India bowled out South Africa for its lowest total on home soil, 116, and then chased it down with 200 balls to spare.
Bellwethers Arshdeep Singh sailed a dream first spell and set up an supporter in inversely menacing Avesh Khan as a alternate- string Indian platoon fully annihilated South Africa by eight lattices in the opening ODI in Johannesburg on Sunday.
India now leads the three- match series 1- 0.
Having gone into the match without a single gate in his former three ODI appearances, Arshdeep further than made up for it with his demoiselle five- gate haul as South Africa was each- out for 116 in 27.3 overs. The target was surpassed in only16.4 overs.
Playing their first 50- over game post the World Cup final, it sounded 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 fur line- up was made to look like beginners on a track that offered a lot of help due to underpinning humidity.
In reply, debutant B Sai Sudharsan (55 not out off 43 balls) showed during his stay at the gate why he’s rated so largely. 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 reverse- bottom, while pulling the short ball. Against baits, 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, commodity that augurs well for India, ahead of the forthcoming Test series.
Still, the story of the day was how Indian bellwethers rattled South Africa with the ball jagging around for the first hour and a half which spelt doom for the home side.
Arshdeep would clearly feel good having drawn a lot of flak for his inconsistency in the shortest format.
In their last hassle at Kolkata’s Eden auditoriums, South Africa was sailed out for 83 under lights on a slow sundeck but no way would have Aiden Markram allowed that he and his men would be bullied at the ‘ Bull Ring ’ which has been a haven for them in white- ball justice. Only three players who played the World Cup final– commander KL Rahul, wrist incentive Kuldeep Yadav and middle- order batter Shreyas Iyer– are a part of this current playing eleven, and India’s back- over bellwethers gave a good account of themselves.
The two Indian bellwethers pitched it up and assured that utmost of the South African batters stayed embedded to the crinkle. In fact, both were on chapeau- tricks with discharges off consecutive deliveries.
Arshdeep would get further credit as he blew down the top- order within the first Powerplay with four lattices and also left it to Avesh, who sailed fast and full, whisking the batters for pace.
In between, Avesh would slip in the occasional short ball for the tailenders, who were in two minds whether to go on the front- bottom or back- bottom.
It started with Reeza Hendricks (0), who dragged a delivery that was angled across the right- hander reverse onto the wholes and the dangerous Rassie van de Dussen (0) must have anticipated an down- going one but got one that danced back from middle- refuse.
Tony de Zorzi (28 off 22 balls) chanced his arms and Mukesh Kumar(0/46 in 7 overs), who had an out- day, went for a many before Arshdeep showed his variation by digging one short and the ball ballooned for commander Rahul to complete an easy catch.
Still, the gate that fully broke the home platoon’s reverse was Heinrich Klaasen’s (6) redundancy, which would have indeed made the great Wasim Akram proud.
Arshdeep sailed one slightly back of length but darted his wrists in a manner that it turned into a vicious in- scoop which cropped the leg refuse bail, leaving the right- hander in complete muddle.
The end of Power Play didn’t end Proteas ’ straits as commander Markram played on, fully beaten for pace. David Miller( 2) also fell prey to grim pressure to a delivery pitched on drivable length while Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj set up the speed of deliveries too hot to handle.
It was Andile Phehlukwayo, whose 33 coming in at No. 8, took the home platoon past the 100- run mark before Arshdeep, in his alternate spell, completed his coveted five- for. Know More Latest Cricket News…
