Cricket

'Statement inning'- Twitter bows down to Sanju Samson for a valiant 81* in India's first ODI loss against South Africa

Sanju Samson's efforts go in vain as India lose to South Africa by nine runs in the first ODI match at Lucknow.

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Sanju Samson India vs South Africa

Sanju Samson India vs South Africa (Image source: Twitter)

India and South Africa clashed in the first ODI after India won the T20I series by 2-1. The match was marred by rain and had to be reduced to 40 overs.

India won the toss and invited South Africa to set up a target. Coming onto bat first, the Proteas started off in a positive manner as both openers Janneman Malan (22) and Quinton de Kock (48) added important runs to South Africaโ€™s scoreboard. Shardul Thakur broke the partnership as he got Malan out with a peach of a delivery.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma could not come out of his slump as he was again dismissed for a single-digit score. The next batter Aiden Markram was out on a duck from probably the best ball of the match if not the year.

While South Africa looked in great trouble when Heinrich Klassen and David Miller walked in one after another and turned the game on its head. Both combined to make a partnership of 129 and took South Africa to 249 in 40 overs. Thakur was the best bowler from the Indian side as he took two wickets in eight overs.

Coming onto chase what was a tricky total for both teams, the hosts got off to a poor start as both openers Shikhar Dhawan (4) and Shubman Gill (3) went out cheaply. Shreyas Iyer was the only batter in the middle to make important runs as he came up with a quickfire half-century in 37 deliveries. Shardul Thakur (33) and Sanju Samson (81) tried a good hand at the chase but the target proved a destination too far for the Men in Blue. Sanju Samson hit 20 in the last over but still remained nine runs short of the target as his knock went in vain.

South Africa won the first ODI against India by nine runs. Heinrich Klassen was named as the Player of the Match for his 74 off 65.

Here's how Twitter reacted to India's loss in the first ODI against South Africa:ย 

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