India rode on Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten century to beat South Africa by seven wickets in the second ODI at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday. 

The win helped India level the three-match ODI series at 1-1 and set up the third ODI on Tuesday as the decider. India had lost the first ODI to the Proteas by nine runs. 

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first at Ranchi. Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks scored half-centuries while putting up a 129-run stand to ensure a formidable base for the Proteas to score 278/7. 

India lost Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill early in the run chase, however, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer consolidated the innings for Team India before stepping up gears in the second half of the innings. While Kishan was dismissed in the 90s, Iyer reached the three-figure mark to guide India home. 

For South Africa, Temba Bavuma and Tabraiz Shamsi were deemed unwell before the second ODI and were replaced by Reeza Hendricks and Bjorn Fortuin. Keshav Maharaj took charge of the Proteas, while Lungi Ngidi made way for Anrich Nortje in the playing XI. 

Considering the slow nature of the pitch at the JSCA International Stadium, India altered the team combination. Washington Sundar made his way into the playing XI while Shahbaz Ahmed also made his ODI debut. The duo replaced Ravi Bishnoi and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the lineup. 

Mohammad Siraj began proceedings for India and picked up an early wicket, removing the in-form Quinton de Kock in his second over. 

The other South African opener, Janneman Malan, looked in good touch, scoring a few boundaries in the first powerplay. However, his composed start was brought to an end by debutant Shahbaz Ahmed, who scalped the opener in the 10th over. South Africa were 40/2 after the first powerplay. 

Reeza Hendricks was joined by Aiden Markram in the middle and the former capitalised in his first game on the tour. The Proteas consolidated in the next 10 overs while maintaining a run rate of over five runs per over. 

The duo of Hendricks and Markram did well to keep the Indian bowlers at bay and the Proteas' score read 122/2 after 25 overs. 

Hendricks and Markram both got to their respective half centuries and kicked it up a notch, taking the attack to the Indian spinners. 

Mohammad Siraj was brought back into the attack and he provided India with the breakthrough, picking up the wicket of Reeza Hendricks, who was caught at deep square leg in the 32nd over. Hendricks scored 74 runs off 76 balls to set up the innings for the Proteas. 

Heinrich Klaasen then attempted to take on the Indian bowlers but Kuldeep Yadav outfoxed the wicketkeeper-batter with a googly to get rid of him after a 26-ball 30. Washington Sundar also got in on the act to inflict another blow on South Africa, leaving the visitors at 215/5 in the 39th over after the soft dismissal of Aiden Markram for 79 runs. 

Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar kept the lid on the scoring in the final 10 overs, restricting David Miller, as South Africa finished their innings at 278/7 after 50 overs. The Proteas scored only 57 runs in the final phase of the innings. 

Siraj added to his wicket tally in the death overs as he ended with 3/38 in 10 overs. Sundar, Shahbaz, Kuldeep and Shardul picked up a wicket each. Aiden Markram ended as the top-scorer for the Proteas. 

For India, Shubman Gill started the run chase in a positive manner, scoring multiple boundaries in the powerplay. Shikhar Dhawan looked tentative from the off before he was knocked over by Wayne Parnell in the sixth over. 

Gill had taken a liking to Parnell, but Kagiso Rabada grabbed a stunning catch off his own bowling to dismiss the other Indian opener for 28 runs off 26 balls. At the end of the first powerplay, India were at 55/2. 

Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer took it upon themselves to rebuild the Indian innings. Holding off Rabada, Nortje and Keshav Maharaj, the Indian duo scored 41 runs in 10 overs with Iyer being the more aggressive batter. 

Post the 20th over, Kishan picked up the pace and started dominating the South African spinners. Iyer, too, joined in on the act as both batters raced to their half-centuries in the 26th over as Team India approached the 150-run mark while managing to keep the required run rate under control. 

The Kishan-Iyer duo upped the ante in the 28th and decided to take on Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada. Kishan continued the onslaught, tormenting Nortje, before being dismissed by Bjorn Fortuin. Mumbai Indians’ Ishan Kishan smashed 93 runs off 84 balls, including four fours and seven sixes, while piling up 161 runs for the third wicket alongside Iyer. 

Shreyas Iyer, who was joined at the crease by Sanju Samson, maintained the tempo of the run chase and didn’t allow South African bowlers to settle into a rhythm. Iyer scored his second ODI century in the 43rd over. 

The Indian vice-captain and Samson, who scored 30 runs, enabled Team India to cruise to a seven-wicket win with 25 balls to spare. Iyer ended as the top-scorer in the game with his brisk 113-run knock. 

Shreyas Iyer was adjudged the Player of the Match for his match-winning contribution. 

The defeat hurts South Africa’s chances to directly qualify for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with the Proteas currently 11th on the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League points table. Only the top eight teams earn direct qualification for the event. 

Brief scores: South Africa 278/7 (Aiden Markram 79, Mohammad Siraj 3/38) lost to India 282/3 (Shreyas Iyer 113*, Wayne Parnell 1/43) by seven wickets. 

The teams will travel to Delhi for the series decider at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, October 11, 2022.