India pocket huge win as Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan blows South Africa away

Team India roared off to a phenomenal start in the ODI series as they blew away South Africa in a lopsided curtain-raiser at the Wanderers. After returning empty handed in 2022 despite coming close to salvaging a win in that final game of the series, the Men in Blue posted a scintillating display which left South Africa reeling in the Bullring.

Winning the toss, South Africa opted to bat first and India’s fast-bowling duo of Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan were on song straightaway as the hosts stuttered and tumbled in front of some vicious movement with the new ball.

Reeza Hendricks was the first one to depart as Arshdeep managed to produce some late swing and the opener chopped one onto his own timbre. Rassie van der Dussen departed for a golden duck with Arshdeep managing to nip the ball back in sharply to remove him.

Aiden Markram (12) and Tony de Zorzi (28) did try and put up a fight with the latter being more explosive but that resistance proved to be a mere formality as Arshdeep continued spitting fire with the Proteas opener miscuing a pull that was pouched by KL Rahul.

An incoming Heinrich Klaasen was left befuddled as Arshdeep dished out an absolute belter that fired through the defences of the former, sending him packing for just six runs. The South African captain was next in the long parade of the hosts’ batters headed on their way to the pavilion as Avesh Khan managed to sneak one through his guard.

Wiaan Mulder had a tough call going his way and David Miller couldn’t trouble the Indian bowlers either as he nicked one, to KL Rahul making it 58/7 for the hosts.

Despite Andile Phehlukwayo’s late flourish, with very minimal resistance from the other end, South Africa’s run was snuffed out at 116. Phehlukwayo was the top-scorer for the hosts with a warring 33 while Arshdeep Singh’s fifer laced with Avesh Khan’s four-fer set India up perfectly for a soaring start to the series.

Ruturaj Gaikwad didn’t really have one of those gorgeous outings where he would simply go on a rampage to get India rolling as he fell for 5, dismissed by Wiaan Mulder. However, the early stutter did very little to dampen the Indian spirits as Sai Sudharsan and Shreyas Iyer came together in forging a match-winning partnership of 88 runs as the South African bowlers were rendered toothless.

Sudharsan stayed unbeaten for 55 which was his maiden half-century in ODIs that came on his international debut while Iyer got out for 52 when India was in the final strip of the run-chase. The visitors eventually seized an eight-wicket win to eye a historic series triumph in South Africa.