Heinrich Klaasen (74 in 65 balls) and David Miller (75 in 63 balls) made an unbroken partnership of 139 runs in 106 balls, in the first one-day match being played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
The team was given a target of 250 runs. Proteas scored 249 runs for the loss of four wickets in a rain-affected 40 over match. Shardul Thakur took two wickets for India. At the same time, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi took one wicket each. Earlier, opting to bat after losing the toss, the African team was put under pressure by the Indian fast bowlers as they were getting a lot of help from the pitch, which saw their openers Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock struggling. So in the powerplay, the team scored 28 runs without losing a wicket.
In the 13th over, Shardul gave India the first breakthrough by sending Genman (22) to the pavilion, giving the Proteas their first blow for 49 runs. Temba Bavuma, who came at number three, along with de Kock, carried the innings forward. But Shardul and Kuldeep bowled captain Bavuma (8) and Aiden Markram (0) to drop Africa for three wickets for 71 runs.
At the other end, de Kock made some good shots to take the team beyond 100. At the same time, Heinrich Klaasen supported him well. In 22.1 overs, Bishnoi made de Kock (48) lbw. David Miller, who came at number six, together with Klaasen, took the team to 164 runs for the loss of four wickets in 30 overs. Meanwhile, Miller completed his fifty in 50 balls. Along with this, Klaasen also hit a fifty in 52 balls, taking the Protease score to 206 runs in 36 overs.
Klaasen (74 off 65 balls) and Miller (75 off 63 balls) shared an unbroken partnership of 139 runs in 106 balls as the Indian team made an unbroken partnership of 139 runs in 40 overs as the Proteas scored 249 for four in 40 overs. Now India will have to score 250 runs to win.
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