Kohli: The pitch was harder than Durban and the spinners used it. We knew we won’t get grass on the pitch because when it’s seaming, it can be anyone’s game. We knew the wickets would be hard and dry and knew our wristpinners can get it to turn anywhere. They just didn’t give South Africa any chance.

India win by 9 wickets. They reach there with 178 balls to spare. This is their biggest win over SA in terms of balls. The previous record was 164 deliveries. With the win India have now taken a 2-0 lead in the six-match series.

The players are back on the field after the farcical lunch break. 80% of the fans in the stadium have left, the commentators inform. India need two runs to win.

This is how Twitter reacted to the farcical ‘Lunch Break’.

What a farce! With just two runs needed for victory, umpires call for a lunch break! India’s innings had started immediately after SA’s effort ended early. The play was extended by 15 minutes as India came closer to chasing down the target, however the match referee decides playing on without a lunch break now would be too arduous a task for the players, officials and the fans. Kohli seems to be a bit peeved by the decision but has to abide by the call. Officials have gone by the book, but why not just operate with some common sense?

After 19 overs, IND 117/1.
50 for Dhawan! Has been a clinical knock. He missed out on a big knock in the first game after a run-out. It was a straightforward task and he’s played a professional performance.

After 18 overs, IND 110/1.
DROPPED! Tough chance, but Dhawan gets a reprieve on 48. He flicks Morkel, but doesn’t time it well and plays it in the air. At cover, Miller dives forward as it dips, but can’t hold on.

After 17 overs, IND 101/1 (Dhawan 44*, Kohli 35*).
100 up for India! Kohli, Dhawan doing it easily. They are ambling through the chase. The duo has now added 75 runs for the second wicket.

After 12 overs, IND 73/1 (Dhawan 34*, Kohli 20*).
Spinners Tahir and Shamsi bowling in tandem now. Dhawan, Kohli have traded their helmets in for caps. The changes, though, haven’t had much of an impact on the game. India are trudging along well here. They need just another 46 runs to win.

Rohit would be kicking himself for getting out cheaply. With little pressure, this would have been a good opportunity for him to get some runs on the board. His record in ODIs overseas isn’t that flattering. His scores in SA ODIs: 11, 9, 23, 1, 5, 18, 19, 20, 15.

50 up for India. After 9 overs, IND 55/1 (Dhawan 20*, Kohli 16*).
OUCH! Rabada bangs it short, Kohli looks to pull but gets an inside edge that bangs into his ribs. That would have hurt. Kohli, though, calmly dispatches the bowler for a six off the next delivery! He and Dhawan are motoring along well. SA would have hoped that Rohit’s wicket would spur some momentum, but that hasn’t happened.

Ashwin has already started celebrating!

After 4 overs, IND 26/1.
WICKET! Rohit gone. Rabada eventually gets his man. Rohit is cramped for room as he attempts a pull shot. He skies it in the air. Morkel takes a fine catch as he runs in from fine leg.
Rohit c Morkel b Rabada 15 (b: 17, 4s: 2, 6s: 1).

After 2 overs, IND 9/0. (Rohit 7*, Dhawan 0*).
Close call for Rohit. There’s an appeal for a caught behind by Rabada. The umpire raises the finger. But, Rohit asks for a review. Ultra edge shows a spike, but as his bat comes in touch with the pad. The ball too passes the bat at the same time. There’s some doubt, but the on-field decision is reversed.

After 1 over, IND 8/0.
SIX! Rohit Sharma gives India a fine start to their chase. There’s not much for the SA bowlers to play with here, but they will have to try.

SA all out for 118 in 32.2 overs.
This is SA’s lowest total at home. The SA batsman just could not read the turn. India made most of the conditions and their spinners stepped up once again. With De Villiers and Du Plessis absent, SA’s batting order lacked the stomach for a fight.

WICKET! Five-wicket haul for Chahal. His first in ODI cricket. Morris is the last man to depart. He looks a big one, but is caught in the deep.
Morris c Bhuvneshwar b Chahal 14 (b: 10, 4s: 1, 6s; 1).

After 32 overs, SA 118/9.
WICKET! Bumrah shatters the off the stump. Tahir is in no position to play that ball. SA have collapsed quite dramatically. Have had no answers to India’s bowlers today.
Tahir b Bumrah 0 (b: 7).

After 31 overs, SA 117/8.
WICKET! Morkel LBW! Chahal gets his fourth. He pins Morkel on the backfoot. The batsman can’t get his bat down in time. He’s struck plumb in front.
Morkel lbw Chahal 1 (b: 4).

DROPPED! Morkel gets two lifelines. Looks to hoick Kuldeep first up. He only manages to take it as far as the mid-on fielder, who had to put in a dive. Luckily for Morkel, he spills it. But, the trouble did not end there for Morkel. He’s struggling to reach the crease as he attempts a run after the catch is dropped. Jadhav throws it quickly to Kuldeep who dislodges the bails quickly, but Morkel puts in a dive and crosses the line in time.

WICKET! Rabada is done in with the wrong one. He stuck in the crease, but can’t get his bat down in time. It pitches outside off and comes in quick after pitching. The left-hander didn’t have a clue.
Rabada lbw b Kuldeep Yadav 1 (5b).

WICKET! Duminy LBW. He too looks to sweep Chahal, but can’t execute it well and misses. He’s struck plumb in front. The balls pitches on middle and turns, would have hit the leg stump. Duminy wants to review, but SA don’t have any left.
Duminy lbw Chahal 25 (b: 39, 4s: 2).

After 27 overs, SA 104/5.
WICKET! Zondo gone. It’s spin again. He looks to sweep Chahal, but gets a top edge. The ball goes high, and Pandya gets under it at short midwicket. It pops out at first attempt, but he holds on eventually. The dismissal ends a 48-run stand between Zondo and Duminy.
Zondo c Pandya b Chahal 25 (b: 45, 4s: 2)

After 24 overs, SA 92/4 (Zondo 23, Duminy 17*).
Playing in his first ODI, Zondo is showing great patience. Has batted well so far. Came into bat with the score at 51/4 with SA in trouble. He and JP Duminy have ensured India doesn’t run through the batting line-up. Kohli’s decision to take the wrist-spinners off has also helped their case.

After 20 overs, SA 73/4 (Zondo 11*, Duminy 10*).
Update: Bumrah receives medical attention by the boundary rope. He hurt himself while diving to save a boundary. The spike from one of his shoes grazed his other leg. There’s a wound and he might need stitches.

After 17 overs, SA 63/4 (Zondo 10*, Duminy 1*).
The mini collapse has really hurt South Africa. India are clearly on top. The wrist-spinners like the first game has made an immediate impact. There’s a lot of turn in this track and the SA batsmen have so far looked inept.

After 14 overs, SA 53/4.
WICKET! Third wicket in six balls! Kuldeep gets his second. He pitches it up to Miller inviting him for a drive, but the batsman only manages an edge and is caught in the slips by Rahane.
Miller c Rahane b Kuldeep 0 (4b).

After 13.1 overs, SA 51/3.
WICKET! Stand-in skipper Markram falls. Looks to launch Kuldeep over midwicket off his first ball, but can’t get it over the Bhuvneshwar who takes a fine catch.

After 13 overs, SA 51/2
WICKET! De Kock looks to heave Chahal over midwicket, but only hits it with the bottom of the bat. Pandya completes an easy catch.

After 10 overs, SA 39/1 (De Kock 16*).
WICKET! Bhuvneshwar gets Amla to edge one to the keeper. Amla looks to hit through covers, but the ball moves in and gets an inside edge. He reviews it, but there a clear nick.
Amla c Dhoni b Bhuvneshwar 23 (b: 32, 4s: 4).

After 8 overs, SA 26/0 (Amla 18*, De Kock 8*).
Amla slowly getting into the act. Gets into position quickly to dispatch Bhuvneshwar through the covers for a glorious boundary. Bhuvi gets him to play and miss off the next delivery. Amla is key here for SA. Has batted watchfully through the opening few overs. He will want to get a move on with the scoring soon.

After 6 overs, SA 14/0 (Amla 7*, De Kock 7*).
SA’s openers are struggling to get the runs in so far. Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah are bowling a tight line. Amla, De Kock refraining from trying anything extravagant.

After 4 overs, SA 7/0 (Amla 4*, De Kock 3*).
Sedate start for SA. India’s bowlers are getting some juice from the pitch early. They are bowling a tight line and building pressure. The SA openers are, understandably, playing watchfully.

After 2 overs, SA 4/0 (Amla 4*, De Kock 0*).
Contrasting starts for the two openers. Amla looks confident. Smashes Bhuvneshwar for a neatly played boundary in the first over. De Kock, though, doesn’t quite have the best of starts. Nearly gets out as the ball rolls onto the stumps after a weak defence to Bumrah. Luckily for him, the bails don’t fall off. He’s surprised with a darting bouncer next up, before getting rapped on the left hand off the next delivery.

Reports suggest that the Centurion wicket will not have much pace. Keeping that in mind, South Africa have gone with two spinners for this game.

Teams

India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal.

South Africa XI: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), JP Duminy, David Miller, Khaya Zondo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Tabraiz Shamsi, Imran Tahir.

India will go with the same playing XI that won the first ODI in Durban.

India win toss, elect to bowl first.

Hello and welcome to the live updates of the second ODI between India and South Africa at Centurion as the battle for the top spot in the rankings continues.

The visitors were hardly ruffled in Durban, where they cruised to a six-wicket win thanks to India skipper Virat Kohli registering his 20th century in a chase and his 33rd overall.

Ajinkya Rahane got a new lease of life at the no 4 spot, scoring a fluent 79 after his side lost Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan early. The Proteas once again have their task cut out as skipper Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the ODI series and the T20 International series after suffering a finger injury. Their batting talisman, AB de Villiers will also not take part in the series.

Barely 24 hours before the start of this match, rookie Aiden Markram was announced as Du Plessis’s replacement – a decision that raised a few eyebrows. The 23-year-old has just played two ODIs in his career so far. Clearly Cricket South Africa view him as a long-term option after he was selected as captain ahead of experienced campaigners such as Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and David Miller. Markram, like Kohli, is a former U-19 World Cup winning captain and will be the second youngest to lead his country after Graeme Smith.

India walk in as clear favourites in this contest. The key for hosts will be negating the menace of wrist-spin duo Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Let’s hope we witness an enthralling contest on Sunday.