SA score 269/8 in 1st ODI against India

Despite eventually bowing the knee to Virat Kohli’s brilliance with the bat, the hosts lost their way earlier when they lost five wickets to the wrist-spinning duo of Yazvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. “When we restricted South Africa we knew we needed one partnership to effectively take us home”, Kohli said at the presentation ceremony.

But Du Plessis, in the company of all-rounder Chris Morris, resurrected the South African innings.

Meanwhile, Du Plessis put on 53 runs with De Kock for the second wicket.

Kohli managed his innings with trademark poise, a couple of fours off Morris in the 19th over speeding up his knock towards fifty. They’re playing in South Africa for the first time.

– In the third bowl of the seventh over, Jasprit Bumrah sent Hashim Amla back to the pavilion.

Quinton de Kock and Du Plessis made up for the loss of Amla with a 53-run partnership before De Kock was trapped lbw off the bowling of Yuzvendra Chahal for 34.

Indian spin bowlers were right on top in Durban.

Call it the finger of fate, as wielded by Virat Kohli. Rohit skied one in the air to get out while Dhawan then was victim of a miscommunication and got himself run out on his personal score of 35.

With so much of limited-overs’ cricket to be played in overseas conditions, especially South Africa and England, this will allow the Indian team management to try out the various combinations and fix up certain spots before the quadrennial tournament in England next year.

Kohli and Rahane, with the 189 they added on in Durban, also went past Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid’s 158, which had remained the highest third-wicket stand for India against South Africa until Thursday. He mentioned he received “a blow on the finger” after the match, but further medical assessment on Friday (February 2) revealed that it was more serious than anticipated and will require three to six weeks to heal.

With a target of 270, Men in Blue started on a shaky ground and dismissal of openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan didn’t help either.

“India are starting to prove they can play here and this is a bumper ODI series in the offing”, said McKenzie.

Both are in fine ODI form.

But overall, India’s record against South Africa isn’t that bad as with winning percentage of 39.18, India sealed victory in 29 ODIs out of 45.