India vs. South Africa: Winners and Losers from 1st ODI

There were two centurions, each magnificent in its own right. “We have to focus all our energy on Kanpur”. And there was the special moment when the home crowd chanted the opposition captain’s name. South Africa’s AB de Villiers belongs to the second category. Faf du Plessis also scored a handy 62 in the middle overs.

The proper-hander clobbered his sixth six off the ultimate ball of the innings to deliver up his twenty first ODI century as South Africa plundered 109 runs from the final 10 overs.

The third Twenty20 between India and South Africa was called off last night without a ball being bowled because of a wet outfield, giving the Proteas a 2-0 series win.

It was, therefore, a test for Rahane, and though he didn’t fare too badly, scoring a 82-ball 60, it is Rohit Sharma on whom the spotlight must linger – he took the lead as the two put on 149 for the second wicket, and went on to score a stunning 133-ball 150, an innings where he was rarely troubled. They both look in really good form. Those wickets of Rohit and Raina changed the course of the match.

South Africa one-day captain AB de Villiers insists he is not anxious about India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Even for his ardent fans, and he is still the most popular player in the cricket-mad country, it was painful to watch Dhoni struggle in Sunday’s one-day series opener against South Africa.

Amla and du Plessis made India toil.

India’s skipper scored 31 off 30, but his slow pace caused Suresh Raina to play an ill-advised big shot, which was caught by JP Duminy.

It was a below-par show by the bowlers, with the notable exception of Ashwin, that did India in during the T20 series.

In came de Villiers and that was the cue for Ashwin to be reintroduced as well. He took on Farhaan Behardien next, and ensured he picked off regular boundaries off him, too.

De Villiers did not hit a boundary in the first 33 balls he faced but was unstoppable when he got going. Later, Binny was treated similarly, a crisp pull sending the ball to the ropes. Unless you are Allan Donald at the non-striker’s end in the semi-final of a World Cup, a cricket match is never lost by a single player’s failure to click. Miller didn’t last long though, stumped off Mishra, but de Villiers was on song and feasted on Binny in the 45th over. It didn’t help that a flustered Binny kept bowling short.

India has a few very good spinners. Chasing a stiff target, Rohit and his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan gave India a decent start with a 45-run partnership for the first wicket. With Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Rabada all bowling in at over 140kmph, India have found it hard to get away. Rohit Sharma’s splendid 150-run innings went in vain here at the Green Park ground.

It was then time to accelerate.

As far as Rahane is concerned, he has led India in Zimbabwe when all the senior pros wanted a break. The manner of dismissal looked soft though, as he was caught at extra cover trying to force the pace.