India v South Africa, 2015-16
Wisden's review of the first ODI, India v South Africa, 2015-16
Dileep Premachandran
15-Apr-2016
At Kanpur, October 11, 2015. South Africa won by five runs. Toss: South Africa.
The change in format did not affect Rohit Sharma. Yet again he made a masterful century: 150 in 133 balls, with 13 fours and six sixes. But, yet again, India's lack of hitting depth was exposed as South Africa held on for a five-run win. India had needed 35 from four overs, with seven wickets in hand, when a tired Sharma was caught and bowled by Imran Tahir. Raina followed in the same over, and India were left wanting 11 off the last. Step forward the 20-year-old Kagiso Rabada. He had conceded nine in his previous over, but now induced miscues from Dhoni - unable to reprise his finishing heroics of yore - and Binny, and gave away only five. India, who had been 191 for one, were left to reflect on another botched chase, and a marvellous hundred from de Villiers that ensured the first 300-plus total at Green Park. Having taken a relatively sedate 54 balls over his half-century, de Villiers - who walked in to chants of "AB! AB!" - raced to three figures in a further 19 with his sixth six. India, who lost Ashwin to a side strain in his fifth over, conceded 53 in the last three. De Villiers's day was slightly tarnished when he was fined 40% of his match fee for South Africa's slow over-rate.
Man of the Match: A. B. de Villiers.
The change in format did not affect Rohit Sharma. Yet again he made a masterful century: 150 in 133 balls, with 13 fours and six sixes. But, yet again, India's lack of hitting depth was exposed as South Africa held on for a five-run win. India had needed 35 from four overs, with seven wickets in hand, when a tired Sharma was caught and bowled by Imran Tahir. Raina followed in the same over, and India were left wanting 11 off the last. Step forward the 20-year-old Kagiso Rabada. He had conceded nine in his previous over, but now induced miscues from Dhoni - unable to reprise his finishing heroics of yore - and Binny, and gave away only five. India, who had been 191 for one, were left to reflect on another botched chase, and a marvellous hundred from de Villiers that ensured the first 300-plus total at Green Park. Having taken a relatively sedate 54 balls over his half-century, de Villiers - who walked in to chants of "AB! AB!" - raced to three figures in a further 19 with his sixth six. India, who lost Ashwin to a side strain in his fifth over, conceded 53 in the last three. De Villiers's day was slightly tarnished when he was fined 40% of his match fee for South Africa's slow over-rate.
Man of the Match: A. B. de Villiers.