Watch: Dewald Brevis takes a stunner to dismiss Ruturaj Gaikwad

Dewald Brevis performed brilliantly in the opening ODI, taking a brilliant one-handed diving catch at backward point and dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad for 8 runs in 14 balls. Taking full flight to his right, Brewis achieved the breakthrough that South Africa desperately needed and ended a cautious partnership of 22 runs for the third wicket in 5.1 overs.

The dismissal brought some relief to the visitors, with Virat Kohli holding firm at the other end and remaining unbeaten on 85 off 78 balls. Washington Sundar came in at number 5 for the first time in his career, when India’s score was 184 runs for 3 wickets in 26.2 overs. Washington Sundar, struggling to rotate the strike during his time at the crease, managed just 13 runs from 19 balls before finding mid-off in an attempt to accelerate, helping India reach 200 for 4 in 30.3 overs, with Kohli on 88 off 83.

India vs South Africa 1st ODI update

Earlier, Rohit Sharma had played an eventful innings, saving a life of 1 run when Tony De Zorzi failed to take a catch coming from deep third man. Once Rohit settled down, with the help of Kohli’s flow, he started to find his timing, and launched a series of crisp strokes. Marco Jansson’s back-foot punches and consistent boundaries against Corbin Bosch indicated that he had found his rhythm.

Rohit broke a big world recordBy surpassing Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, he became the player to hit the most number of sixes in the history of One Day International cricket. Entering the match with 349 sixes, he equaled Afridi by hitting two sky-scraping sixes off Prenlan Subrayan in the 15th over, followed by pulling Marco Jensen over deep square leg to take the record with his 352nd six, which was achieved in much fewer innings than the former Pakistan captain. Rohit was eventually out for 57 off 50 balls and chose not to review the LBW decision despite Kohli insisting on taking DRS, thus ending a flowing innings prematurely.

Meanwhile, Kohli was in great form. He completed his half-century by hitting Bosch for a six, after which head coach Gautam Gambhir applauded in the dugout. Along with Rohit, he wowed the Ranchi crowd, with the pair heading towards a hundred-run partnership as India looked firmly in control.

Kohli’s strokeplay remained smooth while India slowed down between 150 and 200, the quietest phase of their innings. Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal had given India a flying start but after South Africa decided to bowl first, dynamic Nandre Berger removed him and included Kohli along with Rohit.

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