- Monday, March 10, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
India wicket-keeper-batter Sanju Samson led a strong fightback by belting 86 not out off only 63 balls but yet could not save his team from losing the first one-day international against South Africa at the BRSABV Ekana International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow by nine runs.
The Proteas lead the three-match series 1-0 after losing the T20 international series 1-2.
The home team lost a couple of quick wickets while chasing a target of 250 in 40 overs as stand-in captain Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill fell cheaply. Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad also failed to impress and it was at 51 for 4 when Samson joined Shreyas Iyer (50 off 37) and the two added 67 runs in nine overs. Samson struggled initially but got his touch later. Shardul Thakur also played a cameo of 33 off 31 balls to add 93 runs for the sixth wicket with Samson in less than 11 overs. But once Thakur perished in the 38th over, India lost the plot and could manage only 240 for the loss of eight wickets in 40 overs to face an agonising loss.
For the Proteas, pacers Lungi Ngidi took three wickets for 52 runs while Kagiso Rabada took two for 36 runs.
Earlier, unbeaten fifties from David Miller (75 off 63) and Heinrich Klaasen (74 off 65) helped South Africa post 249 for 4 in the stipulated 40 overs after Dhawan won the toss and chose to field. Thakur was the pick of the Indian bowlers with two wickets.
The match has been curtailed to 40 overs-a-side due to rain. Klaasen was picked as the player of the match.
The India squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia led by Rohit Sharma left the same day.
The second match will be played in Ranchi on Saturday (9).
Brief scores: South Africa 249 for 4 in 40 overs (David Miller 75 not out, Heinrich Klaasen 74 not out, Shardul Thakur 2 for 35) beat India 240 for 8 in 40 overs (Sanju Samson 86 not out, Shreyas Iyer 50, Lungi Ngidi 3 for 52) by nine runs.
