Africa, 2nd ODI
14 Oct, 2015 , 09.41PM IST
1
After the loss in Kanpur, MS Dhoni had stressed that if Ajinkya Rahane were to hold his place in India's XI it would be in the top three. This, against calls from various quarters that Virat Kohli bat at one-down. On Wednesday, Rahane walked in at No 3 in the second over of the match following Rohit Sharma's dismissal for 3 and was quickly into his groove. While Shikhar Dhawan appeared somewhat uncertain, Rahane twirled his wrists to collect three boundaries off one Dale Steyn over. His smart batting, allied with some good running between the wickets, led a 56-run partnership with Dhawan after the early wicket. (AFP Photo) 
Rahane leads early revival
2
Dhoni was himself under fire from critics for failing to score the 11 runs that India needed off the final over at Kanpur, bowled by 20-year-old rookie fast bowler Kagiso Rababa. Here, he looked on as India lost half their side inside 24 overs, with just over 100 runs on the board. Batting with the tail, Dhoni helped inject 143 runs to the total in trademark style: see off the dangerous bowlers, rate the strike, wait for the bad balls, and then push for a late flourish. He swatted a big six to reach his fifty off 57 balls, then pumped some lovely hits to finish on 92.
This was vintage Dhoni, shoring up the situation and pumping hard between the wickets. His use of the crease was smart, either going deep to bunt down the ground or back and across to manufacture singles to the legside. Tahir's last over, the 45th of the innings, saw Dhoni hit four and six to give the Indore faithful reason to cheer. A few more big hits leading upto the final over hinted at a Dhoni century, but Kagiso Rabada - who in his first over of the game had bowled Rohit Sharma - delivered a superb final over with five consecutive dot balls to India's captain. (AFP Photo) 
Dhoni to the fore - and how
This was vintage Dhoni, shoring up the situation and pumping hard between the wickets. His use of the crease was smart, either going deep to bunt down the ground or back and across to manufacture singles to the legside. Tahir's last over, the 45th of the innings, saw Dhoni hit four and six to give the Indore faithful reason to cheer. A few more big hits leading upto the final over hinted at a Dhoni century, but Kagiso Rabada - who in his first over of the game had bowled Rohit Sharma - delivered a superb final over with five consecutive dot balls to India's captain. (AFP Photo)
3
Drafted into the XI as one of three changes, young left-arm spinner Axar Patel returned his best figures in ODIs with 3/39 from ten overs. Dhoni put faith in him by tossing the ball his way in the seventh over of South Africa's chase and Axar struck with his fourth ball, getting Hashim Amla (17) stumped off a wild charge. South Africa had been cruising at six an over, but were set back with Axar's first strike. (Getty Images) 
Axar snaps threatening opening stand
4
In the 24th over, Patel produced another big wicket, that of JP Duminy for 36. Bogged down by Axar's tidy bowling, the left-hander tried to manufacture a shot but was late on the sweep and adjudged lbw. In his following over, Axar had a well-set Faf du Plessis (51) driving uppishly towards short cover where Virat Kohli leapt up and took a sharp catch. (Getty Images) 
Two in two overs
5
South Africa' captain was the big wicket that India needed to really feel confident, and it came with a new bowling change. Dhoni turned to seamer Mohit Sharma, who got de Villiers with the second ball of the 33rd over courtesy another fine catch from Kohli, this time at cover. Now India really believed they had the match in the bag. (AP Photo) 
ABD falls
