South Africa won by 4 wickets against India in the 2nd ODI

South Africa won by 4 wickets against India in the 2nd ODI Thrilling finish! South Africa successfully chased down India’s

South Africa Win 2nd ODI by 4 Wickets

Raipur, December 3, 2025 – In a sensational display of power-hitting and nerveless finishing, South Africa successfully chased down a colossal target of 359 to defeat India by four wickets in the second One Day International at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. The victory levels the three-match series at 1-1, setting up a tantalising decider.

🔥 India Sets a Mammoth Target on the Back of Twin Centuries

Having been asked to bat first, India’s innings was anchored by majestic centuries from Virat Kohli and opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, allowing the Men in Blue to post a formidable total of 358 for 5 in their 50 overs.

The innings started with an aggressive flourish from Rohit Sharma (14 off 8), who fell early after a blistering start. However, this paved the way for a masterful partnership between Kohli and Gaikwad. Kohli continued his stellar form from the first ODI, bringing up his second consecutive century with a fluent 102 runs off 93 balls, studded with 7 fours and 2 sixes. The real acceleration came from the young Ruturaj Gaikwad, who shifted gears after reaching his fifty, racing to his maiden ODI hundred (105 off 83 balls) with a delightful mix of classical shots and powerful strokes.

The pair added a game-defining 195-run partnership for the third wicket. After their dismissals, stand-in skipper KL Rahul (66 not out off 43 balls) provided the explosive finish India needed, smashing six boundaries and two sixes in a rapid cameo, ensuring the total crossed the 350-mark.

South Africa’s bowling effort was led by Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, who picked up 2 and 1 wicket respectively, but all the bowlers conceded runs at an economy rate of over six, highlighting the batting-friendly nature of the pitch.

🌟 Markram Masterclass Leads Proteas’ Record Chase

The South African reply began with a nervous early wobble, as Quinton de Kock (8) fell cheaply to Arshdeep Singh. However, the rest of the top and middle order responded with extraordinary resilience. Skipper Temba Bavuma (46 off 48) and the Player of the Match, Aiden Markram, stitched together a crucial century stand for the second wicket, laying the foundation for the chase.

Markram was the architect of the victory, playing a truly commanding innings of 110 runs off 98 balls. His knock was a perfectly paced mix of caution and aggression, featuring 10 fours and 4 sixes.

After Bavuma’s dismissal, the young Matthew Breetzke (68 off 64) and Dewald Brevis (54 off 34) took control, punishing anything loose from the Indian attack. Brevis, in particular, was sensational, striking five massive sixes in his quick-fire fifty, which kept the required run rate well within reach.

Though India fought back with wickets in the death overs—including Markram, Breetzke, and Brevis all falling at crucial junctures—the late heroics of Corbin Bosch (29 not out off 15 balls) and Keshav Maharaj (10 not out off 14) ensured the Proteas crossed the finish line with 4 balls to spare. Bosch struck four vital boundaries, sealing the chase and confirming South Africa’s status as formidable chasers.

📈 Match Summary and Series Outlook

This high-scoring thriller saw a combined total of 720 runs, underscoring the flat surface and fast outfield. India’s bowling, which had shown promise in the previous match, struggled to contain the flow of runs in the face of heavy dew. Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna managed two wickets each, but both were expensive, with Krishna conceding over 10 runs per over.

The result marks a superb fightback from the Proteas, who showed character to level the series. The decider will now take place in Visakhapatnam, promising a nail-biting conclusion to the three-match series.

• Brief Scores:

  • India: 358/5 (50 overs) (R. Gaikwad 105, V. Kohli 102, KL Rahul 66*; M. Jansen 2/63)

  • South Africa: 362/6 (49.2 overs) (A. Markram 110, M. Breetzke 68, D. Brevis 54; A. Singh 2/54)

Result: South Africa won by 4 wickets against India in the 2nd ODI

India Innings: 358/5 (50 Overs)

South Africa Innings: 362/6 (49.2 Overs)

South Africa won by 4 wickets.