IND v SA: Pant, Rahul Fifties Take India To 287/6

Rishabh Pant's 85 along with decent contributions from the rest of the batting lineup helped India reach 287/6 in the first innings of the 2nd ODI at Boland Park, Paarl. 

Indian captain KL Rahul won the toss and opted to bat first with an unchanged XI. Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rahul gave India a decent start. Dhawan was the aggressor in the 60-run opening stand, scoring 29 off 38 balls with the help of five fours. 

Once again it was Aiden Markram that gave South Africa the crucial breakthrough in the form of Dhawan, who got out trying to sweep the ball only to get caught at the boundary. In the next over, India lost the big wicket of Virat Kohli, who scored a five-ball-duck. 

With two wickets down in quick succession, Rahul got into his shell to stop the wickets from one end as Rishabh Pant arrived at the crease. Pant counter attacked. Pant and KL Rahul added 115 runs in 111 balls for the fifth wicket in which 83 were scored by Pant. 

Rahul scored 55 off 79 balls, scoring four boundaries during his innings before he got out in the 32nd over of the innings. Pant tried to continue with the same momentum but this time he couldn't clear the fence and got out at the score of 85 from 71 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes. 

Shreyas Iyer couldn't score much and got out at 11. Venkatesh Iyer added 24 & 32 with Shreyas and Shardul Thakur, but got stumped when India finally looked to shift gears. 

Shardul, batting at 7, once again played a brilliant knock of 40 from 38 balls with the help of three fours and a six. He was partnered by R Ashwin, who added 25 from 24 balls. The two added 39 runs for the seventh wicket to get India past 280 runs. 

For South Africa, Tabraiz Shami got two wickets while the rest of the bowlers got one wicket each except Lungi Ngidi, who remained wicketless in his eight overs. 

Brief Scorecard: 

India - 287/6