In a gripping match, South Africa edges India by 4 wickets in Raipur, with Markram and Brevis shining bright. Explore the match details and highlights!
Introduction:
Aiden Markram’s masterful century anchored South Africa’s thrilling four-wicket victory over India in the second ODI at Raipur, as the visitors chased down a daunting 359 with four balls to spare. On a dew-laden evening, Markram’s calculated 110, supported by Matthew Breetzke’s fluent 68 and Dewald Brevis’ explosive 54 off 34 balls, helped overturn the dominance India had established through Virat Kohli’s second successive century and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s maiden ODI hundred.
In a match that ebbed and flowed throughout, South Africa’s calmness under pressure edged out India’s early control. The 60,000-strong crowd at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium witnessed high-quality cricket dominated by batsmanship on a placid surface, where the bowlers toiled, and the dew turned the contest decisively in the chasing side’s favour.
Kohli and Gaikwad lay the foundation for India
It started perfectly for India. On a clear Raipur afternoon, Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first, sticking to the same approach that fetched success in the opening ODI. The pitch was firm with faint cracks and minimal green, promising runs for those willing to persist. See also: RO-KO Reignites: Kohli’s Hundred, Rohit’s Flair Power India to 349
Ruturaj Gaikwad, keen to prove his mettle in the 50-over format, began steadily before unfurling his trademark elegance through the offside. The opener’s timing constantly drew applause as he drove Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen through cover and point with minimal effort. His half-century came off 57 balls, and he accelerated beautifully thereafter, milking the spinners and running hard between the wickets in tandem with Kohli.
At the other end, Virat Kohli looked at his vintage best. Coming off a century in the series opener, he began cautiously, ensuring India didn’t lose momentum after Shubman Gill’s early departure for 20. Once he found rhythm, the familiar flicks, supple drives, and late cuts returned. His century — the 49th of his career — arrived off 95 balls, met with thunderous applause from the Raipur crowd.
Together, Kohli and Gaikwad added 184 runs for the second wicket, a stand that set the stage for India’s imposing total. When Gaikwad finally departed for 105 — his innings laced with 12 fours and a six — it felt like the foundation had been perfectly laid.
Middle-order momentum and Jansen’s strikes
India looked primed for a total beyond 375. Kohli carried on relentlessly, but South Africa’s bowlers fought back in the final ten overs. Marco Jansen, who had been expensive in his first spell, returned to remove Kohli for a magnificent 102, caught at long-off attempting to accelerate.
That dismissal briefly slowed India’s charge, though Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul managed handy cameos. Iyer’s 28 from 19 balls, featuring two sixes off Tabraiz Shamsi, and Rahul’s measured 34 not out ensured India reached 358 for 5 — a formidable score by any standard, yet possibly 15 short given the evening dew.
The buzz among Indian supporters suggested confidence. Few, however, accounted for how drastically conditions would change once the lights took full effect.
Dew tilts the balance as South Africa attacks early
The first signs of dew appeared even before the South African innings began. By the time Matthew Breetzke and Reeza Hendricks walked out, droplets gleamed on the outfield, hinting at a tough phase for bowlers trying to grip the ball.
Arshdeep Singh struck early, removing Hendricks for 17 with a delivery that seamed back sharply. But that was where India’s luck ended temporarily. Breetzke and Aiden Markram were quick to judge the lack of swing and began to stroke the ball confidently all around the ground.
Breetzke, playing only his fifth ODI, showed impressive temperament, combining aggression with sound placement. He wasn’t intimidated by Jasprit Bumrah’s pace or Prasidh Krishna’s bounce; instead, he used the pace smartly to steer square on both sides. His fifty came from just 45 balls and provided South Africa the tempo they needed during the powerplay.
At the other end, Markram, always elegant and composed, relied on touch and timing. His calm presence anchored the innings, rotating strike freely and ensuring India’s bowlers couldn’t build pressure. The pair added 126 for the second wicket, systematically dismantling India’s early advantage.
Arshdeep and Prasidh offer India a glimpse of hope
Just when the game appeared to slip away, India found the spark again. Arshdeep Singh, switching ends, found reverse swing with the older ball and dismissed Breetzke for 68, trapping him lbw with a sharp in-swinger. Soon after, Prasidh Krishna forced Heinrich Klaasen to mistime a drive, caught at mid-off for 15.
These quick wickets briefly reignited hopes in the Indian camp. With South Africa needing 140 from 110 balls and two new batters at the crease, Rohit Sharma brought back Bumrah to target the stumps. The plan nearly succeeded when Dewald Brevis edged Bumrah between Rahul and Kohli in the slips, only for the ball to fall agonizingly short. That missed chance would later prove costly.
Brevis capitalized dramatically. Unfazed by the occasion, the young prodigy launched into the spinners, taking Kuldeep Yadav for two sixes over long-on and sweeping Ravindra Jadeja fearlessly. His fifty, off just 33 deliveries, injected new life into South Africa’s chase.
Markram’s poise and Brevis’ firepower seal the pursuit
Amid Brevis’s fireworks, Markram continued to glide under the radar, crafting one of his most assured ODI innings. His shot selection was immaculate — the cover drives against Bumrah and the late cuts off Jadeja stood out. Every boundary seemed a study in balance and timing.
With 70 needed from 57 balls after Brevis holed out to long-off for a brisk 54, South Africa were still a step ahead. Markram reached his hundred in the 46th over, raising his bat modestly as the dugout applauded. His innings — defined by flawless pacing — kept the equation always manageable.
Even so, India refused to give up. Arshdeep and Bumrah pushed the equation to 22 off the final 12 balls. But the slippery ball and soaked outfield left their lengths suffering. David Miller, calm and experienced, took charge, smashing a straight six off Prasidh before unleashing a late cut for four.
Fittingly, Markram finished it with a firm flick to fine leg, sealing victory with four balls to spare. His unbeaten 110 anchored the chase as South Africa reached 362 for 6, leveling the series 1-1 heading into the Visakhapatnam decider.
Contrast of calm and chaos defines the contest
What differentiated South Africa was composure. Their batters understood that in dew-soaked conditions, survival and timing early on would eventually yield boundaries as grip waned for bowlers. Markram’s anchoring role perfectly complemented Brevis’s explosiveness, creating balance throughout the innings.
India, on the other hand, were blunted by dew. Their bowlers repeatedly had to towel the ball after every delivery, breaking rhythm. Bumrah’s yorkers missed by inches, Kuldeep’s grip slipped, and cutters from Krishna floated rather than jagged off the surface.
Rohit Sharma’s defensive ploys couldn’t alter the momentum once the dew fully affected the seamers. The captain admitted post-match that “the conditions became like playing with a bar of soap,†acknowledging that even 358 felt 20 short under such conditions.
Kohli’s form continues, Gaikwad arrives
Despite defeat, India will draw positives from their batting lineup’s consistency. Virat Kohli’s back-to-back centuries reaffirm his class, especially his mastery in building a chase-proof total. His innings was a blend of patience and aggression, rotating strike frequently and concluding with signature flair.
The highlight, though, was Ruturaj Gaikwad’s century. Playing fluently through the off side and demonstrating composure in running between wickets, his 105 signaled maturity. For a player battling to cement his ODI spot, this innings was timely and full of character.
Their partnership echoed classic Indian batting — controlled acceleration without recklessness — a formula that, despite the result, inspires confidence ahead of the decider.
Road to Visakhapatnam: momentum evenly poised
With the series tied 1-1, all eyes now turn to Visakhapatnam for the deciding ODI. The narrative of contrasting conditions — spin versus seam, dew versus dryness — will likely dominate discussions. For India, improvements in death-bowling execution and adaptability to evening conditions will be a priority. For South Africa, capitalizing on momentum and converting promising starts into series wins remains the key.
As the teams travel eastward, both carry belief and resolve. If Raipur’s contest was a study in batting excellence, Visakhapatnam might demand all-round efficiency. Regardless, the decider promises another gripping chapter in an evenly matched duel.
