South Africa Regains Number One Spot In ODIs

South Africa have regained the number one spot in the One-Day International rankings after beating Bangladesh in the second One-Day International on  Wednesday (October 18). The Proteas were dropped at second spot after India thrashed Australia 4-1 in the ODI series at home.

However, the Proteas regained the numero uno status after winning the first two games of the three-match ODI series against Mashrafe Mortaza & Co. After winning the first game by 10 wickets, the hosts thrashed the visitors by 104 runs in the second game to clinch the series. Batting first, the Proteas rode on AB de Villiers‘ whirlwind knock to post a mammoth 353 for 6 in the allotted 50 overs. De Villiers, batting in an international game for the first time since June, scored a career-best 176 off just 104 balls to propel the hosts to a mammoth total. In reply, Bangladesh were all out for just 249.

With the win, South Africa toppled India to become the number one ODI side in the world.  Bot India and South Africa are on 120 points but the latter leads the Men in Blue by decimal points. South Africa, however, will have to win the third and last ODI against Bangladesh to retain the number one rank.

South Africa Regains Number One Spot In ODIs

India, on the other hand, will have the chance to regain the top rank in the forthcoming three-match One-Day International series against New Zealand, starting October 22. India will be entering the series as the firm favourites, having won 17 of the 23 ODIs. The Men in Blue also made it to the final of the Champions Trophy.

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Schedule for the limited-overs series against New Zealand:

17 October 1st Warm-up CCI, Mumbai
19 October 2nd Warm-up CCI, Mumbai
22 October 1st ODI Mumbai
25 October 2nd ODI Pune
29 October 3rd ODI UPCA
1 November 1st T20I Delhi
4 November 2nd T20I Rajkot
7 November 3rd T20I Thiruvananthapuram

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