• Source:PTI
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India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Virat Kohli's vintage form, coupled with Kuldeep Yadav's masterful spin bowling, pushed India to a thrilling 17-run victory over South Africa in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Sunday. 

On a flat JSCA surface, Kohli (135 off 120 balls) controlled the tempo of the innings from the moment he walked in, anchoring India's imposing 349 for eight with an effort that blended classical stroke-play with calculated acceleration.

The value of Kohli's 52nd ODI ton became even clearer during South Africa's chase, which disintegrated at the beginning under sustained Indian pressure.

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With Harshit Rana's (3/54) triple strike and support from pacer Arshdeep Singh (2/64) and left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav (4/68), India always got wickets whenever Proteas threatened to get away and finally ended on 332.

Courtesy Marco Jansen's counter-attacking 70 and Matthew Breetzke's composed 72, South Africa kept their fans interested but India had no trouble whatsoever in wrapping up the contest for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Kuldeep's twin strike in the 34th over actually became decisive after a breezy 97-run stand between Breetzke and Jansen as the wily left-arm wrist spinner removed both within a space of three deliveries.

Dew was also a factor in South Africa getting some easy runs as Indian bowlers struggled to grip the ball under lights.

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Nine down, South Africa needed 18 off the last over and Prasidh Krishna ensured the hosts do not suffer a heartbreak after all the hard work by dismissing Corbin Bosch (67) with the second delivery.

Earlier Kohli's commanding knock came off 120 balls with seven sixes and 11 fours. His 136-run stand with Rohit Sharma (57 off 51) for the second wicket set up India's big total on a JSCA shirtfront.

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