« Back to article | Print this article |
South Africa thrashed India by 141 runs in the opening one-dayer at New Wanderers on Thursday to take the lead in the three-match series.
Chasing a mammoth 359 to win, the visitors could score only 217, getting dismissed with nine overs left to be bowled.
Dale Steyn was the pick of the bowlers, with figures of three for 25, while Ryan McLaren had figures of three for 49.
Earlier, Quinton de Kock's magnificent century and significant contributions from skipper AB de Villiers (77), Hashim Amla (65) and JP Duminy (59 not out) helped South Africa amass a massive 358 for 4.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to bowl first did not work as his bowlers struggled throughout.
Meanwhile, the Wanderers was glowing in pink as the game was celebrated as 'Pink Day' to raise awareness for breast cancer. To mark their support for the cause, the Proteas played the match in a pink-green jersey.
Hashim Amla scored a patient 65.
The experienced batsman helped young De Kock add 152 runs for the opening wicket.
Amla's 88-ball knock was inclusive of five hits to the fence and one over it.
Young De Kock batted splendidly upfront scoring a 121-ball 135, studded with 18 fours and three sixes.
It was his second ODI hundred after a 112 against Pakistan earlier in the year.
The 20-year-old's was eventually dismissed in the 42nd over, giving a simple return catch to Virat Kohli (1-15).
The foundation laid by De Kock helped De Villiers and Duminy to launch a furious assault on the Indian attack, as 135 runs were scored of the last 10 overs of the innings.
De Villiers smashed his way to a 47-ball-77 that had six fours and four sixes, while Duminy clobbered five sixes in his 29-ball-54 that also had a couple of boundaries.
The duo added a whopping 105 runs in 7.4 overs to take the total beyond the 350-run mark.
Mohammed Shami was the lone bright spot in what was otherwise a lacklustre Indian bowling attack.
Even though he went for 68 in his 10 overs, he accounted for three of the four South African wickets to fall.
Shami first had Amla drag one on to his stumps, then also got rid of Jacques Kallis (10) and finally cleaned up De Villiers late in the innings.
Chasing a seemingly improbable target, India started on a tentative note.
Shikhar Dhawan (12), Rohit Sharma (18), Virat Kohli (31), Yuvraj Singh (0) and Suresh Raina (14) were back in the pavilion sooner than expected as the South African quicks wrecked havoc.
Captain Dhoni made a resilient 71-ball 65, but with the asking rate on the up with every passing over, a heavy defeat was imminent.
And once Steyn made Dhoni drag one on to his stumps, the writing was on the wall.