IND Vs RSA, 2nd ODI: Tony De Zorzi's Maiden Century Gives Proteas Eight Wicket Victory In Gqeberha, Level Series 1-1 (RSA 215/2, IND 211) - As It Happened

Riding on Tony de Zorzi's maiden century, the Proteas chased down the target of 212 in 42.3 overs as they levelled the series 1-1. De Zorzi scored 119 not out and was well-supported by Reeza Hendricks (52) in their century-opening stand. Earlier, South Africa bowled out India for 211 in 46.2 overs after electing to bowl first. Sai Sudharsan (62 off 83) and KL Rahul (56 off 64 balls) but none of the Indian batter could materialise as the visitors were bundled out for a below-par score. For Proteas, Nandre Burger was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 30 in 10 overs. Follow all the updates of IND Vs RSA 2nd ODI here. (IPL Auction Blog | Scorecard | Key Battles | Full Coverage)

11:35pm: Proteas Win By 8 Wickets In Gqeberha
An easy victory for the home team as Tony de Zorzi gets the plaudits for his maiden century against ODI World Cup runners-up. India never really looked into the game despite the drop catch early on from Ruturaj Gaikwad. Reeza Hendricks scored 52 as the duo set-up a 100+ plus partnership.

11:21pm: Proteas Inch Towards Victory (RSA 204/1, 40 Overs)
South Africa are just few runs away from levelling the series 1-1 on the back of Tony de Zorzi's unbeaten century.

10:41pm: Tony De Zorzi Approaches Century (RSA 157/1, 30 Overs)
India finally managed to scalp a wicket in the form of Reeza Hendricks who was sent back by Arshdeep Singh but that did not stop the home team from going gung-ho.

9:50pm: South Africa Still Unscathed (RSA 88/0, 20 Overs)
Despite Indian bowler's steadfast efforts, the Proteas opening pair of Reeza Hendricks and Tony de Zorzi is still unseparated. The small target means India do not have enough wiggle room and RSA are now in a commanding position to win the game and level the series 1-1.  

9:12pm: India Unable To Make Early Inroad (RSA 39/0, 10 Overs)
South Africa have warded off the initial challenge without any casualty. The openers have played out the first 10 overs carefully without losing any wicket, and also knocked 39 runs off the target. India might start getting desperate if they don't pick up a wicket soon.  

8:30pm: Proteas Innings Begins (RSA 5/0, 1 Over)
Reeza Hendricks and Tony de Zorzi walk out to bat for South Africa. Mukesh Kumar has the ball in hand for the Indians, who need early breakthroughs to stand any chance in this game. Mukesh bowls a good first over, inducing an outside edge that went to the boundary. 

8pm: India All Out For 211
After some resistance from the lower order, the Indian innings finally folds for a total of 211. The Men In Blue are bowled out in 46.2 overs, with left-arm seamer Nandre Burger dealing the most damage (10-0-30-3). Sai Sudharsan top-scored for the visitors with 62, his second consecutive half-century in the series. Though the conditions were challenging, the total appears to be below par. Let's see how the chase unfolds.

7:26pm: India Lose Wickets In A Heap (IND 177/7, 40 Overs)
India have undone the hard work in the middle overs and completely lost their way, losing four wickets in the last 10 overs to go seven down. The lower-middle order has collapsed and Arshdeep Singh is now at the crease along with Axar Patel, trying to take the visitors past the 200-run mark.  

6:40pm: Sai Departs For 62 (IND 131/3, 30 Overs)
Sai Sudharsan was looking good for a big one but got a brute of a delivery that rose sharply off a length to take the southpaw's glove along the way to the keeper. The young Sai is out for 62, but India are now in a decent position with skipper Rahul holding fort along with Sanju Samson.  

6pm: Sai Scores 2nd Fifty In A Row (IND 84/2, 20 Overs)
Young southpaw Sai Sudharsan has followed up his unbeaten half-century in the first ODI with another one in the second, and is looking good for more. The Tamil Nadu batter is batting at 50 off 65 balls, and has helped India consolidate alongside skipper KL Rahul. 

5:16pm: India Lose Varma (IND 46/2, 11.1 Overs)
Tilak Varma's scratchy, troubled stay at the crease ends. An attempted hook off Burger goes to fine leg as India lose their second wicket in the 11th over. Things were much more in control before Varma's dismissal. Nevertheless, Sudharsan has settled in and is batting well.

4:54pm: Varma, Sai Rebuild (IND 17/1, 5 Overs)
The early wicket has enthused the Proteas seamers, who are getting movement and bowling disciplined lines and lengths. Tilak Varma and sai Sudharsan are circumspect in dealing with them, and rightly so.   

4:35pm: India Lose Gaikwad
India's innings begins in dramatic fashion. Ruturaj Gaikwad hits the very first ball of the innings for a four and seamer Nandre Burger responds with a superb correction in length for the next ball to trap Gaikwad in front and deal the first blow. Tilak Varma is on the non-striker's end, and Sai Sudharsan is the next man in. 

4:15pm: What Captains Said
KL Rahul: I am not sure (how the pitch will play). We will have to wait and see, looks like a good wicket. The feedback from the T20 guys was that there was good pace and bounce, hopefully put runs on the board and put pressure on them. In a game like that (first ODI) you don't talk much, credit the bowlers and move on to the next game. Three ODIs in quick time and it is important to focus on the next game. There's one change - Shreyas has gone back to join the Test team and Rinku makes his debut.

Aiden Markram: We are going to have a bowl first. Fresh wicket and hopefully we will use the new ball. The Eastern wind is blowing and hopefully it is a bowling wind. We also want to test ourselves while chasing in this format. It is a really quick turnaround, take a few lessons from that (first ODI) game and really put your focus on this game. Today is a new game and we have to put our best foot forward. We have two changes - Beuran Hendricks and Lizaad Williams come in.

4:10pm: Playing XIs
India XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (c & wk), Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar

South Africa XI: Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Beuran Hendricks

 4:05pm: Toss Update
South Africa have won the toss and elected to field first.

3:15 PM: Head To Head Record

India and South Africa have clashed with each other in ODIs 92 times. South Africa have an edge in the head-to-head records as the Proteas side have emerged victorious on 50 occasions while India have won only 39 matches. Three matches ended with no results.

3:00 PM: Preview! 

Squads

India: KL Rahul (captain and wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, B Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Rinku Singh, Akash Deep, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottneil Bartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Mihlali Mpongwana, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Rassie van der Dussen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lizaad Williams, Kyle Verreynne. 

Match Starts: 4:30 pm IST.

Preview!

Hello and welcome to the IND vs RSA, 2nd ODI in India's Tour of South Africa, Match Blog. A sensational spell by the Indian pacers put South Africa to the sword in Johannesburg on December 17, 2023. The Men in Blue restricted the Proteas to 116, with Arshdeep Singh claiming five wickets and Avesh Khan four, before chasing the target with relative ease in under 20 overs. Debutant Sai Sudharsan rocked with the bat, scoring his maiden half-century in his first-ever appearance for the national team. Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, raced to a half-century in his only ODI appearance of the tour; Iyer is due to join the Test squad before the two-game series.