Xtra Time Web Desk: A valiant effort from Sanju Samson (86* from 63 balls) went in vain as South Africa defeated India by 9 runs in the first ODI at Lucknow on Thursday. The visitors posted 249/4 in 40 overs. Heinrich Klaasen smashed 65-ball 74 while David Miller remained not out on 75* off 63 balls. In reply, India could only manage 240/8 with Samson remaining unbeaten on 86 while Shreyas Iyer too scoring half century off 37-balls. Proteas have taken a 1-0 lead in the three match series.
India needed 30 runs from the last over with Sanju Samson at the crease. He tried his best but could only managed to score 20 runs. Samson’s unbeaten 86 runs knock was studded with 9 fours and 3 sixes. The turning point of the match was the penultimate over bowled by Kagiso Rabada as he bowled five dot balls to Avesh Khan, as Samson did not get a strike.
Chasing a target of 250-runs in 40 overs, India lost their openers Shubman Gill (3) and Shikhar Dhawan (4) early. Debutant Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan steadied the innings but in doing so played too many dot balls. Gaikwad scored 19 runs off 42 while Ishan took 37 balls for his 20 runs.
Shreyas Iyer shifted the momentum in India’s favour with a counter-attacking half-century. Iyer batted with a positive approach to pull India back into the game as he smashed 50 runs off 37 balls. However, Lungi Ngidi got the better of him to put the pressure back on the hosts.
Shardul Thakur played a decent knock of 33 runs from 31 balls and shared a partnership of 93 runs for the sixth wicket with Samson to raise hopes of an Indian win.
Earlier, David Miller (75*) and Heinrich Klaasen (74*) shared a 139 runs unbeaten stand for fifth wicket as Proteas posted 249/4 in 40 overs.