walked off after picking up a hamstring injury in his
seventh over.
But South Africa recovered well by dismissing both the set batters before the
death overs. Marco Jansen (2-63) broke the threatening stand when Gaikwad
misread the left-armer's off-cutter and got caught at deep fine leg. Lungi
Ngidi (1-51) was erratic in his opening spell but came back well to have Kohli
holed out at long-on.
Captain Lokesh Rahul (66 not out) smashed two sixes and six fours and helped
India breach the 350-run mark when Bosch's last over went for 18 runs, while
Ravindra Jadeja made an unbeaten 24 off 27 balls.
The series concludes Saturday before both teams compete in a five-match T20
series as part of their buildup for next year's T20 World Cup.
___
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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