Indore ODI: MS Dhoni and His Replacements Help Equalise Series
Follow the second ODI between India and South Africa Live at The Quint.
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Bhuvi Wraps it Up
Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes just three deliveries to pack up Imran Tahir and Morne Morkel in his 9th over. South Africa are all out for 225 in Indore.
India win the second ODI by 22 runs.
India: 247/9 in 50 overs (Mahendra Singh Dhoni 92 not out, Ajinkya Rahane 51; Dale Steyn 3/49, Morne Morkel 2/42, Imran Tahir 2/42)
South Africa: 225 all out in 43.4 overs (Faf du Plessis 51; Axar Patel 3/39, B Kumar 3/41).
Bring on The Tail!
Harbhajan Singh sends back South Africa’s last recognised batsman. Behardien goes for 18. Dhoni with the catch.
Hello Tahir!
The Proteas now need Tahir and Rabada to work as well as they did in the first innings - only this time, they’re facing the music.
SA: 208/8 after 40 overs(40 needed off 10 overs)
Umesh Joins The Party
India’s third seamer picks his first wicket. Dale Steyn sent packing for a 16-ball-13 by Umesh.
South Africa may just fall short of taking it ‘down to the wire’ today.
SA: 188/7 after 37 overs(60 needed off 13 overs)
de Villiers Gone! Cat in the Bag?
Given Amit Sharma’s spot in the squad, Mohit Sharma hasn’t taken much screen-space during this match but now no one’s complaining!
The quickie gets AB de Villiers out for a 20-ball-19. Virat Kohli with the catch. Dale Steyn is walking in now.
SA: 171/6 after 33 overs(77 needed from 17 overs)
Teen Balls se Do Shikaar
South Africa are now five down in Indore and this looks like the series equaliser we wanted!
Axar Patel finished his 8th over with the very vital wicket of Faf du Plessis. The SA batsman had just scored his 50 when he sends one flying to Virat Kohli. And of course Virat’s not going to let go. Out for 51.
One delivery later, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the ball and the new man as well!
David Miller out first ball after edging one to our captain.
SA: 142/5 after 27 overs(need 106 off 23 overs)
Patel Picks Second!
Hardik Patel is really backing his skipper’s selection today. The all-rounder gets his second after trapping JP Duminy LBW for 36.
In walks the Proteas skipper.
South Africa: 134/3 after 24 overs(need 114 off 26 overs)
Proteas Cross 100 in 20th Over
JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis have plugged the fall of wickets. 53 runs scored in the second 10 overs of their innings.
South Africa now 103/2 after 20 overs(145 needed off 30)
Bhajji Gets de Kock
This is starting to look good for India.
Harbhajan Singh gets the second of the Proteas’ openers. Quinton de Kock feels like sending one to the skies. Finds Mohit Sharma at long-off instead.
South Africa: 56/2 after 10 overs(need 192 off 40 overs)
Amla Stumped!
MS Dhoni and his choice of replacements is working together pretty fine for India today.
The skipper collaborates with Axar Patel to pick off the stumps of Hashim Amla for 17.
South Africa: 40/1 after 6.4 overs.
India Set a 248-Run Target
The Indian skipper has led this innings brilliantly. What looked like a lost cause after 15 overs, seems like a save-able one now.
Dhoni finishes with an unbeaten 92. Captain’s knock anyone?
See you in 40 minutes!
Dhoni Fighting Strong
The Indian skipper is steering this innings all by his bat.
Mohit Sharma is the last man in and the skipper hasn’t allowed him to face a single ball in two overs.
India: 236/9 after 49 overs.
Harbhajan Falls, Umesh Follows
Just when they were staging a comeback, Dale Steyn decides to add a few to his column on the scorecard.
Harbhajan - bowled Steyn - caught de Kock. 22
Umesh - bowled Steyn - caught de Kock. 4
India’s 200 In 45th Over
MS Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh are dealing only in even numbers out there in the middle. Doubles, fours and sixes off their bats.
India’s 200 is up in 44.2.
250 anyone?
Now What, Azhar Bhai?
The Indian skipper smashes a six to get to his 60th ODI half-century, and what timing!
The critics were gunning for him, his team was tottering... but not MS Dhoni! A massive maximum to get to his 50. India 181 after that.
Speaking of Dhoni’s critics - just replugging and old piece of ours. You are Wrong Azhar Bhai, Indian Cricket Can’t Lose Dhoni Yet
Spin Trumps Pace-man
Imran Tahir’s castles Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was just starting to stage a comeback for India with Dhoni.
He’s out for 14.
India: 165/7 after 40 overs
Dhoni-Bhuvi Consolidate, Cross 150
The skipper is getting some solid support from a surprising quarter. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is wielding his bat just enough to stick around in the middle.
Dhoni though hitting a few trademark lusty blows to the boundary line. The spectators on their feet as they finally get to meet the ball.
India: 155.6 after 37 overs( Dhoni: 36*, Kumar: 10*)
Patel, Binny... What’s The Difference?
Axar Patel got a game here ahead of Stuart Binny but on the batting front at least, the all-rounder doesn’t seem much ahead of his rival.
Patel gets trapped LBW for 13 to Steyn.
Maybe he’ll spin us into the match?
India: 125/6 after 30 overs
Raina Joins The Top Order, India 5 Down
Looks like Dhoni’s choice of bowlers may never even come into discussion after this match today. India’s failing batting order seem pretty desperate to steal the headlines.
Suresh Raina adds just a duck to his 3 from the Kanpur game before edging one to an only-too-happy Quinton de Kock.
Morne Morkel with his second wicket.
India: 105/5 after 24 overs
Rahane Foxed by Tahir’s Spin
Imran Tahir is off on his 100 meter celebratory dash, even before the umpire has his finger up.
Rahane though holds his ground. What’s the confusion?
The umpires send it to their third colleague sitting in the box upstairs. Replays show the ball went round Rahane’s legs and nicked his stumps on the way.
Hello Suresh Raina!
India: 102/4 after 23 overs
Rahane’s 50 Brings India’s 100
It’s the Indian skipper and his chosen number three Ajinkya Rahane at the crease now.
Rahane sends one to the boundary for his 12th ODI half-century and India cross the 100-run mark.
India: 101/3 after 22 overs.
Kohli Run-out... Again
Virat Kohli loses his wicket to a run-out once again. Too bad Rohit Sharma is already back in the dressing room.
Ajinkya Rahane has to take the blame for this one. First he gets dropped and the two take a run on the misfield. Rahane keeps his eye on the ball after reaching the other end. No communication between the two - and Kohli joins him there.
Any guesses for what words Kohli has chosen to hurl at Rahane?
India: 82/3 after 18
Dhawan Continues Dry Patch
23 runs and Shikhar Dhawan’s innings’ is halted once again.
Morne Morkel catching the Delhi opener a little off-guard. JP Duminy with the catch.
India: 57/1 after 12 overs
Rahane Strikes Three Boundaries
5 Overs: Rahane got off the mark with a lovely shot over covers off Dale Steyn’s bowling. Two deliveries later, Rahane hit two consecutive boundaries. One over cover again and the other flicked through mid-wicket.
Rohit Out!
1.4 Overs: Kagiso Rabada strikes early for South Africa. Rohit Sharma is late on the flick shot to a full delivery and in the process gets himself bowled. Rohit scored 3 runs. FOW: 3/1
Dhoni Wins The Toss
Finally! MS Dhoni wins his first toss of the series and the Indian skipper has chosen to bat first.
Weird choice of an XI though. Might get him into trouble, this. Dhoni’s going with three changes for this one. Harbhajan comes in for the injured Ashwin but from there, it gets a bit dicey.
Stuart Binny makes way for Axar Patel. Okay
But Amit Mishra out for Mohit Sharma??
Indian Squad: RG Sharma, S Dhawan, AM Rahane, V Kohli, MS Dhoni*, SK Raina, AR Patel, Harbhajan Singh, B Kumar, MM Sharma, UT Yadav
South African Squad: HM Amla, Q de Kock, F du Plessis, AB de Villiers*, DA Miller, JP Duminy, F Behardien, DW Steyn, K Rabada, M Morkel, Imran Tahir
Indore ODI Underway
Hello hello. We’re live from the second ODI in Indore all day today. India trail the five-match series 1-0 and after picking an injury in the opener, Ravi Ashwin is out of this one.
On the eve of the match, 150-maker from the Kanpur ODI Rohit Sharma spoke to the press and said the team’s defeat in the opener simply had ‘no excuse’.
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