Ind vs RSA, 2nd ODI: Markram & Hendricks Stabilized SA to Put a Target of 279 for India

Key Highlights:

• SA Won the toss and chose to bat first
• Hendricks Scored 74 runs from 76 balls
• Markram played an inning of 79 runs in 89 balls
• Mohd. Siraj took 3 wickets for India
• SA scored 278-7 after 50 overs.

South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first. The first inning of the match started with de Kock and Janneman Malan at the crease, and Siraj opened the attack. On the first ball of the first over, de Kock hit a beautiful four. However, Siraj dismissed de Kock in 2.1 overs. De Kock bowled earlier after scoring 5(8). It was the big wicket for India.

With India’s tight balling, South Africa could reach only 19 runs at a loss of 1 wicket after 5 overs. Janneman Malan was playing well and hit beautiful boundaries but could not stand in front of a flat, good-length delivery by Shahbaz Ahmed. It was the maiden ODI wicket for Shahbaz Ahmed. Janneman Malan was dismissed after scoring 23(31).

South Africa scored 40 runs by losing 2 of the most giant wickets during the powerplay. A beautiful partnership settled down between Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks. They seemed unstoppable and hit glorious boundaries. The partnership took the South Africa team over 100 runs in 21 overs. Later, both players successfully hit their half-centuries in the 25th and 27th overs, respectively. Hendricks brought up his 4th ODI fifty during the process.

The 136-run stand between Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks ended in the 32nd over as Siraj sent R Hendricks back to the hut. India was waiting for this wicket. A good length was delivered on off-stump by Siraj, again that short-arm jabbed from Hendricks, but he failed to place it, caught out by India’s best fielder in this lineup, Shahbaz Ahmed.

Klaasen came into the field and hit his first six in his trademark shot in 34.3 overs. He was playing well, but Kuldeep Yadav dismissed him in 37.6 overs.  Kuldeep attempted googly on the stumps does not turn, though. Klaasen made room to loft it inside-out but skewed it off a thick inside half. It looked to be falling in no man’s land until Siraj ran in and took it down low. It almost slipped out, but he tumbled over, and the ball stayed intact at the end of his fingertips. Klaasen caught out after scoring 30(26).

Another giant wicket of Markram was credited to the account of Washington Sundar. It was a poor delivery by Washington. Markram thrashed it off the back foot but failed to keep it down and low. Dhawan, at extra cover, dived and came up with the ball. Markram caught out after scoring 79(89) (21 runs away from hitting a century).

With these two back-to-back wickets, the expected run rate of the inning decreases from 300* to 280. India was fielding well compared to the first ODI against South Africa.

Shardul Thakur came into the attack in 46.2 overs and dismissed Parnell. Parnell caught out after playing a good inning with 16(22) runs. With the boundaries dried up, he tried to break the shackles, but this was a craftily bowled off-cutter from Shardul. It also went fuller, invited the big hit, but Parnell could only be sliced down to long-off. Iyer didn’t have to budge one bit. India pulled things back superbly in the final 10 overs.

At the end of the 48th over, Miller hit 2 back-to-back fours after the gap of 7 overs. The first one was the sledgehammer blow.

Siraj bowled out Maharaj in 49.5 overs. By keeping it simple, slow, and straight, Siraj attacked the stumps. As a result, Maharaj’s off stump was ripped out. Maharaj bowled out after scoring 5(13).

South Africa scored 278 runs in 50 overs at a loss of 7 wickets. Now let’s see what India will do to complete this run chase and level the series.