The first ODI of the three-match ODI series between Shikhar Dhawan-led India National Cricket Team and Temba Bavuma-led South Africa National Cricket Team, which is part of the ongoing South Africa tour of India 2022, was played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Thursday, October 6.
South Africa National Cricket Team won by 9 runs against India National Cricket Team in the ODI series opener to take a 1-0 lead and bag crucial ICC World Cup Super League points.
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Earlier, there was a delay in the commencement of the play due to the rain in the city and it became a 40-overs-per-side contest. India National Cricket Team won the toss and opted to bowl first in the match.
Batter Ruturaj Gaikwad and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi made their ODI debuts for India. On the other hand, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan and Tabraiz Shamsi were back in South Africa playing XI for the ODI game.
Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan opened the innings for the Proteas and batted cautiously. They looked decent out in the middle and had a 49-run stand in 73 balls before pace bowler Shardul Thakur cleaned up Janneman Malan for 22 in the 13th over.
Soon, Shardul also castled skipper Temba Bavuma for 8 in the 15th over with an absolute jaffa. In the very next over, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav castled Aiden Markram for a 5-ball duck with an absolutely incredible delivery.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock fell just 2 runs short of a half-century as he got out LBW at the score of 48. His Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) teammate in the Indian Premier League (IPL), leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, was the one to bag his wicket.
Then, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen displayed a batting masterclass. Both the batters looked in good touch against Indian bowlers and they batted with a good strike rate. They had an unbeaten 138-run partnership in 103 balls.
Heinrich Klaasen smashed 74 runs off 64 balls and David Miller scored 75 runs off 63 balls. In the end, the Proteas posted 246 for 4.
During the run-chase, Indian openers – Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan – got out after scoring just 3 and 4 runs respectively.
Debutant Ruturaj Gaikwad batted awfully and scored 42-ball 19 while Ishan Kishan scored poor 20 runs off 37 balls.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Shreyas Iyer played one of his best knocks in international cricket. He smashed fantastic 50 runs off 37 balls, including 8 fours.
Then, Sanju Samson and Shardul Thakur had a brilliant 93-run partnership in 66 balls, before the latter was cleaned up by Lungi Ngidi for 33.
In the end, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson played an outstanding knock and smashed 4 boundaries in the last over when India needed 30 runs off 6 balls to win. However, his efforts were not enough and India faced defeat in the match. The star wicketkeeper-batter smashed 86 runs off 63 balls, including 9 fours and 3 sixes.
Here’s How Twitter Reacted To The ODI Series Opener Between India and South Africa:
Top stuff @IamSanjuSamson almost pulled it towards us .. Good luck going forward team India .. well played @ProteasMenCSA #INDvsSA
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 6, 2022
What a gritty player he is, an innings to remember. Sadly couldn’t take India home but the intent @IamSanjuSamson showed was just amazing to see. #IndvSA pic.twitter.com/KEWha7sWno
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) October 6, 2022
That was a valiant effort from Sanju Samson. Tough luck but a very high quality innings.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 6, 2022
Well played Sanju Samson. Hard luck for now winning the game
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 6, 2022
Top class from sanju Samson, very aggressive, very impressive, you deserve the applause!! @IamSanjuSamson
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) October 6, 2022
Not the desired result for his team. But Happy for Sanju Samson – 86 not out. Highest ODI score will give him great belief and confidence going forward.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) October 6, 2022
India could have won it. There was no need for Avesh Khan to slog blindly, just give the strike to Samson. Anyway…#INDvSA
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) October 6, 2022
Sanju Samson you beauty.
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) October 6, 2022
What a knock by Sanju Samson – 86* in just 63 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes. Almost took India over the line, an innings worth a million appreciation!
Take a bow, Sanju! pic.twitter.com/ygD2s72XWM
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 6, 2022
I live life on simple terms. I see Sanju slander, I block it. ❤️
— Sonali (@samtanisonali1) October 6, 2022
Samson has played just 2 of the last 9 deliveries. Piss poor from the lower-order. Could have just given him the strike.
— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) October 6, 2022
If Sanju Samson could have faced at least 2 or 3 balls in the 39th over, game could have changed but still what a fightback lead by Samson, Shreyas and Thakur without the big boys.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 6, 2022
Nevertheless, well tried Samson. The quality was there to see and like @crickashish217 said, hardly a shot in anger.
Hopefully more such knocks to come from him. https://t.co/EWRrFnj5Aj
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) October 6, 2022
Respect, Sanju V Samson. ???
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) October 6, 2022
How can he not be even in the standbys for the T20 World Cup? But so happy to finally see him getting to do this in Indian colors. There was never any doubt about his talent. Not since people saw him as a teenager for @rajasthanroyals a decade ago. #SanjuSamson #IndvSA
— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) October 6, 2022
Just brilliant @IamSanjuSamson ? what an innings ??
— Ishan Yadav Mahal (@BeingIshanCric) October 6, 2022
Sanju Samson, ice cool under pressure, a wry smile and some brutal, calculated hitting #INDvSA
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) October 6, 2022
If only the tail gave Samson a few more balls. Three. Even two.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) October 6, 2022
In an ideal world, Sanju Samson would have been one of the first names in India's T20 World Cup squad. But here he is! Trying to prove his worth, despite proving it numerous times before. #INDvSA
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) October 6, 2022
Rabada wasn't hit for a single boundary, till he came across Lord Thakur. Who flat batted him for 2 boundaries over his head and then scooped him over fine leg!
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) October 6, 2022
Shardul Thakur in this ODI match against South Africa:
•8-1-35-2 with the ball.
•33(31) with the bat.A terrific All-round performance by Shardul. pic.twitter.com/8Jz5R2Acu1
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) October 6, 2022
"Who's your prime bowler?"
"Bring him in front of Shardul Thakur."
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 6, 2022
Shardul Thakur na match ek tarfa haarne deta hai, na jeetne.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 6, 2022
Highest ODI career batting averages for India
min 7 inns
65.50 – Sanju Samson
62.75 – Shubman Gill
57.68 – Virat Kohli
50.23 – MS Dhoni#IndvSA #IndvsSA— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 6, 2022
Not the desired result for his team. But Happy for Sanju Samson – 86 not out. Highest ODI score will give him great belief and confidence going forward.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) October 6, 2022
Well fought #SanjuSamson ?@IamSanjuSamson #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/AeLTi6JPd6
— ROHIT Era™ ?? (@TheRohitEra) October 6, 2022
What a inning #SanjuSamson well played champ..#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/Z6lLK87tAg
— Mukesh Kumar (@_Alex_Chaudhary) October 6, 2022
One of the greatest innings in 2022 ??#SanjuSamson #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/y9PLvNhnRu
— raushan (@Gulshan59526580) October 6, 2022
Virat Kohli is literally ruining the career of our deserving middle order batsmen like Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda .#ViratKohli? pic.twitter.com/EjylZnWYn0
— ??????? (@Captain45_) October 6, 2022
Well played 86(63)*#SanjuSamson
U have won millions of heart today. ❤️
Lone warrior ?#INDvsSA
#INDvSA#SanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/dgJbPkEcXY— DILIP KUMAR (किसान पुत्र)? (@JakharDILIP_2) October 6, 2022
Well Played Sanju Samson ?
2nd Highest ODI Score by Indian WK against SA ?#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/P5lb8xIDPH
— ?????? (@Shebas_10dulkar) October 6, 2022
Just an appreciation tweet for Sanju Samson….
Well fought champ..??
Chetta ??#INDvsSA #INDvSAODI #SanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/f0EBTsJoqh— Navneet MSDian (@MSDian067) October 6, 2022
Hey #BCCI Look What He Done Today!! pic.twitter.com/IWRi3zntFc
— × ചാർളി ⱼD × ? (@Mr_Magician_93) October 6, 2022
Sanju Samson You Beauty . Well played man ! #INDvsSA l #INDvSA l #SanjuSamson . pic.twitter.com/ZV2XMV2aGp
— Vishwajit Patil (@_VishwajitPatil) October 6, 2022
Chasing 250+ after top order collapse is not easy until u r @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/0mxk7q7cK5
— Trishank (@trishank_vk) October 6, 2022
— Ishan Yadav Mahal (@BeingIshanCric) October 6, 2022
Few boxes well ticked
– Sanju Samson with a fine effort.
– Shreyas Iyer played a handy knock, promised so much more.
– Shardul Thakur again proving all-round utility.
– Kuldeep Yadav bowled with great confidence.Creditable that they came this close against such a big score.
— Debayan Sen (ਦੇਬਾਯਨ) (@debayansen) October 6, 2022
Tabraiz Shamsi appreciated Sanju Samson's innings after the match. pic.twitter.com/b5Bk0PDtwr
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) October 6, 2022
If I had a choice between Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson for a place in the World Cup squad, I know who I would choose.
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) October 6, 2022
Also Read: Watch: Shardul Thakur Knocks Over Struggling Temba Bavuma With A Jaffa In IND vs SA 1st ODI
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