SA crash india by 135 runs: India vs South Africa Match review
Chasing a competent 290 runs to win under lights in Durban, the Indians were expected to struggle against the home team’s pace attack.
India got off to a bizarre start losing Murali Vijay (1) in the first over of the innings. Sachin Tendulkar (7), playing in his first ODI since last February, did not last long as well.
Virat Kohli waged a lone battle at one end while wickets continued to fall at the other end. He made a well-fought 54 runs from 70 balls with two fours and a six. Together with MS Dhoni, he put on 52 runs for the fifth wicket, the highest partnership of the Indian innings. Dhoni scored 25 runs.
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Another notable contribution came from Suresh Raina who hit two fours and a six for his 32 runs. Rohit Sharma (11) and Yuvraj Singh (2) could not contribute much and the tail folded without any fight.
For South Africa, Tsotsobe (4/31), Dale Steyn (2/29), Morne Morkel (2/12) were among the wickets. Tsotsobe was declared player of the match for this 4/31.
Earlier in SA innings, a superb century partnership between AB de Villiers and JP Duminy took hosts South Africa to a respectable 289/9.
Graeme Smith won the toss and chose to bat first. Ashish Nehra struck for India in the fourth over when he had Smith (11) caught by Rohit Sharma. Hashim Amla (50) and Colin Ingram (5) then added 51 runs for the second wicket.
Amla raced to his 50 off just 35 balls with eight boundaries. Munaf Patel (2/36) then brought India back into the game with two quick wickets.
De Villiers (76) and Duminy (73) added 131 runs for the fourth wicket in just under 22 overs and a total in excess of 300 looked feasible. However, part-timers Rohit Sharma (2/30) and Suresh Raina (1/21) took three wickets between them to reduceSouth Africa to 244/6 in the 42nd over.
Some good batting by Johan Botha (23) and Wayne Parnell (21) took the hosts to 289 runs that could prove good enough to defend. For India, Zaheer Khan (2/44), Patel (2/36) and Sharma (2/30) took two wickets apiece while Ashish Nehra proved expensive going for 61 runs in his six overs.
