South Africa beat India in fine style to seal a comprehensive 141-run victory in the first ODI at the New Wanderers Cricket Stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday. India's bowlers faced heavy punishment, most severely from opening batsman Quinton de Kock, who went on to score an impressive 135 and help the Proteas post 358-4 in their alloted 50 overs. India were bowled out for 217 in reply, and were unable to threaten South Africa's dominance at any stage of the first ODI. The second of the three ODI matches is scheduled to take place on Sunday at Durban.
India
India's performance at Johannesburg was disappointing following their recent dominance and string of victories in the shorter format of the game, but it highlighted the importance of match practice for the Indian team on foreign pitches. Skipper MS Dhoni summed up the defeat in a press conference following the game, saying that none of the players in the side were in their best mental preparatory state, having just landed in South Africa a mere 48 hours before the first ball was bowled. India's bowling was poor, with every bowler, barring off-spinner R Ashwin, going for plenty. Dhoni was forced to use 7 bowlers in the game, and was not impressed with the teams's performance at the New Wanderers being equally critical of both the batsmen and the bowlers.
India were equally disappointing in their run chase at the Wanderers, capitulating for a total of 217 in 41 overs. MS Dhoni top-scored for India with 65, well ahead of the next highest Virat Kohli (31). Yuvraj Singh's poor run of form continued as he fell for yet another duck, while two of India's finest ODI batsmen, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina, were both run-out before either reached 20. Overall, India looked un-prepared and were lackluster on the field, and with a must win game ahead at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban this Sunday, the onus would be on the Indian players to lift their game in their respective departments against a strong South African team.
South Africa
South Africa played some fabulous cricket in the 1st ODI, dominating from the very start and seeing the game through to the very end. Wicket-keeper and opening batsman Quinton de Kock led the way for the Proteas with a blistering innings of 135 at the top of the innings, a knock which included 21 boundaries, and had shots played all over the ground. de Kock put on an opening stand of 152 inside 30 overs with Hashim Amla, but it was two further blitzes, by skipper AB de Villiers 77 (47) and JP Duminy 59* (29) that saw South Africa through to post a massive total of 358. While the pitch and out-field were favourable to the batting side, it would be wrong to take away anything from South Africa's quality batting performance at the Wanderers.
Dale Steyn led the South African charge with the ball, ending with figures of 3-25 from his 8 overs, but it was Ryan McLaren, with three crucial wickets including those of Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh to his name, who was the pick of the South African bowlers in the first ODI. South Africa brought on Morne Morkel as the first change bowler and Morkel too did a fine job, going at just over 3.50 runs/over from his 8 overs. India scored at the brisk pace right through their innings, but the South African bowlers had the game under control for most part, something AB de Villiers would hope to see his team repeat in the up-coming games against a strong Indian batting line up. South Africa's other big strength has been their fielding, and those standards were there to be seen during the first ODI at Johannesburg, with two run-outs and numerous runs saved with some tight ground-fielding.
Likely Teams
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c)(wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami.
South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (c), JP Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Prediction: India would be looking to rectify their mistakes and come back stronger in the second ODI, but playing on home soil and with all their top players in great form, South Africa look clear favourites to win the second ODI too. Though, we can expect a better performance from the Indians.
India
India's performance at Johannesburg was disappointing following their recent dominance and string of victories in the shorter format of the game, but it highlighted the importance of match practice for the Indian team on foreign pitches. Skipper MS Dhoni summed up the defeat in a press conference following the game, saying that none of the players in the side were in their best mental preparatory state, having just landed in South Africa a mere 48 hours before the first ball was bowled. India's bowling was poor, with every bowler, barring off-spinner R Ashwin, going for plenty. Dhoni was forced to use 7 bowlers in the game, and was not impressed with the teams's performance at the New Wanderers being equally critical of both the batsmen and the bowlers.
India were equally disappointing in their run chase at the Wanderers, capitulating for a total of 217 in 41 overs. MS Dhoni top-scored for India with 65, well ahead of the next highest Virat Kohli (31). Yuvraj Singh's poor run of form continued as he fell for yet another duck, while two of India's finest ODI batsmen, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina, were both run-out before either reached 20. Overall, India looked un-prepared and were lackluster on the field, and with a must win game ahead at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban this Sunday, the onus would be on the Indian players to lift their game in their respective departments against a strong South African team.
South Africa
South Africa played some fabulous cricket in the 1st ODI, dominating from the very start and seeing the game through to the very end. Wicket-keeper and opening batsman Quinton de Kock led the way for the Proteas with a blistering innings of 135 at the top of the innings, a knock which included 21 boundaries, and had shots played all over the ground. de Kock put on an opening stand of 152 inside 30 overs with Hashim Amla, but it was two further blitzes, by skipper AB de Villiers 77 (47) and JP Duminy 59* (29) that saw South Africa through to post a massive total of 358. While the pitch and out-field were favourable to the batting side, it would be wrong to take away anything from South Africa's quality batting performance at the Wanderers.
Dale Steyn led the South African charge with the ball, ending with figures of 3-25 from his 8 overs, but it was Ryan McLaren, with three crucial wickets including those of Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh to his name, who was the pick of the South African bowlers in the first ODI. South Africa brought on Morne Morkel as the first change bowler and Morkel too did a fine job, going at just over 3.50 runs/over from his 8 overs. India scored at the brisk pace right through their innings, but the South African bowlers had the game under control for most part, something AB de Villiers would hope to see his team repeat in the up-coming games against a strong Indian batting line up. South Africa's other big strength has been their fielding, and those standards were there to be seen during the first ODI at Johannesburg, with two run-outs and numerous runs saved with some tight ground-fielding.
Likely Teams
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c)(wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami.
South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (c), JP Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Prediction: India would be looking to rectify their mistakes and come back stronger in the second ODI, but playing on home soil and with all their top players in great form, South Africa look clear favourites to win the second ODI too. Though, we can expect a better performance from the Indians.
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