South Africa hunt down 359 in dewy thriller, India left stunned despite Kohli-Gaikwad hundreds

Virat Kohli’s landmark 53rd ODI century and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s elegant maiden ton lit up Raipur, but their brilliance could not prevent South Africa from scripting a memorable chase to level the three-match ODI series on Wednesday. On a night dominated by heavy dew, a flat pitch and uninhibited stroke-play, South Africa produced one of their most calculated and composed run chases to surpass India’s towering 358 for five, sealing a four-wicket victory with four balls to spare and forcing the series into an exciting decider in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

Kohli, batting with characteristic calmness and precision, carved out 102 off 93 balls, while Gaikwad, eager to make a statement after struggling in Ranchi, found his rhythm beautifully to compile 105 off 83. Their 195-run third-wicket stand was a treat of timing, rotation and pressure-free accumulation. At times their stroke-play mirrored each other's sharp placement, quick running, the seamless conversion of singles into doubles. Gaikwad began cautiously but transformed after his fifty, unleashing a mix of flowing drives, deft flicks and confident pulls that showed he was fully at ease against both pace and spin. Kohli, meanwhile, was in complete command, beginning with a trademark pull and marching steadily toward another record-extending hundred.

KL Rahul added the finishing touches with a fluent, unbeaten 66 off 43 balls, ensuring India finished with a total that felt imposing on a typically dry Raipur surface. Yet even as India walked back with momentum, there was a sense that the conditions under lights with heavy dew turning the ball slippery would tilt the advantage toward the chasing team. And that script unfolded almost exactly as feared for the hosts.

South Africa’s chase began with early drama as Arshdeep Singh removed Quinton de Kock for eight, but captain Aiden Markram seized control quickly, batting with authority and elegance. He stitched a crucial 101-run stand with Temba Bavuma, who settled into a holding role while rotating strike.

Markram, fluent from the start, found the gaps effortlessly and mixed power with finesse. One of the turning points came when he lofted Kuldeep Yadav to long-on, where Yashasvi Jaiswal misjudged the catch, allowing the ball to slip through his hands for six. Markram was then on 53, and that reprieve proved costly as he went on to make a commanding 110.

When Prasidh Krishna broke the Bavuma-Markram partnership and Harshit Rana eventually ended Markram’s stay with a clever short off-cutter, India sensed a chance to regain control. But Dewald Brevis arrived with an entirely different script. In a whirlwind 34-ball 54, Brevis launched five massive sixes and shifted the momentum firmly back to South Africa. Matthew Breetzke, calm and composed, played the ideal foil with a well-crafted 68, his second fifty on the trot. Together, they added 92 off 64 balls, dismantling India’s middle-overs plans and leaving the bowlers with no room for recovery as the ball grew wetter and harder to grip.

India tried to claw back as Brevis departed after his assault and Prasidh trapped Breetzke late, while Arshdeep dismissed Marco Jansen early in his innings. But with only a handful of overs remaining and the required run rate under control, Corbin Bosch and Keshav Maharaj maintained their composure. Bosch’s 29 not out off 15 balls sealed the chase with confidence, striking cleanly and smartly rotating strike to prevent any late drama. The batting-friendly conditions ensured that even disciplined lines from India’s pacers yielded little movement, while the spinners struggled to find any purchase.

For India, the loss carried an unwelcome reminder: this was only the second time they had failed to defend a total above 350 in ODIs, the previous instance being against Australia in Mohali in 2019. Despite the setback, the match featured outstanding batting across both innings and set the stage for a thrilling finale as both teams head to Visakhapatnam with the series locked at 1-1.