After the T20I series was wrapped up, the ODI series started on South African soil. Where the visiting India won the first match. In this three-match series, India got off to a great start.
India and South Africa met in the first ODI of the series in Johannesburg on Sunday (December 17). Batting first in the match, the Proteas’ innings ended after scoring just 116 runs in 27.3 overs. In response, India reached the port of victory by losing 2 wickets in just 16.4 overs.
South African captain Aiden Markram decided to bat first on winning the toss. However, according to that decision, the team could not be successful. On the contrary, they were blown away by the Indian bowling storm. The hosts lost a couple of wickets at the beginning of their batting.
Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen returned to the dressing room with zero runs. Pacer Arshdeep Singh opened the account of taking wickets in his ODI career by dismissing them in two consecutive balls. Tony de Zorzi and Captain Markram then tried to push the team forward. But their efforts did not work. Both ended with forming a pair of 39 runs.
The collapse started in batting when Zorzi (28 runs from 22 balls) was out for the team’s 42 runs. One by one, Heinrich Klaasen (6), Markram (12), Wiaan Mulder (0), and David Miller (2) left the crease early being undone. The team lost 7 wickets to score 58 runs.
Andile Phehlukwayo then tried to stay on the wicket. But he also could not extend the innings. This lower-order batsman scored the top 33 runs off 49 balls for the team. He became Arshdeep’s fifth victim. In addition, 11 runs came from the bat of Tabraiz Shamsi in the end.
In this match, Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh seized 5 wickets for the first time in his ODI career with 37 runs after bowling 10 overs. Avesh Khan also picked up 4 wickets with him. He gave only 27 runs with 3 maidens in 8 overs. Besides, wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav took 1 wicket.
Indian opener Ruturaj Gaikwad could not make a good start chasing the target of 117 runs. He scored a personal 5 runs off 10 balls and got out being lbw for the team’s 23 runs. The Indian opener was dismissed by Wiaan Mulder in 3.4 overs.
After that, Sai Sudharsan and Shreyas Iyer performed the main duties of the team. India reached the threshold of victory with the duo’s 88-run partnership. Shreyas returned to the pavilion smashing 6 fours and 1 six, he played a brilliant innings of 52 runs off 45 balls. Although he got out at the end, there was no problem in the team’s victory.
Sudharsan ensured the triumph with Tilak Varma. Sudharsan was unbeaten with 55 runs from 43 balls with the help of 9 boundaries. On the other hand, Varma remained unbeaten picking up a single. These two teams are going to meet in the second match of the series next Thursday (December 19th) at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
South Africa – 116/10 (27.3)
India – 117/2 (16.4)
Result – India won by 8 wickets
Player of the match – Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh
South Africa | Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nandre Burger, and Tabraiz Shamsi. |
India | KL Rahul (c & wk), Sai Sudharsan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mukesh Kumar. |
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