Cricket South Africa vs India 2023

'Future in safe hands' - Fans elated as India outmuscle South Africa by 8 wickets in 1st ODI of three-match series

Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan led the Indian bowling attack to outmuscle the South African batting attack in the first ODI between India and South Africa.

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Mathew K
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South Africa vs India (File Photo: Twitter)

South Africa vs India (File Photo: Twitter)

India started the three-match ODI series against South Africa with a massive 8-wicket win in the first ODI of the series. Both teams played this match at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The hosts’ skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and asked his batters to take charge first.

Batting first, the Proteas batting attack completely choked against India’s fierce pace duo of Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan. Arshdeep Singh claimed a five-wicket haul for India, alongside four wickets scalped by Avesh Khan; the duo helped India to bundle out South Africa just at the score of 116 runs in 27.3 overs.

Apart from Arshdeep and Avesh, star Indian skipper Kuldeep Yadav also picked one wicket to register his name in the list of wicket-takers on the scorecard. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh also became the first-ever Indian pacer to claim a five-wicket haul against South Africa in South Africa.

India batters made it look easy during run-chase

While chasing the target, India comfortably crossed the winning line in 16.4 overs, scoring 117 runs for the loss of just 2 wickets and won the match by a big margin of 8 wickets. The young debutant opener Sai Sudharsan scored an amazing unbeaten half-century, scoring 55 runs, with 9 fours. He also stitched a match-defining partnership of 88 runs for the second wicket with the star number 3 batter Shreyas Iyer.

Shreyas Iyer also played a half-century knock, scoring 52 runs, hitting 6 fours and a six to his name before getting out, off Andile Phehlukwayo. Wiaan Mulder and Andile Phehlukwayo scalped one wicket each for South Africa in the second innings. 

Arshdeep Singh won the 'Player of the Match award for his brilliant match-defining performance in India's favour.

Now, both teams will play the second ODI of the three-match series against each other at St. George’s Park in Gqberha on Tuesday, December 19. Notably, South Africa and India also took on each other in the recently-concluded three-match T20I series, which ended up on an equal margin of 1-1 as both teams won one match each.

Here’s how fans reacted to India’s win in the first ODI against South Africa:

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