India vs South Africa, 1st ODI Stats Review: David Miller’s highest score against India, Shreyas Iyer’s purple patch in ODIs, and other stats

David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen both struck unbeaten half-centuries as South Africa posted 249/4 in 40 overs subsequently winning the first of the three-match ODI series by nine runs in Lucknow. The former smashed 75* while Klaasen amassed 74* to take their team to a challenging total in a match that got truncated due to rain and a wet outfield. Sanju Samson registered his highest score of 86* in the format and played a terrific knock but failed to get over the line for his side as the Proteas took a 1-0 lead in the series.

Speaking about how the opening fixture panned out, captain Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and opted to field first. Openers Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock mustered 22 and 48 runs respectively while skipper Temba Bavuma’s poor form in the tour continued as he managed to score only eight. Aiden Markram fell prey to Kuldeep Yadav for the third time in ODIs as he bagged a duck. Miller and Klaasen then joined hands to stitch an unbeaten 139-run stand for the visitors. Shardul Thakur took two wickets while spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep snared a scalp each.

Chasing 250, skipper Dhawan and Shubman Gill couldn’t get going as both fell cheaply for just four and three runs respectively. Debutant Ruturaj Gaikwad struggled for his innings of 19 off 42 before getting out to Tabraiz Shamsi, his 50th scalp in one-day internationals. Shreyas Iyer brought up his fourth half-century in five games as he amassed 50 off just 37 which included eight fours.

Ngidi got his first wicket of the match in the form of Iyer as India looked out of the run-chase at 118/5. Shardul Thakur made 33 off 31 while Samson kept the hosts in the hunt for the target. Samson ended his lone efforts on 86 not out off 63 with the help of nine fours and three sixes. For his unbeaten knock of 74 off 65, Klaasen grabbed the Player of the Match award.

Meanwhile, here are some of the important stats and numbers from the 1^st ODI between India and South Africa:

75* - David Miller registered his highest score of 75* against India in ODIs. Previously, he amassed 56* in Centurion in the year 2013.

4 – Shreyas Iyer smashed his fourth half-century in five ODI innings. His scores read as 50, 44, 63, 54, and 80.

10 – Shubman Gill became the quickest Indian to 500 ODI runs. The opening batter took ten innings to achieve the feat, going past Navjot Singh Sidhu who reached there in 11 innings.

4 – For the fourth time, Lungi Ngidi dismissed Shreyas Iyer in one-day internationals which is the most he has got rid of any batter. The pacer has got the better of Aaron Finch, Upul Tharanga, and Avishka Fernando three times each.

86* – Sanju Samson recorded his highest score of 86* in ODI cricket. His previous best was 54 which came against West Indies in Trinidad this year.

50 – Tabraiz Shamsi reached the landmark of 50 wickets in ODIs.

11 – South African skipper Temba Bavuma has managed to rack up only 11 runs across formats in the ongoing series. His scores in the four matches are zero, zero, three, and eight.

3 – For the third time, Aiden Markram got dismissed to spinner Kuldeep Yadav which is the joint-most he has been out against. Sri Lankan spin bowler Akila Dananjaya has also taken Markram’s wicket thrice.