SA vs IND, 1st ODI: Arshdeep-Avesh combined 9-64 decimates SA; India go 1-0 up

South Africa vs India, 1st ODI: Arshdeep Singh's 5-37, Avesh Khan's 4-27 and Sai Sudharsan-Shreyas Iyer's 88-run stand are top performances. India beat South Africa by 8 wickets and take 1-0 lead in series.

Arshdeep Singh's 5-37 helps India beat South Africa (Photo: ©CricCrazyJohns/Twitter)

Brief Score: IND 117/2 (Sudharsan 55, Iyer 52, Mulder 1/26) beat SA 116 (Phehlukwayo 33, Arshdeep 5/37, Avesh 4/27) by 8-wickets. 

Player of the Match: Arshdeep Sigh (5/37)

India had a cakewalk chasing 117 to go 1-0 up in the series. Early on, the bowlers did a brilliant job with the new ball to unsettle the South Africa batting unit.  

India was playing its first ODI game since its heartbreak in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. South Africa, too, looked to draw a line under their WC semifinal exit. Both teams locked horns for the first three-match ODI series at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. 

Talking point: India’s breath-taking fast bowling

India’s pacer bowlers, especially Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan, were outstanding with the ball in hand. The former picked up four important wickets at the top with the new ball to unsettle South Africa. Avesh Khan, coming as the first change, contributed well with pace and aggression. 

Aggressive pace bowling gave India an 8-wicket win, going 1-0 up

On winning the toss, South Africa captain Aiden Markram opted to bat first on a used surface that could slow down later in the game. India handed the debut cap to Sai Sudharsan, while the Proteas included Nandre Burger in the playing eleven. 

South Africa struggled from the start, being reduced to 52/4 in 10 overs. They went further down to find themselves at 73/8 in the 17th over. Andile Phehlukwayo’s 33-run knock stretched their stay in the middle, as they finally were bundled out for 116 in 27.3 overs.

India didn’t have a tough ask on their hand. The 88-run second-wicket stand between Shreyas Iyer and Sai Sudharsan was enough to seal the deal. Both recorded their respective half-centuries, as India went over the line by eight wickets with 33.1 overs to spare. 

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The top three performances from the first ODI between South Africa and India in Johannesburg

Arshdeep Singh took 5-37 against South Africa (Photo: ©CricCrazyJohns/Twitter)

Arshdeep Singh blew away South Africa's top order with 5/37

With zero ODI wickets in his first three games, Arshdeep Singh came into this encounter under pressure. But he drew the first blood, sending Reeza Hendricks (0) back, who got an inside edge onto his stumps. He trapped Rassie van der Dussen (0) plum on his next delivery before the stumps. 

Tony de Zorzi (28) looked to pull Arshdeep but saw the ball balloon in the air, as the wicket-taker grabbed an easy catch. With an sharp swinging ball, the left-arm pacer knocked over Heinrich Klassen (6). Arshdeep finished with 5/37 in his 10 overs. 

Read More: SA vs IND, 2nd T20I: Hendricks' 49 helps SA overpower India in Gqeberha

Avesh Khan took 4-27 against South Africa (Photo: ©X/Twitter)

South Africa found Avesh (4/27) too hot to handle

After Arshdeep's initial damage, Avesh Khan joined him at the party. He sent back captain Markram (12), who chopped the ball onto the stumps. Wian Mulder had no clue about the straight line of his first delivery. 

David Miller (2), after showing resistance for a few balls, edged the ball to the wicket-keeper. Keshav Maharaj (4) also gave catching practice to the cover fielder. Avesh Khan finished with 4/27 in eight overs and now has seven wickets in six ODIs. 

Sudarshan-Shreyas carried India home with an 88-run stand

Chasing this low total, India was just a partnership away from achieving the win. Iyer began with a lovely straight boundary before Sai Sudaarsan guided Burger in the square region for the same result. 

The left-handed batter smashed Tabraiz Shamsi for two consecutive fours at mid-on and mid-wicket, bringing on the 50-run stand between them. He smashed his maiden fifty in 41 balls. With a six-over cow corner, Iyer, too, reached his 18th ODI fifty. The 88-run second wicket stand took India over the line. 

Read More: IND vs AUS, 5th T20I: Excellent death bowling by Arshdeep, Mukesh reaps 4-1 scoreline for India

Statistical highlights from the SA vs IND first ODI

• Reeza Hendricks was Arshdeep Singh’s first ODI wicket in the fourth game. 

• Arshdeep becomes the first Indian pacer to take a five-wicket haul against SA.

• The 28-run stand between Burger and Phehlukwayo is SA’s second-best ODI ninth-wicket stand against India. 

• Arshdeep’s 5/37 is the fourth-best bowling figure for an Indian bowler against SA. 

• 116 is SA’s lowest all-out total at home, surpassing 118 against India in 2018.

What’s to come: 

Both teams will meet for the second three-match ODI series at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.  

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