India decimates South Africa in 1st ODI, Arshdeep , Avesh unplayable

 

Team india  started the one-day series vs South Africa with a massive win with 200 balls to spare thanks to outstanding bowling spells of Arshdeep  Singh and Avesh Khan.  Lokesh Rahul's team won by 8 wickets in Johannesburg on Sunday.  Batting first, South Africa's innings ended on a paltry 116 runs.  The Protea batters could not counter the fast bowling skills of Arshdeep Singh and later Avesh Khan.   In reply, the Proteas took the wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer only as India claim an easy win.  India completed the win scoring  117 runs for 2 wickets in 16.4 overs.  This is the first time in the last five years that India has won a one-day match on South African soil.

 South Africa were bowled out for 83 against India in the World Cup in Eden.  That memory came back on Sunday.  South Africa ended up with 116 runs after winning the toss and batting first at home.  Arshdeep took 5 wickets along with Avesh Khan took 4 wickets.  A wicket for Kuldeep Yadav too.

  Arashdeep and Avesh finished off the Proteas with magnificent bowling .  None of the South African batters could survive at the crease.  They went to play like T20.  South Africa went on the offensive from the start and lost wickets on a pitch that assisted movement .

 Reeza Hendricks did not understand Arshdeep's swing and played on while Van Dussen was lbw .  After losing 2 wickets for 3 runs, opener Tony De Zorzi (28) and skipper Aiden Markram (12) tried to form a big pair.  But they could not score more than 39 runs.  South Africa's batting collapsed again like a house of cards after Zorzi got out. 

Markram (12) on whom a lot depended was bowled by Avesh while Arshdeep breached the defences of Klaasen (6)  with a beauty . Miller (2) edged Avesh and was caught behind while Moulder (0) was lbw to Avesh first ball followed by Maharaj (4) who was knocked over by Avesh as the wickets tumbled all over the place . 

Arshdeep took 5 wickets with 37 runs in 10 overs.  He was bowled 7 consecutive overs in the first spell.  At that time Arshdeep took 4 wickets.  He took another wicket in the next spell.  Avesh bowled 6 overs in the first spell.  Then he also took 4 wickets.  South Africa lost 8 wickets for 73 runs.  From there, Andile Phehlukwayo saved the home team from embarrassment by scoring a sparkling 33 runs from 49 balls.  South Africa crossed the 100-run mark due to Phehlukwayo innings. 

 India went into bat with a target of 117 runs to win and picked up an easy win.  As opener Ruturaj (5) got out quickly, some pressure was created at the start of the Indian innings.  But the other opener, Sai Sudarshan, and Shreyas, who dropped to number three, overcame the pressure and took the team to the door of victory.  Sudarshan, who was lucky early in his innings as South Africa did not review a plumb lbw against him , remained unbeaten by playing a sparkling  innings of 55 runs off 43 balls full of glorious drives and flicks .  He decorated his innings with 9 fours.  Shreyas should have won the match and left the field.  He threw the wicket after being aggressive .  Shreyas' 45-ball 52-run innings included 6 fours and 1 six.  Tilak Verma (unbeaten 1) was at 22 yards with Sudarshan at the end.  None of the South African bowlers could do anything of note.

Arshdeep for his brilliant 5 wicket haul was the player of the match .