Half centuries from Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy, coupled with a superb display of fast bowling by their bowlers saw hosts South Africa defeat India by 135 runs in the first of the five-match ODI series that began today at Kingsmead, Durban.
South African skipper Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bat first. After losing Smith (11) in the fourth over, South Africa forced themselves back into the game through an attacking half century from Hashim Amla. Amla raced to his 50 off just 35 balls with eight boundaries and put on 51 runs for the second wicket with Colin Ingram (5). Both the batsmen succumbed to Munaf Patel with in ten runs.
A superb 131-run partnership between De Villiers (76) and Duminy (73) brought the hosts back into the game. De Villiers scored at more than a ball with seven fours and a six before both the batsmen fell to the part-time spin of Rohit Sharma (2/30). Johan Botha (23) and Wayne Parnell (21) then took the hosts to 289 runs, which was a par score on this ground.
Chasing 290 to win, India lost Murali Vijay (1) off the fourth ball of the innings. He was out leg before to Dale Steyn while Sachin Tendulkar (7) succumbed trying to work Lonwabo Tsotsobe on the leg side. When Rohit Sharma (11) and Yuvraj singh (2) too failed to handle the South African pace attack, India were soon reduced to 43/4.
Virat Kohli’s half century was the only highlight of the otherwise pale Indian performance. He scored a well paced 54 runs from 70 balls with two fours and a six. MS Dhoni (25) and Suresh Raina (32) chipped in with useful contribution but could not help India succumb to a humiliating defeat. India were all out for 154 runs in the 36th over.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe was declared the man of the match for his four wicket haul. The second ODI is scheduled for January 15th 2011 at Johannesburg.