The Best of India vs South Africa ODIs
The Proteas are on a three-match ODI tour of India, with the series kicking off on 12th March in Dharamsala. The South Africans are no strangers to Indian conditions and have significant experience playing here. Virat Kohli's men who are back from a tough series against New Zealand and will look to turn the tables. Riding on J Malan and Heinrich Klaasen’s scintillating form, South Africa are coming off a 3-0 win against Australia at home. As we gear up for the 1st ODI in Dharamsala, here's a look at some of the most memorable matches between the two sides.
1. India vs South Africa, 24th February 2010, Gwalior
24th February 2010 is etched in the memory of every cricket fan as the day saw Sachin Tendulkar break the 200-run barrier in ODIs. In a superhuman feat, the Master Blaster became the 1st male cricketer to score a double hundred in ODIs.
After Wayne Parnell removed Virender Sehwag early, Sachin partnered with Dinesh Karthik to stitch a 194-run stand before MSD's final flourish helped the score go past 400. On the 3rd delivery of the final over of India innings, Sachin steered one past point to bring the monumental feat. An innings that was laced with 25 fours and three sixes left South Africa with a humongous total to chase.
Later in the South African innings, AB de Villiers’ (114) hundred was the key highlight for the Proteas but the effort was not enough on the day to topple the Indian score. India registered a massive victory by 153 runs. Sachin Tendulkar was adjudged the man of the match for his magnificent innings.
2. India vs South Africa, Semifinal ICC Champions Trophy 22nd September 2002, Colombo
Having decided to bat first, India got off to a good start but skipper Sourav Ganguly was dismissed by Makhaya Ntini. Half-centuries from Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh followed by a commendable innings by Rahul Dravid helped India set a decent target on the board. The Proteas skipper, Shaun Pollock, was the pick of their bowling as he scalped three wickets. Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif, and Zaheer Khan were Pollock’s victims.
Needing 262 runs to march into the final of the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy, Proteas had a horrible start as they lost Graeme Smith. However, Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis combined to put on a mammoth 178-run stand - new partnership record for the 2nd wicket for South Africa against India. But centurion Gibbs, who looked good to drive South Africa home, failed to cope with heat exhaustion and had to retire. Jacques Kallis falling just 3 short of a ton, did not help compounded South African’s problems and they suffered a middle-order collapse. Eventually, they folded for 251 runs, 10 runs shy off the target that would have taken them to their second ICC Champions Trophy final.
3. India vs South Africa, 22nd October 2015, Chennai
The Chepauk crowd saw two of the finest players display their artistry on a relatively tough surface where stroke-making wasn’t easy. In the first innings, Virat Kohli gave us a masterclass, as he scored 138 from 140 balls which included 6 boundaries and 5 sixes. Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina forged a partnership of 127 runs which propelled India to a commendable total on the board.
In reply, Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock gave the Proteas an ideal start. But once the openers departed, the Proteas lost track, losing wickets at regular intervals. Another RCB star, AB de Villiers combined with Farhan Behardien to bail the visitors out of trouble. The duo stitched together a 56-run partnership. ABD brought up his century in 98 balls but it was VK’s century that turned out to be a winning effort as the South Africans fells 35 runs short in the end.
Which are your favourite India vs South Africa clashes, let us know in the comments sections.
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