### Match Summary India secured a 17-run victory over South Africa in the first One-Day International (ODI) in Ranchi, gaining a 1–0 advantage in the three-match series. ### India's Innings Batting first, India posted a strong total of 349 for eight. The innings was anchored by several key partnerships, with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma contributing crucial runs at the top of the order. Their disciplined yet aggressive batting provided the foundation for India’s imposing score. Lower-order players added quick runs during the final overs, pushing the total close to the 350 mark. ### South Africa's Chase South Africa began their chase steadily but struggled to maintain the required run rate in the middle overs. Indian bowlers kept up the pressure with timely breakthroughs, which ultimately turned the match in India’s favor. Despite a strong effort from South Africa’s middle-order batsmen, they fell short by 17 runs before completing their quota of overs. ### Key Performances - **Virat Kohli**: Played a composed innings, guiding the team during the middle overs. - **Rohit Sharma**: Provided a quick start with confident strokes. - **Indian bowlers**: Maintained control in the decisive moments, ensuring South Africa didn’t recover momentum. ### Result India lead the three-match ODI series 1–0, with the next match expected to be another close contest. > India defeated South Africa by 17 runs in the first ODI in Ranchi to take a 1–0 lead in the three-match series. *** **Author’s summary:** India’s balanced performance in both batting and bowling sealed a 17-run win over South Africa, giving them an early advantage in the ODI series.

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The Times of India — 2025-11-30