By Neil Manthorp.
Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan claimed nine wickets between to dismiss South Africa for just 116 before half centuries from debutant Sai Sudharsan and Sreyas Iyer guided India to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory in the first of three one-day internationals at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Arshdeep took 5-37 from his ten overs and Avesh finished with 4-27 as the home side failed miserably to live up to expectations on the famous ‘Pink Day’ and Sudharsan (55* from 43 balls) and Iyer (52 from 45 balls) ended the contest after just 16.4 overs.
Left-armer Arshdeep reduced the home side to 3-2 in the second over when Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen were dismissed without scoring in successive deliveries, the former bowled and the latter trapped lbw.
Opener Tony de Zorzi briefly counter-attacked with 28 from just 22 balls with a pair of fours and sixes but a top edged pull-shot against Arshdeep landed safely in the gloves of captain KL Rahul.
Heinrich Klaasen (6) was bowled by Arshdeep before Avesh claimed the next three wickets in equally quick succession bowling captain Aiden Markram (12) before trapping Wiaan Mulder (0) lbw first ball.
When David Miller (2) edged a ‘glory drive’ into the gloves of Rahul South Africa were 58-7 after 13 overs and their hopes of respectability, never mind a competitive score, were gone.
Avesh collected his fourth wicket when Keshav Maharaj (4) spliced at attempted ‘slap-drive’ to short cover leaving Andile Phehlukwayo to attempt a salvage operation in the company of debutant Nandre Burger and last man Tabraiz Shamsi.
Phehlukwayo did commendable work in a hopeless situation making 33 from 49 balls with three fours and a pair of defiant sixes before missing a legside heave against Arshdeep and falling lbw.
Just when it looked like the two seamers would bowl the Proteas out between them wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was introduced into the attack and promptly bowled Burger for seven from 37 balls to end the innings after just 27.3 overs.
There was a wicket apiece for Wiaan Mulder and Phehlukwayo during India’s cruise to victory but there were no consolation for a team that was never in the contest. The second match takes place at St.George’s Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday with the third at Boland Park in Paarl on Thursday.
South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Tabraiz Shamsi
India: KL Rahul(w/c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar.