The second match of the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa is being played at the Boland Park Stadium. In the second ODI, Indian captain KL Rahul won the toss and decided to bat first. India scored 287 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. All-rounder Shardul Thakur remained unbeaten on 40 and Ravichandran Ashwin scored 25 runs. Both shared an unbeaten 48 runs for the 7th wicket and took India to a respectable score. Apart from these, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul played half-centuries.
Earlier in the second ODI, India won the toss and decided to bat first, which proved to be correct. Opener Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul shared a 63-run partnership for the first wicket. The first wicket of the Indian innings fell in the 12th over when Shikhar Dhawan (29 runs) was caught by Sisanga Magala on the boundary while trying to play a big shot off Aiden Markram. After this Virat Kohli landed at number three. In the very next over, Kohli gave a simple catch to captain Temba Bavuma off Keshav Maharaj. He played 5 balls but failed to open the account. For the first time in his ODI career, Kohli was dismissed for zero at the hands of a spinner.
Captain KL Rahul stood at one end and he got good support from Rishabh Pant. Both the players shared a partnership of 115 runs for the third wicket. Rahul scored 55 runs in 79 balls with the help of four fours. His wicket was taken by Sisanga Magala. After his dismissal, Pant also could not stay at the crease for long. Pant played an innings of 85 runs. Pant hit 10 fours and two sixes in 71 balls during his innings. This is the highest score of his ODI career.
India's rising stars Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer failed in the second match in a row. Shreyas got lbw off Tabrez Shamsi's score of 11 runs. Venkatesh had a good chance to prove himself in international cricket today but he was stumped by Andile Fulquio for 22 runs. South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock did a brilliant stumping.
