India v/s South Africa 1st ODI: Hosts draw the first blood in the 3-Match Series

India were comprehensibly beaten by 141 runs by South Africa in the 1st ODI at the Wanderers, Johannesburg. Having been set a target of 359 runs, India managed to score only 217 runs with none of the top order batsmen able to make any telling contribution.

Put into first batting by MS Dhoni, South Africa scored a mammoth 358/4 in 50 overs courtesy a brilliant century by Quinton de Kock. Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy also played their part in the huge score with each scoring well made half centuries. Quinton de Kock scored a fiery knock of 135 runs off just 121 deliveries. This was the 20-year-old’s 2nd ODI century. He was involved in a 152 runs opening partnership with Hashim Amla which set the foundation for a big total. Hashim Amla scored a patient 65 runs before being bowled by Mohammed Shami. Veteran batsman Jacques Kallis was out cheaply but de Kock and AB de Villiers consolidated before de Kock perished with the score board reading 247/3. JP Duminy was the next man in and together with de Villiers brutally took the attack to the Indians bowlers as South Africa plundered 111 runs in just 49 balls. AB de Villiers scored 77 off 47 balls while Duminy was not out at 55 from just 29 deliveries. For the Indians, Shami was the pick of the bowlers taking 3 wickets for 68 runs. 

Chasing an improbable target, India were put into back put from the first over itself by some fiery fast bowling from the home team’s pace bowlers. The South African bowlers did not give the Indian batsmen any chance to settle down and India lost wickets at regular intervals. For the Indians, only captain MS Dhoni played a lone hand with a well-made 65 runs. For the South Africans, Dale Steyn and Ryan Mclaren both took 3 wickets. 

The 2nd ODI is on 8th December at Kingsmead, Durban.

Summarized Scores:

South Africa 358/4 in 50 overs (Quinton de Kock 135, Mohammed Shami 3/68)
India 217/10 in 41 overs ( MS Dhoni 65, Dale Steyn 3/25)