India didn’t get the desired start to the ODI series against South Africa as they lost the first match on Thursday by a narrow margin of nine runs, despite a brilliant knock of unbeaten 86 by Sanju Samson.

The match saw a delayed start due to rain and was reduced to 40-overs per side. The Indian bowlers used the conditions well as they reduced South Africa to 110/4, but Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller put on a brilliant stand of 139 runs to lead their recovery. Klaasen remained unbeaten on 74 while Miller was not out on 75 as South Africa reach a total of 249/4 in their quota of 40 overs.

India needed a good start to chase the target down but the visitors reduced them to 51/4. With not much batting depth in the side, the task looked impossible for India now. But Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson didn’t give up as both batters played brilliant knocks to keep the hosts in the game.

Iyer made his way to a fifty off just 37 deliveries but he fell to a short delivery from Lungi Ngidi. India were 118/5 when Iyer departed as the Proteas started sensing victory. But Shardul Thakur combined with Samson at the crease to form a 93-run stand for the sixth wicket. The partnership was broken when Ngidi dismissed Thakur for a knock of 33 off 31 deliveries.

Samson still carried on and tried his best until the very last over of the innings. But as he mentioned in the post-match press conference, India ‘fell short by just two shots.’ He remained unbeaten on 86, his best score in ODIs, off just 63 deliveries as India fell short of the target by nine runs.

Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the South African bowlers as he claimed three wickets for 52 runs. Kagiso Rabada also did well to pick up a couple of wickets for just 36 runs. Heinrich Klaasen was announced as the Player of the Match for his superb knock of 74.

Brief Scores

South Africa 249/4 in 40 overs (Miller 75*, Klaasen 74*; Thakur 2/35)

India 240/8 in 40 overs (Samson 86*, Iyer 50; Ngidi 3/52)

South Africa won the match by nine runs