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India’s imposing 358 in Raipur set the stage for another high-intensity ODI battle, backed by centuries from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad. South Africa, bruised from the opening defeat, walked out chasing 359 with pressure hanging over every over. India began strongly with quick strikes from Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna, but Aiden Markram steadied the visitors with remarkable poise. His century not only revived confidence but also reopened a chase many felt had slipped early. With wickets in hand and a rising tempo, the match entered a gripping middle phase where both teams traded momentum.
IND vs SA, 2nd ODI: Aiden Markram’s masterful hundred keeps South Africa in the hunt
Markram played one of his finest ODI innings under pressure, crafting a composed yet assertive century that kept South Africa firmly in the chase despite early setbacks, beginning with his flawless reading of lengths and crisp timing against India’s powerplay seamers before shifting seamlessly into counter-attacking mode once he weathered the early testing spells, finding boundaries through elegant cover drives and authoritative pulls that forced India to rethink their lengths, and as Temba Bavuma settled in alongside him.
The pair stitched a 101-run stand that neutralized India’s early energy, with Markram bringing up his fifty off 52 balls before accelerating sharply thereafter as he punished anything even marginally short or overpitched, reaching his century off just 88 deliveries with ten fours and four towering sixes, turning Raipur’s once-quiet chase into a growing threat, and even after Bavuma’s dismissal he continued to press forward with Breetzke, pushing South Africa past 197/3 by the 30-over mark, leaving India visibly concerned as dew settled in and their spinners struggled for grip, making Markram’s knock the anchor, accelerator, and emotional centerpiece of South Africa’s fightback before his eventual dismissal halted the momentum just as the chase approached its most dangerous phase.
IND vs SA, 2nd ODI: India hold control but South Africa remain alive as chase enters final phase
Despite Markram’s century lifting the visitors into a competitive position, India retained command of the overall match situation thanks to disciplined middle-overs control and smart rotation of their bowlers, with Arshdeep’s early breakthrough of Quinton de Kock and Prasidh’s dismissal of Bavuma preventing South Africa from ever gaining uninterrupted dominance, while Harshit Rana’s tight lines restricted scoring during the brief lull before Markram’s acceleration, ensuring the required rate continued to climb steadily.
Earlier in the evening through Kohli’s fluent 102, Gaikwad’s explosive 105 and KL Rahul’s fast-paced finishing surge, the scoreboard pressure remained enormous throughout the chase, further intensified as India’s fielders maintained sharpness and denied easy twos, and even as Breetzke joined Markram to rebuild, the rising asking rate of nearly nine per over loomed heavily over the Proteas, creating a scenario where one quiet over could flip the match entirely, which is precisely what happened following Markram’s dismissal at 197, leaving South Africa needing still 157 off 106 balls with India’s death specialists set to return, turning the contest into a classic backs-to-the-wall pursuit where India hold the edge but South Africa remain alive thanks to the foundation laid by their captain’s sparkling century.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Yes, the conditions are great for batting but this is some of cleanest striking you would see from Markram.
When on song, Markram looks like a world class player.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12)
WOW… WOW… AND WOW! 😱🔥
What a sensational chase innings by Markram!
Cool as ice, yet blazing with fire! 🥶
4th Odi hundred😱 3rd Century in this ongoing match
💥— Er.Rajiv (@Rajiv_siait)
AIDEN MARKRAM Brings up a wonderful 💯!!! His first century opening the batting for SA in ODI'S!! What a beautiful knock 🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Lawrence Bailey (@LawrenceBailey0)
100 for Aden Markram well deserved he’s been fantastic today 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🥳
— ISHMAEL 🏴☠️☠️🇿🇦🇨🇩🇵🇸 (@mr_shimmy)
Fine knock by Markram. SA have done half of their job. The pressure is on the Indian bowlers to make this a tight contest by chipping in with wickets at regular intervals.
— Srikrishna 🏏🏀 (@1998Srikrishna)
Markram smashing Jadeja. Big moment in the game. And then the hundred, pure class 👏👏
— Shubh Agarwal (@shubh_chintak)
Markram’s hard-hit century has turned the pressure on India to defend an imposing 358. South Africa’s never-say die attitude and ambition has harried India in the Tests and ODIs too
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
Hundred Up! 💯
Aiden Markram brings up a brilliant century! 👏
Power, patience, and precision! A world-class innings at a crucial stage of the run chase. ��🇿🇦
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA)
Marvellous century Markram 👏🏻
— Werner (@Werries_)
A 88-ball century for Aiden Markram in Raipur.
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
