South Africa produced a memorable chase under heavy dew in Raipur as Aiden Markram’s composed hundred led the visitors to a four-wicket win over India, setting up a series decider in Visakhapatnam. India had appeared well placed after centuries, from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad lifted them to 358 for 5, but the total proved insufficient once conditions tilted sharply in favour of the chasing side.
Markram, supported by Matthew Breetzke and Dewald Brevis, guided South Africa to 362 for 6, equalling the joint highest successful chase against India in men’s ODIs. It was also South Africa’s third-highest chase in the format. Brevis, who thrilled the Raipur crowd with clean striking, raised his maiden ODI fifty before falling for 54 off 34 balls, leaving South Africa well ahead at 288 for 4 with fewer than ten overs left.
India clawed back with quick wickets. Breetzke departed for 68, and Marco Jansen followed soon after, holing out to long off. The situation tightened further when Tony de Zorzi limped off with a suspected hamstring injury, joining Nandre Burger, who had left the field earlier during India’s innings.
Despite these setbacks, South Africa needed only 27 from the final 30 balls. Corbin Bosch played with positive intent, and Keshav Maharaj held his nerve to steer the side home with seven balls to spare. Markram’s 110 from 93 deliveries, brought up in 88 balls, stood out as the decisive innings of the match, made more significant after Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped him on 53 by fumbling a difficult chance over the boundary for six.
India’s frustrations had begun even before the first ball when their astonishing run of poor luck at the toss continued. KL Rahul’s side lost their twentieth consecutive ODI toss and were asked to bat. Burger and Lungi Ngidi found early swing but sprayed the ball often, gifting India 13 wides inside the first five overs. Burger recovered well enough to remove Rohit Sharma for 14, and Jansen then bounced out Jaiswal for 22.
Gaikwad was unsettled early by Jansen’s steep bounce but gradually found rhythm on his way to a maiden ODI century. Kohli looked effortless in completing his second hundred in two matches, yet India’s big total ultimately proved vulnerable once the ball skidded on at night.
By the time Maharaj clipped the winning runs, the roaring home crowd had fallen silent. India will now travel to Visakhapatnam with the series level and plenty to ponder about their death bowling, fielding lapses and their struggle to defend totals under dew.
