This Day That Year: South Africa register their first ever ODI series on Indian soil

 

The South African Cricket Team created history as they defeated a strong Indian side in their own backyard winning the fifth and final ODI played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on 25^th October 2015.

South African captain AB de Villiers won the toss and decided to bat first. Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla provided a flying start putting on 33 runs for the opening wicket. After the fall of Amla’s wicket, de Kock and Faf du Plessis looked in sublime touch putting pressure on the Indian bowling line-up. At the end of the first 10 overs, South Africa raced to 73 for 1.

De Kock played with positive intent and completed his fifty off 42 balls. Du Plessis kept the scoreboard ticking taking singles and hitting boundaries. De Kock continued his superb form by reaching a century off 78 balls. Du Plessis also reached his 50 off 61 balls to put enough pressure on the Indian bowlers.

Suresh Raina provided the much-needed relief for India getting rid of well-set de Kock. De Kock and Faf added 154 runs for the 2^nd wicket. Coming in the 27^th over, Ab de Villiers was simply sensational with his stroke play along with Faf. The experienced duo smashed the Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground. De Villiers looked in great touch and reached his fifty off just 34 balls. On the other hand, Faf du Plessis struggled with cramps but completed a century from 105 balls. Faf had to retire hurt as he and Ab de Villiers put on 164 runs for the 3^rd wicket. De Villiers played innovative strokes decimating the Indian bowlers reaching his century off 57 balls.

Ab de Villiers innings came to end as he was dismissed for a superb 119 off 61 balls including 3 fours and 11 sixes. David Miller also played a quickfire cameo scoring 22 off 10 balls to help South Africa post a mammoth total of 438 for 4 in 50 overs.

Chasing 439 runs to win, apart from Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan half-centuries, none of the Indian batsmen contributed as South Africa registered an emphatic win by 214 runs. Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn were the pick of the bowlers for South Africa.

The South African team showed great fighting spirit in the 5 match ODI series. Proteas started the series with a close 5 runs win at Green Park, Kanpur on 11^th October. Chasing down 248 runs to win, South Africa choked down under pressure and lost the match by 22 runs.

It was a close-fought series between the top two teams in the world. South Africa won the 3^rd ODI to take a 2-1 lead in the series. In the fourth match at Chennai, Kohli’s century led India to level the series at 2-2.

South Africa 438 for 4 in 50 overs ( Faf du Plessis 133, Ab De Villiers 119, de Kock 109, Suresh Raina 1/19) beat India 224 in 36 overs ( Rahane 87, Dhawan 60, Rabada 4/41, Steyn 3/38) by 214 runs.

 

South Africa register their maiden ODI series win on Indian soil