The first ODI played at the Green park stadium in Kanpur proved to be a cliff hanger as South Africa scored 303 and India came very close but couldn’t overhaul the total. The result was a 5 run defeat for the host as they mustered only 298 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. KAGISO RABADA continued to impress as he bowled the last over and took crucial wickets of DHONI and BINNY. Earlier South Africa started confidently as QUINTO N DE COCK and HASHIM AMLA added 45 runs for the first wicket. DE COCK was removed by ASHWIN but another solid partnership between Du PLESIS and AMLA helped the tourists to cross 100run mark. Ashwin got injured midway and Binny was forced to bowl the full quota of overs. It proved to be a huge turning point as DE VILLIERS knocked 104 runs not out to take South Africa to 303 runs. It was the highest score at the Green park stadium Kanpur. AB took only 73 balls to notch century and such was the ferocity that South Africa went on to score 65 runs of the last 5 overs. AB de Villiers got man of the match award.
India’s death bowling was not up to the mark as BHUVANESHWAR KUMAR and UMESH YADAV leaked runs. India had its task cut out with the chase and SHIKHAR DHAWAN along with ROHIT SHARMA gave a befitting reply to begin with. India scored at a health rate of around 6 and scored 42 runs before DHAWAN was removed by MORKEL. There was no stoppage for ROHIT as he continued his knock with RAHANE who was included in the squad in place of AMBATI RAYADU. The opener scored 150 runs and India was well on the course to victory till he was removed by IMRAN TAHIR. RAHANE also chipped in with 60 runs of 82 balls however captain DHONI once again failed to live up to the expectation. The last over required 11 runs to win however he holed on to the delivery of wonder boy RABADA leading to the victory of South Africa. The tourists now have their tail up and India has to play out of its skin to win the series.