Daily Times

JOHANNESBURG: Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh picked up his maiden five-wicket haul as India beat South Africa by eight wickets in the first ODI on Sunday.

Singh recorded 5-37 in 10 overs, and shared nine wickets with Avesh Khan, who took 4-27 in eight overs, as the Proteas were bowled out for a paltry 116 in 27.3 overs.

In replay, India coasted to 117-2 in 16.4 overs with debutant opener Sai Sudharsan scoring an unbeaten maiden half-century. The victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Gqeberha will host the second ODI on Tuesday, while the third will be played in Paarl on Thursday.

Opting to bat first, South Africa´s batting line-up duly collapsed. Singh bowled Reeza Hendricks for an eight-ball duck, and then trapped Rassie van der Dussen lbw for a golden duck. From 3-2 in the second over, opener Tony de Zorzi resisted and attacked the bowling. He scored 28 off 22 balls, with two fours and two sixes, before a mishit pull was caught behind.

It was one-way traffic after that, with Singh and Khan finding a lot of movement. Skipper Aiden Markram played on off Avesh Khan for 12 runs. Heinrich Klaasen was out similarly off Singh for six. Khan ran through the middle order, with David Miller caught behind for two. He then trapped Wiaan Mulder lbw for a golden duck.

There was no escape for South Africa as it went from 42-2 to 58-7 in the space of 32 deliveries.

Both pacers searched for their fifth wickets, but only Singh managed to get to the landmark. He picked up Andile Phehlukwayo lbw, after he top scored with 33 off 49 balls.