India Beat South Africa by 8 Wickets in Johannesburg ODI
India registered a dominant 9-wicket victory in the first ODI against South Africa at the Johannesburg stadium. This comes hot on the heels of their recent T20 triumph where they restricted South Africa to just 102 runs.
In this ODI, the young Indian bowling attack, despite its relative inexperience, proved too much for the home team. They skittled out South Africa for a mere 116 runs, setting the stage for a comfortable chase.
Arshdeep Singh led the bowling charge with a superb five-wicket haul. He exploited the bouncy surface with skillful swing bowling, leaving the South African batters flummoxed by his pace and movement. In his very first over, Arshdeep Singh struck twice, removing Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen.
While the latter’s LBW decision was a close call, Hendricks could only fend a flashy drive to covers. Tony de Zorzi briefly threatened with a brisk 28, but his dismissal triggered a collapse.
Klaasen, Markram, and Miller all fell in quick succession, with Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan claiming crucial wickets. Phehlukwayo’s resistance ended on 33, leaving South Africa reeling at 116 all-out. Arshdeep completed his five-for with Phehlukwayo’s wicket in his final over.
The pitch offered something for the bowlers, but it was the Indian pace attack’s excellent execution that turned the match into a one-sided affair. They dominated from the first ball to the last, showcasing their impressive ability to adapt to unfamiliar conditions.
South Africa Against India in Last Three ODIs: 88, 83 and 116
Chasing a paltry 117, India wrapped up the game inside 17 overs, highlighting the gulf in quality between the two teams. This victory further underscores India’s impressive performance at the 2023 Cricket World Cup, proving that their success wasn’t solely reliant on superstars like Bumrah, Shami, Rohit, Kohli, and Siraj.
The absence of these senior players allowed India’s talented youngsters to shine. Their composure and skill were evident throughout the match, leaving South Africa with no choice but to succumb to defeat against India.
This was a special day for debutant Sai Sundarshan, who marked his arrival with a well-crafted half-century. Arshdeep Singh’s confidence-boosting spell, only the second five-wicket haul by an Indian bowler in ODIs on South African soil after Ashish Nehra, was another major highlight.
