Jan 19 India’s inexplicable middle-order collapse ensured that high-quality half-centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli didn’t rely for a lot because the workforce was handed a 31-run defeat by a resolute South Africa within the opening ODI in Paarl on Wednesday. Chasing a difficult 297, India have been cruising at 138 for one earlier than wickets fell in a heap dashing the hopes of the guests who path 0-1 within the three-match collection. India’s innings ended at 265 for eight. South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma (110 off 143) and Rassie van der Dussen (129 not out off 96) had scored contrasting a whole bunch en path to their 204-run stand to take South Africa to 296 for 4 after opting to bat.
India have been comfortably positioned to get house when Kohli (51 off 63) and Dhawan (79 off 84) have been within the center nevertheless it all got here crashing down with the tip of their 92-run stand.
India have been responsible of relying an excessive amount of on their high three prior to now and as soon as once more, the middle-order couldn’t capitalise on the platform supplied by Kohli and Dhawan after they misplaced skipper Ok L Rahul (12) cheaply.
Chase grasp Kohli, enjoying his first sport since his captaincy tenure ended throughout codecs final weel, hardly broke a sweat in reaching his half-century earlier than a sweep shot off Tabraiz Shami, a stroke he would not play usually, led to his downfall leaving him in disbelief.
Dhawan seemed in chic contact throughout his keep and performed the Take a look at collection’ rising star Marco Jansen somewhat comfortably, accumulating 5 of his 10 fours off the tall left-arm pacer.
The stage was set for the likes of Rishabh Pant (16), Shreyas Iyer (17) and debutant Venkatesh Iyer (2) to get the job executed however they fell in fast succession, leaving India at 188 for six from a powerful 138 for one.
Whereas Pant was stumped by a lightening fast Quinton de Kock, the shot number of Shreyas and Venkatesh may have been higher.
Shardul Thakur (50 not out off 43) tried his greatest in the direction of the tip however the injury had already been executed.
Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah (2/48) was the stand out bowler for India in an in any other case unusual bowling effort.
After a sluggish begin, van der Dussen and Bavuma shared the second highest partnership ever in opposition to India in ODIs to make sure a aggressive whole for the house workforce.
South Africa opted to bat on a gradual floor on the Boland Park. The white ball did a bit early on with each Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar getting to maneuver it off the pitch in addition to within the air.
After an inaccurate first over, the normally correct Bumrah obtained his act collectively and had opener Janneman Malan (6) caught behind with an outswinger. Anticipating an incoming ball, Malan was caught on the crease together with his free push taking the surface edge.
South Africa struggled to 39 for one in 10 overs with Indian bowlers proscribing the circulation of runs.
De Kock (27 off 41), enjoying his first sport since asserting his Take a look at retirement, and Bavuma discovered the going robust with the ball not approaching to the bat.
De Kock perished whereas making an attempt to interrupt the shackles. Ashwin, that includes in his first ODI since June 2017, discovered de Kock’s stumps with a slider because the opener went for a minimize shot.
It turned 68 for 3 within the 18th over when Aiden Markram obtained run out from a direct hit by Venkatesh after he went for a single that was not for the taking.
At that stage, it appeared South Africa would discover it robust to get previous 200 however a combating stand between Van der Dussen and Bavuma modified the course of the innings.
Indian bowlers seemed somewhat unusual within the center overs with the well-set South African pair rotating strike usually moreover choosing up an odd boundary.
Van der Dussen was the aggressor within the partnership from the phrase go as Bavuma performed anchor.
Van der Dussen used the reverse sweep for 4 runs off Yuzvendra Chahal to place the leg spinner below strain earlier than utilizing the standard sweep twice to gather extra boundaries.
He later used a free hit to smash a Shardul full toss for a six as South Africa’s innings discovered a lot wanted momentum.
Two decide up pictures on one knee for six over deep backward sq. have been the spotlight of van der Dussen’s entertaining knock. He ended with 9 4 and 4 sixes.
Bavuma was pleased choosing singles on the different finish whereas something free on supply was put away behind the ropes.
Promoted
The skipper obtained his hundred within the forty fifth over whereas his batting accomplice achieved the milestone in forty eighth over. It was the second ODI hundred for each the batters.
The final over bowled by Thakur went for 17 runs, taking the hosts near 300. Thakur was the costliest bowler, bleeding 72 in his quota of 10 overs. Venkatesh was not used because the sixth bowling choice.
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