Rohit Sharma and AB de Villiers exchanged centuries, but it was the South Africa skipper celebrating victory as his side beat India by five runs in the first one-day international against India in Kanpur.
The 28-year-old Rohit made 150 – India’s second-highest individual score in ODIs against South Africa – but the hosts were unable to avenge their 2-0 T20 series defeat after a late collapse.
Four wickets fell for 28 runs in the last four overs as India finished on 298 for seven chasing 304.
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De Villiers had smashed 104 from just 73 balls as South Africa made 303 for five, but Rohit looked to have the chase under control as he thrashed 150 from 133 deliveries only to fall at the crucial moment.
South Africa struggled to find early momentum and Ravichandran Ashwin turned one away from Quinton de Kock on 29, with Suresh Raina taking the chance at slip.
Hashim Amla was bowled by Amit Mishra for 37 but Ashwin injured himself fielding off his own bowling in his fifth over, and although Umesh Yadav trapped Faf du Plessis lbw for 62 a short time later, India’s part-time bowlers were unable to cope with De Villiers.
Mishra and Yadav removed David Miller and JP Duminy respectively for low scores, but De Villiers found a willing ally in Farhaan Behardien to post an unbroken sixth-wicket stance of 65 from just 29 balls.
De Villiers cleared the ropes six times, reaching his century from the final ball of the innings with a maximum off Yadav.
Stuart Binny 2(5) c Hashim Amla b Kagiso Rabada http://t.co/g9UThtSVvH #INDvSA #cricingif pic.twitter.com/GeN21bGMIR
— Cricingif (@cricingif) October 11, 2015
Behardien had already plundered 15 from the last over as he finished unbeaten on 35 from 19 balls.
India’s reply got off to a poor start as Shikhar Dhawan was pinned lbw by Morne Morkel coming round the wicket for 23.
But Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane proceeded to add 149 for the second wicket before the latter slashed Behardien to cover on 60.
Rohit brought up his century from just 98 balls but Virat Kohli struggled to get going and chipped Dale Steyn to backward square-leg for 11.
Much rested with Rohit at that stage and he smashed Imran Tahir into the stands for six to alleviate some of the pressure.
South Africa’s captain, @ABdeVilliers17, claims the MOM for his scintillating century in the 1st #IndvSA ODI pic.twitter.com/tYvkftxEZu
— ICC (@ICC) October 11, 2015
Rohit should have been run out in the 43rd over and the miss looked like it would prove costly as the right-hander launched Morkel and Steyn over the rope in successive overs.
Having reached 150, Rohit was visibly furious with himself as he tamely chipped the first ball of Imran Tahir’s 47th over back to the bowler.
Four balls later Raina lofted the leg-spinner to mid-on, and with Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Stuart Binny struggling to find boundaries, 11 runs were required from Rabada’s last set of six.
Dhoni was caught and bowled with three balls remaining, Binny hoisted the next delivery to square-leg, and – with six needed from the final ball to force a tie – Bhuvneshwar Kumar could only manage a single.
