Corbin Bosch Highlights Dew Factor in South Africa's Thrilling ODI Victory Over India
Bosch's Match-Winning Performance
Following his impactful performance in the second ODI against India in Raipur, South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch acknowledged that dew conditions played a significant role in their successful chase of a daunting target of 359 runs. He expressed confidence in the team's ability to chase down any target.
Despite impressive centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Virat Kohli, Aiden Markram's explosive 98-ball century and solid contributions from Matthew Breetzke propelled the Proteas to achieve the joint-highest target ever set against India, setting the stage for an exciting series decider on Saturday in Visakhapatnam.
Key Moments in the Match
The second innings saw the Proteas excel in boundary scoring, with Brevis hitting quick sixes and Indian bowlers Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna struggling, the latter conceding 82 runs in just 8.2 overs at an economy rate exceeding 10. The dew made it challenging for bowlers to grip the ball, enhancing the already fast outfield.
However, the chase was not without its challenges; at one point, the score stood at 332/6, with two players, Tony de Zorzi and Nandre Burger, retiring hurt due to hamstring issues. Nevertheless, Bosch (25*) and Keshav Maharaj (10*) managed to secure a match-winning partnership after Bosch's earlier 67 fell short in a previous match.
Bosch Reflects on the Tense Finish
In the post-match interview, Bosch shared insights from his conversation with Keshav during the tense moments following the injuries. He emphasized the importance of running hard and maintaining composure, stating, "We still needed less than a run-a-ball. I told Kesh to stay calm and run hard, and we would pick off the runs. This team has the belief that we can chase anything, and tonight proved that we can achieve remarkable things when the game is set up right."
Impact of Dew on Bowling
Discussing the playing conditions, Bosch noted the challenges posed by dew, saying, "Bowling was tricky. It wasn't my best performance, but the dew definitely influenced the game. The ball started to come on nicely, but as it got wet, it became tougher to bowl. It also made scoring easier for us. I believed that if needed, Nandre would step in, and I reminded Kesh to take it one ball and one run at a time to cross the finish line."
Batting at Number Eight
On the topic of batting at number eight, Bosch remarked, "It's much easier batting at number eight than opening, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed."
India's Innings Overview
In the Raipur ODI, India batted first after being put in by the Proteas, who quickly reduced them to 62/2 with the dismissals of Rohit Sharma (14) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (22). However, Virat (102 off 93 balls, with seven fours and two sixes) and Ruturaj (105 off 83 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes) formed a formidable 195-run partnership for the third wicket, putting India in a strong position. KL Rahul (66* off 43 balls, with seven fours and two sixes) and Ravindra Jadeja (24* off 27 balls, with two fours) added a quick 69-run partnership for the sixth wicket, with Marco Jansen (2/63) being the standout bowler for South Africa.
South Africa's Chase Strategy
The Proteas began their chase aggressively but lost Quinton de Kock early. Captain Temba Bavuma (46 off 48 balls, with three fours and a six) and Markram built a solid 101-run partnership. Markram achieved his fourth ODI century and first as an opener, scoring 110 off 98 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes. A crucial 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 Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj (10*) and Corbin Bosch (25*) guided South Africa to a memorable victory with four wickets and four balls remaining. Arshdeep Singh (2/54) was India's top bowler, while Harshit Rana's (1/70) performance suffered after a poor over, and Prasidh Krishna's disappointing figures of 82 runs in 8.2 overs were pivotal in South Africa's win. An exciting decider is set for Saturday.