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During India’s pursuit of a 117-run target against South Africa in the first ODI of the three-match series, Shreyas Iyer had a hilarious moment wherein his bat flew in the air while attempting a pull shot. But, it didn’t deter him from completing his fifty before India defeated South Africa by eight wickets with 200 balls remaining in their innings.
Also Watch: Sai Sudharsan completes half-century on ODI debut against South Africa
It was the last ball of the ninth over from the left-arm fast bowler Nandre Burger, a short delivery from around the wicket aimed at the body of Shreyas Iyer. The Indian top-order batter was cramped for room while attempting to execute a pull shot, which led Iyer to lose complete control of his bat before it flew in the air to land beside the fielder at square leg just inside the 30-yard circle.
Watch the video of Shreyas Iyer's bat flying in the air here:
As luck would have it, the bat didn’t hit a South African fielder the umpire or the Indian debutant Sai Sudharsan at the non-striker’s end. Meanwhile, as far as Shreyas Iyer was concerned, the ball managed to clear the fielder at mid-on before he and his non-striking partner managed to take two runs.
The 88-run partnership for the second wicket between Shreyas Iyer and Sai Sudharshan, who completed their respective fifties in the process, put India on the brink of a win. After Iyer was dismissed for 52 off 45, it was Sudharshan (55 off 43) hit the winning runs for the visitors to secure a 1-0 lead in the ODI series with two matches to play.
