The Proteas have defeated India by 31-runs in the first of three One Day Internationals at Boland Park in Paarl. Initially, it seemed like 296 would be too low a score to defend. However, the South Africans saw it through.
Poor start, great recovery
Temba Bavuma won the toss this morning and opted to have a bat. Openers Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan’s started well, but the latter was back in the change room 5-overs in. Quinny looked solid in his first match since returning from family commitments. Unfortunately, the former captain couldn’t build on the good start and bowled clean for 27.
Although Aiden Markram’s stay at the crease was also short-lived, Captain Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen pulled things back in the Proteas favour. The two notched up a ridiculous partnership of 204 to help set the visitors a target of 297.
Both Captain Bavuma and Van der Dussen registered just their second ODI century. And while Bavuma fell a couple of runs shy of a career-best total, Rassie’s unbeaten 129 saw his average move up to 73.6. The highest out of all One Day Internation players.
Indian optimism before the demise
India’s chase started off brilliantly. For a moment there was doubt that the Proteas would even be competitive in this series. The wicket of KL Rahul brought back some form of belief. However, the bowling was still mediocre and wasn’t testing India.
Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli were comfortably knocking the Proteas about for almost 20-overs. The two logged a combined 92-runs before Keshav Maharaj rattled Dhawan’s stumps.
Kohli then tried to just chip away at the score. That was until the former Captain chipped a Tabraiz Shamsi delivery straight to Temba Bavuma. His score of 51 took him past Sachin Tendulkar for most runs in ODI’s in matches away from home.
Andile Phehlukwayo was the first paceman to strike, removing Rishabh Pant for 16. That wicket signalled the beginning of the end for the visitors, with the Indian team adding just 82 more runs before the overs ran out.
South Africa now has a 1-0 lead heading into the second ODI on Friday in Paarl, once again.
SA – 296-4 (50) ǁ Rassie vd Dussen – 129* (96) ǁ Jasprit Bumrah – 2/48 (10)
IND – 265-8 (50) ǁ Shikhar Dhawan – 79 (84) ǁ Tabraiz Shamsi – 2/52 (10)
