India vs South Africa, 2nd ODI : Zorzi’s maiden ton seals big win for SA
Leading India from the front, skipper Rahul slammed his 18th One Day International (ODI) half-century while opener Sai Sudharsan achieved a rare feat in the series decider against South Africa on Tuesday at the St George’s Park in Gqeberha. Dishing out a low-scoring finish for Team India on the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction day, South Africa’s Nandre Burger bagged three wickets to stage an impressive comeback for the hosts in the 2nd ODI. Burger picked up three wickets as India posted 211 in 46.2 overs.
Kickstarting the run chase for the hosts, opener Tony de Zorzi slammed his first-ever ODI century to seal South Africa’s 8-wicket win over India. Opener Zorzi and Reeza Hendricks (52) stitched the record partnership of 130 in 27.5 overs. Zorzi remained unbeaten on 119 off 122 balls to make sure South Africa levelled the series 1-1 in Gqeberha. The Proteas batter was named the Player of the Match for his batting masterclass.
Fresh from an impressive win over South Africa in the curtain-raiser, Team India, led by wicketkeeper Rahul, was hoping to take an unassailable lead in the three-match series decider. On a day when the mini-auction for IPL 2024 is taking place in Dubai, India’s rising star Rinku Singh pipped Rajat Patidar for a place in the starting XI at Gqeberha. Invited to bat first in the 2nd ODI, Rahul’s Team India lost opener Ruturaj Gaikwad in the 1st over.
Rewriting history, youngster B. Sai Sudharsan became the second Indian batter after Navjot Singh Sidhu to score two half-centuries in the first two ODIs for India. With middle-order batter Iyer set to join the Test squad for the Boxing Day clash against the Proteas, India had the luxury to name Rinku in its playing XI. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) youngster Rinku was a star-turnout for the visitors in T20Is but the power-hitter only scores 17 runs on debut.
Earlier, India handed a debut cap to Gujarat Titans (GT) youngster Sudarshan, who slammed a gritty half-century in India’s eight-wicket win over the Proteas. Sudharsan opened the innings for the Men In Blue and smashed nine boundaries in his 55-run knock off 43 balls. He was assisted by premier batter Shreyas Iyer, who played a crucial knock of 52 off 45 balls as India chased down the paltry target of 117 in 16.4 overs. The series opener was turned into a one-sided contest by fast-bowling brilliance from Arshdeep Singh, who bagged his first-ever five-wicket haul in the 50-over format. Arshdeep was named the Player of the Match for returning magical figures of five for 37 in 10 overs.
