The Proteas fought hard but fell short in their chase against India in the first ODI at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, losing by 17 runs.
The Proteas won the toss and elected to bowl first.
South Africa started well with the ball, Nandre Burger reducing India to 25-1 after 3.1 overs.
It was the two superstar returns that impressed for India till the 22nd over. Rohit Sharma (57 off 51 balls) and Virat Kohli strung together 136 off 109 balls to take India to 161-2.
Baartman kept the pressure on India with two key wickets. Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed courtesy of a superb diving catch at backward point. India were 183-3 in 26.3 overs. He struck again in the 31st over, Washington Sundar finding mid-off, to reduce India to 200-4.
Kohli, however, continued his dominance. He scored 135 off 120 balls (11 fours, 2 sixes). Burger dismissed the former skipper, who charged down the wicket and skied the ball. Rickeleton ran from cover and dove full-length to take a brilliant catch. India were 276-5 in 43 overs.
KL Rahul was superb. He hit 60 off 56 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes) to take India to 341, before he attempted a standing-lap shot that found a feather to the keeper off Marco Jansen. India 341-6.
Jadeja scored a cameo 32 off 20 balls, scooping a Bosch full toss to long-on. He followed this by bowling Arshdeep Singh with a yorker. India ended on 349-8.
South Africa had a vallient chase but lost by 17 runs.
Despite a terrible start which saw them reduced to 11-3 and then 77-4, the middle to lower order fought hard to keep their side in the game.
Matthew Breetzke’s 72 off 80 balls (8 fours, 1 six), Marco Jansen’s 70 off 39 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes) and Corbin Bosch’s 67 off 51 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) took SA close, but they fell short of their target. Kuldeep Yadav was brilliant at disrupting momentum. He took 4-68, including the wickets of Breetzke and Jansen.
South Africa were all out for 332 and India won by 17 runs.