In the first ODI of the India tour of South Africa, the hosts beat the visitors by 31 runs to gain the lead of 1-0 in the three-match series. Clinical performances from Temba Bavuma (110) and Rassie van der Dussen (129*) with the bat helped South Africa to gain a formidable lead in the series.
South Africa won the toss and chose to bat on a slow pitch. Janeman Malan was the first casualty for the home team. Quinton de Kock (27) departed in the 16th over after a steady start. Aiden Markram was sent back to the pavilion by Ventakesh Iyer’s direct throw at the stumps in the 18th over. After the fall of three wickets within the first 20 overs, the South African skipper Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen took the charge in their hand. The two batsmen paced and structured their innings well. Bavuma was playing the supporting role while van der Dussen was attacking the Indian bowlers. A humongous partnership of 204 runs between the South African skipper and van der Dussen for the fourth wicket helped South Africa to post a competitive target of 297 on a tricky pitch.
As the game was drifting away after the first 25 overs, the hosts got rid of India’s middle over in a quick succession that cleared their path to the victory.
Shikhar Dhawan (79), Virat Kohli (51) and Shardul Thakur (50*) were the performers with the bat for the Indian team. The 92-run partnership between Dhawan and Kohli put India in total command. With the departure of the two set batsmen along with the middle-order debacle, India lost momentum. Thakur kept the game alive with his gritty half-century but that couldn’t help the tourists as they fell short of the target by 31 runs.
Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi and Andile Phehlukwayo pocketed two wickets each. Markram and Keshav Maharaj had one wicket each to their names.
On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah grabbed two wickets for India along with Ravichandran Ashwin’s one scalp.
Van der Dussen was adjudged the Man of the Match for his emphatic unbeaten 129 off 96 balls with nine fours and four sixes.