Iyer’s unbeaten 113 and Kishan’s 93 give India an emphatic 7-wicket win over South Africa

Ranchi: Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer scored a magnificent 113 not out while Ishan Kishan hit a brilliant 93 to give India an emphatic seven-wicket win over South Africa in the second ODI at the JSCA International Stadium on Sunday.

After a late comeback from India which meant South Africa were restricted to posting 278/7 in their 50 overs despite Aidan Markram and Reeza Hendricks making 79 and 74 respectively, Iyer and Kishan shared a winning stand of 161 off 154 balls and thwarted every challenge on their way to leveling the series 1-1.

Chasing 279, India lost openers Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill in the first ten overs. While Dhawan saw his off-stump uprooted by Wayne Parnell for the second time in as many games, Gill – with his impressive shots and drives – failed to keep the pigeon down and gave Kagiso Rabada a chance to take a sharp shot off his own bowling.

Iyer was the first aggressor, hitting Parnell through wide point for four before taking a brace of fours off Henrich Northier — a cut through third man was followed by a magnificent cover. Kishan stepped up when he pulled Keshav Maharaj over deep mid-wicket for a six before dancing down the pitch twice to hit a pair of sixes in the same region in the 21st over.

Iyer’s onslaught continued as he picked up two fours off part-timer Aidan Markram while picking up another four off left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuyn. After the duo reached fifties on back-to-back 26th deliveries and a century in the third-wicket stand, their carnage over South Africa’s bowlers gained momentum.

While Iyer was picking boundaries against Parnell and Rabada for fun, Kishan was showing his batting prowess by hammering crisp pulls and lifts through the leg side of Fortuin, Rabada and Nortje.

His phenomenal run at the crease came to an end when he pulled a thick inside edge to deep mid-wicket off Fortuyn, falling seven short of his maiden century on the home pitch from 84 balls, hitting four fours and seven sixes.

Despite being hamstrung by cramps, Iyer was setting his boundaries with some excellent timing – one of which was hit over extra cover for four by Rabada to give him his second century in the form.

Incidentally, Iyer completed the chase with a four aimed into the gap between backward point and short third man from Nortje, remaining unbeaten on 113 off 111 balls backed by 15 fours. Sanju Samson gave him good support as he remained unbeaten on 30 and sent the series to a decider in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Brief scores: South Africa 278/7 in 50 overs (Aiden Markram 79, Reeza Hendricks 74; Mohammed Siraj 3/38, Shardul Thakur 1/36) lost to India 282/3 in 45.5 overs (Shreyas Iyer 113 not out, Ishan Kishan 93; Wayne Parnell 1/44, Bjorn Fortuyn 1/52) with seven wickets

(IANS)

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