Raipur: South Africa pulled off one of the most memorable run chases in one-day history, hunting down a steep 359-run target here to win by four wickets and leave the three-match series tied 1-1 heading into the decider. Despite strong centuries from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad earlier in the evening, India’s bowlers could not defend what looked like a commanding total under heavy dew.
Asked to bat first, India powered their way to 358 for 5, thanks to two top-order masterclasses. Gaikwad showed remarkable timing from the start, cruising to his first ODI hundred from only 77 balls. Kohli, calm and controlled through the middle overs, also crossed three figures, marking his 53rd century in the format. Their partnership of 195 runs gave India complete control. KL Rahul added the finishing touches with an unbeaten 66 as South Africa struggled to contain the scoring.
But the advantage of a high total quickly faded once the visitors stepped in with the bat. With moisture settling on the outfield and the ball skidding on to the bat, India’s attack struggled for grip and movement under the floodlights.
South Africa’s chase wobbled early when Quinton de Kock departed cheaply. Temba Bavuma’s positive approach and Aiden Markram’s composure soon settled nerves, allowing them to rebuild. A moment that would haunt India came when Jaiswal dropped Markram while he was still in the 50s, and he went on to a fluent hundred from 88 balls guiding his team into a position of strength.
After Markam fell to Harshit Rana, Matthew Breetzke and Dewald Brevis lifted the tempo dramatically. They counter-attacked with crisp drives and clean hitting, adding 92 runs at a fast clip to put the Indian bowlers under pressure. Kuldeep Yadav removed Brevis, and Prasidh Krishna later sent back Breetzke to spark hopes of a comeback. Marco Jansen’s dismissal and Tony de Zorzi hobbling off briefly injected tension into the contest.
But Corbin Bosch, who had fought bravely in the previous ODI, turned finisher again. Showing calm control while partners fell around him, he found the boundary at crucial moments. With Keshav Maharaj offering steady support at the other end, Bosch sealed the chase with four balls remaining. He stayed unbeaten, steering South Africa over the line and avenging the narrow loss just days earlier.
India’s bowlers tried everything — variations from the pacers and tight fields for the spinners — but dew-assisted batting conditions clearly tilted the balance. The field grew wet, the ball refused to grip, and the hosts lacked the breakthroughs needed to halt the late surge.
The result sets up a thrilling finale in Visakhapatnam on December 6, with both sides showing strong form in very different conditions. For India, the promising performances with the bat will offer encouragement, but defending totals under pressure remains a concern. South Africa, meanwhile, will carry immense confidence from their late-innings nerve and tactical discipline.
