South Africa Triumphs Over India in Thrilling ODI Showdown

In a thrilling encounter, South Africa triumphed over India by four wickets in the second ODI, successfully chasing a target of 359 runs. This victory marks a significant achievement for the Proteas, tying them with India for the most successful chases of 350 runs or more in ODI history. Captain Temba Bavuma praised his team's performance and highlighted the importance of partnerships. Despite injuries to key players, South Africa's batting lineup delivered a stellar performance, with Aiden Markram scoring a century. The decider promises to be an exciting showdown. Read on for a detailed match analysis.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 4, 2025, 01:52 IST

South Africa's Historic Victory

In a remarkable display of skill, South Africa secured a thrilling four-wicket victory against India in the second ODI held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on Wednesday. The Proteas successfully chased down a daunting target of 359 runs in just 49.2 overs, marking the joint-highest successful chase against India in ODI history.

With this victory, South Africa has now achieved three successful run-chases of 350 runs or more, tying with India for the most such chases in ODIs.

Captain Temba Bavuma expressed optimism following the match, highlighting the positives from their performance. He also addressed the injuries sustained by players Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi.

Bavuma stated, "We are thrilled to have crossed the finish line. Our focus was on improving our bowling. We had solid partnerships at the top, and it was an incredible game with a record chase, demonstrating the level of play required against a strong Indian team. I aimed to build a partnership with Aiden and take the game deep, emphasizing the importance of partnerships."

He added, "The decision to send Brevis in early paid off. This win boosts our confidence significantly. The competition for spots is intense, and the batters understand the need to perform at their best. I’m not a medical expert, but the situation doesn’t look promising for the injured players. They will undergo medical evaluations, and we have capable replacements if necessary."

India's Strong Start

India batted first after being put in by the Proteas, facing early setbacks with Rohit Sharma (14) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) dismissed, leaving them at 62/2. However, Virat Kohli (102 off 93 balls, including seven fours and two sixes) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (105 off 83 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes) formed a formidable 195-run partnership for the third wicket, putting India in a commanding position. KL Rahul (66* off 43 balls, with seven fours and two sixes) and Ravindra Jadeja (24* off 27 balls, with two fours) then added a brisk 69 runs for the sixth wicket to finish the innings strongly.

Marco Jansen was the standout bowler for South Africa, taking 2 wickets for 63 runs.

Proteas' Chase and Final Moments

The chase began with South Africa hitting boundaries, although they lost Quinton de Kock early. Temba Bavuma (46 off 48 balls, with three fours and a six) and Aiden Markram built a solid 101-run partnership. Markram achieved his fourth ODI century and first as an opener, scoring 110 off 98 balls, featuring 10 fours and four sixes. A pivotal 92-run partnership between Matthew Breetzke (68 off 64 balls, with five fours) and Dewald Brevis (54 off 34 balls, with one four and five sixes) shifted the momentum in favor of the Proteas.

Despite the injuries to Burger and de Zorzi easing India's challenge, Keshav Maharaj (10*) and Corbin Bosch (25*) guided South Africa to a memorable victory with four wickets remaining and four balls to spare.

For India, Arshdeep Singh was the leading bowler with figures of 2/54, while Harshit Rana's performance deteriorated after a poor over, and Prasidh Krishna's disappointing outing, conceding 82 runs in 8.2 overs, was a significant factor in South Africa's triumph.

An exciting decider is set for Saturday.