Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten century combined with Ishan Kishan's 84-ball 93 runs guided India to series leveling seven-wicket win against South Africa in the second ODI at JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Sunday.
In a do-or-die clash to remain in the series, Indian batters made a solid comeback to outclass their opponent after showing a poor outing in the series opener.
Chasing an average total of 279, Iyer scored unbeaten 113 runs laced with 15 fours while Kishan fell seven short of his maiden hundred as hammered 84-ball 93 studded with 7 sixes and 4 fours. The duo shared a match-winning stand of 161 off 154 balls and thwarted every challenge in their way to square the series 1-1.
India lost openers Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill in the first ten overs. While Dhawan saw his off-stump uprooted by Wayne Parnell for the second time in as many matches, Gill -- with his impressive flicks, and drives -- failed to keep the loft down and gave Kagiso Rabada a chance to take a sharp catch off his own bowling.
Iyer was the initial aggressor, punching Parnell through wide of point for four, before taking a brace of fours off Anrich Nortje -- a cut through the third man was followed by a glorious cover drive.
Kishan stepped up when he pulled Keshav Maharaj over deep mid-wicket for six, before dancing down the pitch twice to smack a brace of sixes in the same region in the 21st over.
Iyer's onslaught continued when he took two fours off part-timer Aiden Markram while taking another four off left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin.
After the duo reached their fifties on successive deliveries in the 26th over and the century of the third-wicket stand brought up, their carnage over South Africa's bowlers picked up the pace. While Iyer picked boundaries against Parnell and Rabada for fun, Kishan was showing his hitting prowess by nailing crunchy pulls and heaves through the leg side off Fortuin, Rabada and Nortje.
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His phenomenal run at the crease ended when he pulled off the thick inner edge to deep mid-wicket off Fortuin, falling seven short of his maiden century on his home turf off 84 balls, hitting four fours and seven sixes.
Despite being hurt by cramps, Iyer was placing his boundaries with excellent timing -- one of which was slapped over extra cover for four off Rabada to give him his second century in the format. Incidentally, Iyer finished off the chase with a four steered in the gap between backward point and short third man off Nortje, remaining unconquered on 113 off 111 balls, backed by 15 fours.
Sanju Samson gave him good support by remaining unbeaten on 30 and sending the series to a decider in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Electing to bat first, South Africa were 40-2 when Reeza Hendricks (74) and Aiden Markram (79) combined in a run-a-ball partnership of 129 as a 300-plus total looked well within their grasp.
After they departed, Heinrich Klaasen (30) and David Miller, who made 35 not out, scored briskly but the Indian bowlers conceded only 57 runs in the last 10 overs to restrict South Africa to 278-7.
Mohammed Siraj was the pick of the India attack claiming 3-38 in his 10 overs.
(With agency inputs)