After losing the 3 matches test series by 2-1 against South Africa, Indian team came up in the ground to bestow a spectacular start in six matches ODI series.
After winning the toss RSA team chose to bat first. Even, after losing the early wicket of consistent opener Hashim Amla. De Kock and Faf Duplessis 53 runs partnership gave a strength to the scorecard and reach the score up to 83 runs. Afterwards losing de Kock on Chahal delivery, African batting order faltered from the one end and started losing the wickets in continuation without holding a big partnership. Although, from the other end skipper Faf Duplessis played a crucial inning and made 120 runs contribution in the total of 269 runs.
While Indian spin attack was so frugal in the economy rate and helped to bring six players to back the pavilion. Comparatively pacer was ineffective, bit expensive in the economy and only could succeed to take two wickets.
While chasing a total of 270 runs, Indian team beginning wasn’t benign and lost its both openers wickets on the score of 67 runs. But, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and middle order backbone Ajinkya Rahane build a formidable 189 runs partnership and reach the team score up to 256 runs. Though Rahane couldn’t get the hundred and caught on the long-on at the individual score of 79 runs on the delivery of Phehlukwayo. Thereafter in the next over of the same pacer, Phehlukwayo got the Kohli on the fine leg in Rabada hands at the individual score of 112 runs.
A bit too late in the evening, Africa succeeds to get Kohli wicket. In the counting, the run-machine scales ton number 33 comprises 10 fours in 119 balls.
Seemingly a defensive total of Africa was shattered behind the sublime partnership of Kohli and Rahane. Although an African middle order batting virtuoso AB Divilliers wasn’t in the squad of first three ODIs. So his absence could consider a big factor for the under 300 total.
Where Indian spinners were the key factor of the match, even African solo regular spinner Imran Tahir and part-time spinner JP Duminy couldn’t pick up a single wicket.
0
