JOHANNESBURG, Dec 17: Pacers Arshdeep Singh bowled a dream first spell and found an ally in equally menacing Avesh Khan as a second-string Indian team completely annihilated South Africa by eight wickets in the opening ODI here on Sunday.
India now lead the three-match series 1-0.
Having gone into the match without a single wicket in his previous three ODI appearances, Arshdeep more than made up for it with his maiden five-wicket haul as South Africa were all-out for 116 in 27.3 overs. The target was surpassed in only 16.4 overs.
Playing their first 50-over game post the World Cup final, it seemed that Arshdeep (5/37 in 10 overs) and Avesh (4/27 in 8 overs) had picked up a cue from their seniors Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah as a quality Proteas batting line-up was made to look like novices on a track that offered a lot of help due to underlying moisture.
In reply, debutant B Sai Sudharshan (55 not out off 43 balls) showed during his stay at the wicket why he is rated so highly. He made the chase look like a cakewalk.
The sinewy southpaw looked elegant and upright while driving on the up and looked strong off the back-foot, while pulling the short ball. Against spinners, he put a big stride forward, which is hallmark of a good player. The on-drive off Tabraiz Shamsi was a treat for the eyes.
Sai had seasoned Shreyas Iyer (52 off 45 balls) for company, who looked in fine touch, something that augurs well for India, ahead of the upcoming Test series.
However, the story of the day was how Indian pacers rattled South Africa with the ball jagging around for the first hour and a half which spelt doom for the home side.
Arshdeep would certainly feel good having drawn a lot of flak for his inconsistency in the shortest format.
In their last encounter at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, South Africa were bowled out for 83 under lights on a slow deck but never would have Aiden Markram thought that he and his men would be bullied at the ‘Bull Ring’ which has been a safe haven for them in white ball cricket.
Only three players who played the World Cup final — skipper KL Rahul, wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer — are a part of this current playing eleven, and India’s back-up pacers gave a good account of themselves.
The two Indian pacers pitched it up and ensured that most of the South African batters stayed rooted to the crease. In fact, both were on hat-tricks with dismissals off successive deliveries.
SCOREBOARD
South Africa innings:
Reeza Hendricks b Arshdeep Singh 0
Tony de Zorzi c Rahul b Arshdeep Singh 28
Rassie van der Dussen lbw b Arshdeep Singh 0
Aiden Markram b Avesh Khan 12
Heinrich Klaasen b Arshdeep Singh 6
David Miller c Rahul b Avesh Khan 2
Wiaan Mulder lbw b Avesh Khan 0
Andile Phehlukwayo lbw b Arshdeep Singh 33
Keshav Maharaj c Ruturaj Gaikwad b Avesh Khan 4
Nandre Burger b Kuldeep Yadav 7
Tabraiz Shamsi not out 11
Extras: (B-1, LB-2, W-10)
Total: (For 10 wkts, 27.3 Overs) 116
Fall of Wickets: 3-1, 3-2, 42-3, 52-4, 52-5, 52-6, 58-7, 73-8, 101-9, 116-10.
Bowler: Mukesh Kumar 7-0-46-0, Arshdeep Singh 10-0-37-5, Avesh Khan 8-3-27-4, Kuldeep Yadav 2.3-0-3-1.
INDIA innings:
Ruturaj Gaikwad lbw b Wiaan Mulder 5
Sai Sudharsan not out 55
Shreyas Iyer c Miller b Phehlukwayo 52
Tilak Varma not out 1
Extras: (W-3, NB-1) 4
Total: (2 wkts, 16.4 Overs) 117
Fall of Wickets: 23-1, 111-2.
Bowler: Nandre Burger 5.4-1-35-0, Wiaan Mulder 4-0-26-1, Keshav Maharaj 3-0-19-0, Tabraiz Shamsi 3-0-22-0, Andile Phehlukwayo 1-0-15-1. (PTI)
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