Kanpur, India - Led by Kagiso Rabada, South Africa delivered a fine performance with the ball late in the game as they ground out a five-run win over India in the first One Day International in Kanpur on Sunday.
Despite Rohit Sharma bludgeoning 150 runs from 133 balls, the Proteas were able to restrict the hosts to 298/7 in their chase of 304 for victory.
Entrusted with the final over of the match, Kagiso Rabada (2/58) took two wickets to help the Proteas to a hard-earned triumph. With 10 runs left to defend in the final over, the responsibility lay on the shoulders of Rabada who was able to produce the goods in the pressure situation, which included the scalp of Indian captain MS Dhoni for 31.
The strike effectively sealed the contest with seven runs needed from two balls left. Earlier in their chase, a second-wicket partnership of 149 between Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane seemingly laid the platform in India's march to victory.
Rahane made 60 from 82 balls before Farhaan Behardien was the unlikely bowler to make the breakthrough when the batsman was caught at extra cover to leave the hosts on 191 for two in the 34th over.
Imran Tahir (2/57) who had struggled to make any inroads earlier in his spells, struck in his penultimate over to remove Sharma caught and bowled to leave India on 269 for four after 46.1 overs.
Suresh Raina made just three before he became Tahir's second victim as he was caught out in the deep by JP Duminy as India's chase began to wobble at 273 for five with 19 balls remaining.
It was then up to the final over fireworks of 20-year-old Rabada to deliver the killer blow.
In South Africa's innings, captain AB de Villiers smashed a six off the final ball of the innings to bring up his century and move the Proteas to 303/5.
De Villiers, on strike for the last delivery was on 98 and despatched Umesh Yadav for six over the long-on boundary. De Villiers ended with 104 from 73 balls with five fours and six sixes.
De Villiers together with Farhaan Behardien (35) put on the highest partnership of the innings with 65 runs plundered in the last five overs of the innings. The century from De Villiers was key to the tourists posting a total over the 300 mark, but it was contributions from Faf du Plessis (62 from 77) and Hashim Amla (37 from 59) which setup the imposing total. Amit Mishra returned the best figures for the Indian bowling attack with 2/47 in his 10 overs. - ANA