‘Calm’ South Africa down India in rain-hit ODI

LUCKNOW – Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller hit unbeaten half-centuries to arrange a nine-run win for South Africa in a rain-reduced opening one-day worldwide towards India on Thursday.

The left-handed Miller (75) and Klaasen (74) placed on an unbeaten stand of 139 runs after the vacationers misplaced their prime 4 within the 40-overs-a-side match in Lucknow.

The bowlers led by Lungi Ngidi then saved India right down to 240-8 regardless of Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 86 off 63 balls as South Africa took a 1-0 lead within the three-match collection.

“A very good combat on the finish, clearly Sanju pushed us, however the boys stood agency and took us to the win,” skipper Temba Bavuma mentioned after the win.

“Miller and Klaasen performed positively, strung collectively a partnership and took us to rating. The bowling was good upfront. On the finish of the day, we have been capable of keep calm beneath stress.”

The Proteas maintain themselves within the hunt for a direct entry into subsequent 12 months’s 50-over World Cup with essential Tremendous League factors of provide for the eleventh ranked facet.

The highest eight groups (seven and hosts India) get direct qualification to the league levels of the 2023 World Cup.

Klaasen and Miller rebuilt the innings at a venue that witnessed heavy rain for 2 days earlier than play began Thursday afternoon and took the assault to the opposition.

Miller, who amassed 125 runs together with a century within the three-match Twenty20 collection which South Africa misplaced 2-1, reached his 18th ODI fifty.

Klaasen adopted his companion to a fifty in the identical over and the 2 modified gears with some luck from the fielders as Mohammed Siraj dropped Klaasen on 64.

‘PROUD OF THE BOYS’

South Africa began steadily after being put into bat first earlier than shedding their method to 71-3.

However Quinton de Kock stood agency to make 48 earlier than departing and Miller and Klaasen then stood unconquered.

In reply, India misplaced common wickets to be decreased to 51-4 together with Shubman Gill bowled by Kagiso Rabada for 3 and skipper Shikhar Dhawan out for 4 off Wayne Parnell.

Shreyas Iyer and Samson placed on 67 runs of their try and convey alive the chase because the pair received a number of boundaries towards the disciplined South African assault.

Iyer, who scored his third half-century within the 4 ODI innings, reached his 50 in 33 balls however received out 4 balls later to Ngidi.

Samson, who received his T20 finest after surpassing his earlier prime of 54, stood agency with Shardul Thakur (33) and took on the bowlers in a 93-run stand and raised his second ODI fifty.

Thakur took the cue and smashed Rabada for 2 straight fours together with a scoop over quick fine-leg in a 14-run thirty seventh over however received out within the subsequent over to Ngidi, who returned figures of 3-52.

Left-arm wirst spinner Tabraiz Shamsi leaked 89 runs from his eight overs together with 20 within the fortieth over as Samson ended with 9 fours and three sixes.

“Fairly pleased with the best way the boys performed the sport, we did not get begin. The way in which Shreyas, Samson and Shardul batted was wonderful,” mentioned Dhawan.

“We gave away too many runs on a wicket that swung and spun, the fielding wasn’t nice, however this was studying expertise for us.”

India have picked a second-string workforce after their Twenty20 facet, led by Rohit Sharma, on Thursday left for the World Cup in Australia which begins later this month.