Durban: Skipper Virat Kohli led from the front as India ended South Africa’s 17-match unbeaten streak at home by winning the first of the six ODIs here at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday. Kohli stitched together a 189-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane for the third wickets to help India romp home with six wickets to spare. The win is also India’s first in Durban against the hosts.
Earlier, captain Faf du Plessis anchored the team’s innings with an impressive 120 as he single-handedly took South Africa to 269 for 8. India’s leg-spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal shared five wickets among them in an impressive bowling show but Du Plessis ensured that the Proteas have a competitive total on board after opting to bat.
Du Plessis scored his eighth ODI hundred after a half-empty Kingsmead Stadium bore witness to South Africa’s top-order collapse. The hosts lost four wickets for 51 runs before Du Plessis and Chris Morris (37) rescued them with a 74-run partnership for the sixth wicket. The Protea skipper faced 112 balls from which he hit 11 fours and 2 sixes.
For India, Yadav took 3/34 and Chahal returned 2/45 as the duo excelled in their first proper overseas outing, underlining the team management’s faith in leg-spin since July last year.
South Africa won the toss and opted to bat. As expected, Aiden Markram came in for injured A B de Villiers and the hosts went in with only one spinner. India’s playing eleven was along anticipated lines, with Ajinkya Rahane slated to bat at No. 4 for the first time since January 2016.
