South Africa beat India by 31 runs to take 1-0 lead in the three-match cricket ODI series at the Boland Park in Paarl last night.
Earlier, South Africa posted 296 for four in the stipulated 50 overs riding on skipper Temba Bavuma’s 110 off 143 balls and Rassie van der Dussen 129 not out off 96 balls. The duo added 204 runs for the fourth wicket which is the second-highest partnership for Proteas for any wicket against India in ODIs. Van der Dussen was adjudged player of the match. For India, Jasprit Bumrah picked two wickets while Ravichandran Ashwin got one.
In reply, India could only score 265 for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs with the help of Shikhar Dhawan’s 79 off 84 balls, Virat Kohli’s 51 off 63, and Shardul Thakur’s unbeaten fifty off 43 balls.
Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Andile Phehlukwayo picked two wickets each while Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj got one each for the home team.
The 33-year-old Kohli has become India’s highest run-scorer in ODIs on foreign soil, during the match, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar who had made 5,065 runs.
The hosts won the toss and chose to bat in the first of the three-match series. KL Rahul is leading the team India in the series as Rohit Sharma failed to recover from a hamstring injury.
The second one-dayer will be played at the same venue tomorrow at 2 pm Indian time.