India in South Africa, 3 ODI Series, 2023 |1st ODI |12/17/2023 The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Commentary
Right then, that is it from Super Sunday at the Wanderers and the Indian bowlers have yet again got the better of the South African batting lineup. All is not lost yet for the Proteas as there are still a couple of more games to go and the 2nd ODI will be played on Tuesday, 19 December at St George's Park in Gqeberha. That game will begin at 4.30 pm IST (11 am GMT) but you can catch our build-up to that game a lot sooner. Cheers!
KL Rahul, the skipper of India talks about being very happy winning the first-ever ODI here as a captain. He says that the plan was a very different one for this game as he wanted the spinners to come into play soon but the fast bowlers did an amazing job of picking those wickets at the start. He further adds that the mindset has been a very positive one even after the World Cup and it's turning the shape for him to accept new challenges in all the formats of the game. Ends by saying that it has been a great game of cricket and they will look to take this momentum forward in the series.
Arshdeep Singh is the Player of the Match for his match-winning spell. Arshdeep says that he is a bit sore but he is loving the moment and goes on to thank the Almighty and the coaching staff. Adds that he came to know about the different conditions here after running in for 3-4 overs. Mentions that personally it feels good and it's always a dream to play for your country and bowl the difficult overs and he also thanks KL Rahul for backing him to get the five-for. Mentions that it is about enjoying the moment and then moving on to the new place and assessing conditions well.
Aiden Markram, the skipper of South Africa starts by talking about the game as being a tough one. Adds that it was his decision to bat first and put runs on the board but gives credit to the Indian bowlers for bowling brilliantly. He also adds that usually the ball moves around for 7-8 overs but today it went on to move around for a lot more. The mindset was to be aggressive and score good runs on the board. He finishes by saying that if asked again he would not have batted first.
The Presentation ceremony...
Earlier in the game, Aiden Markram decided to bat first in the 'Pink ODI' at the Wanderers but it all went haywire for South Africa in the opening few overs itself. Arshdeep Singh rocked them with a double strike in the second over of the game and then the pair of Tony de Zorzi and Markram did offer some resistance. KL Rahul persisted with Arshdeep and he picked up another wicket after which Avesh Khan came on and picked up the pieces by running through the middle order. The Proteas were 73/8 at one stage but Andile Phehlukwayo played a little gem of a knock to take his side over the 100-run mark. Avesh finished with four and Arshdeep who picked up his first ODI wicket after playing 3 matches, also picked up a five-wicket haul in the same game. Coming to the chase, it was the class of Sai Sudharsan and the aggression of Shreyas Iyer that took India over the line with plenty of overs to spare.
South Africa were always going to be up against it after that dismal batting performance but the frontline pacers did show signs of life. Debutant Nandre Burger should have had a wicket but they didn't review an LBW decision and then Wiaan Mulder did pick up a wicket as this time the LBW was reviewed. That was as good as it got for the Proteas and it was one-way traffic after that as neither the pacer nor the spinners could even create a wicket-taking opportunity. Andile Phehlukwayo did pick up a consolation wicket right at the end but it made no impact on the outcome of the game.
Signed, sealed and delivered! India with a thumping victory over hosts South Africa at the 'Bullring' in Johannesburg to take a 1-0 series lead and it really was a high-class all-round performance from the Men in Blue. Needing a meager 117 runs for victory, the debutant Sai Sudharsan started off in fine fashion hitting a few classy boundaries but did get lucky with one LBW decision. His partner, Ruturaj Gaikwad though looked a bit shaky and was soon dismissed. Shreyas Iyer then walked in and started playing his shots, not quite middling it but every now and then, there was a fine shot from his bat. Sudharsan on the other hand played a classy knock and the pair brought up their fifties in the same over. Iyer did get caught trying to finish things in a hurry but the debutant stayed on and got his side over the line with ease.
16.4
1
Nandre Burger to Tilak Varma, Short and on the pads and Tilak Varma flicks it down to fine leg to bring up the winning runs for his team. Its India who wins a comfortable match with first their bowling and now by a superb display of batting with 8 wickets in just 16.4 overs.
16.3
0
Nandre Burger to Tilak Varma, Bangs in short outside the off stump line. Tilak Varma ducks down and lets the ball go through.
16.2
1
Nandre Burger to Sai Sudharsan, DROPPED! That would have been another small delay for India. Short ball outside the off stump and Sai Sudharsan wanted to play the upper cut, in the end, edges it straight to the man at 2nd slip and Reeza Hendricks who wasn't expecting it to come his way drops it and the batters pick up a single. Scores are tied.
16.1
4
Nandre Burger to Sai Sudharsan, FOUR! Sai Sudharsan looks in a hurry to finish things off for his team. Pitched up on the off stump line and he has hammered it straight past the bowler beating mid off to his left for another boundary. India need 2 runs to win the match.
END OF OVER 16 | 15 Runs & 1 Wkt | IND 111/2
15.6
0
Andile Phehlukwayo to Tilak Varma, Pitched up outside the off stump. Tilak Varma takes the front foot out and pushes the ball straight to covers.
Drinks break! With just another 6 runs needed for the win, the umpires call for a breather. India have been dominant right from the start of the match and are on the cusp of winning the match comfortably. With that said, Tilak Varma walks out to bat next.
15.5
W
Andile Phehlukwayo to Shreyas Iyer, OUT! CAUGHT! Just when India was about to reach the finish line, its Shreyas Iyer who loses his wicket. Short ball outside the off stump, with pace off and Shreyas Iyer looks to hit it straight again but could only get a top edge high into the sky for David Miller to take an easy catch around the point region. India lose their second.
15.4
6
Andile Phehlukwayo to Shreyas Iyer, Six! What a shot by Shreyas Iyer to bring up his FIFTY. Length ball on the stumps and Shreyas Iyer heaves the ball over mid on taking it flat and all the way outside the boundary line for a maximum.
15.3
4
Andile Phehlukwayo to Shreyas Iyer, FOUR! Its Shreyas Iyer who joins the party this time. Pitched up on the stumps and Shreyas Iyer flicks the ball way over the mid-wicket fielder for another boundary of the over.
15.2
1
Andile Phehlukwayo to Sai Sudharsan, That is a brilliant FIFTY on debut for Sai Sudharsan. Short ball and is pulled away to deep square leg for a single to bring it up. What an innings.
15.1
4
Andile Phehlukwayo to Sai Sudharsan, FOUR! What a classic cover drive through the gap for a boundary! Pitched up outside the off stump and Sai Sudharsan takes the front foot out and creams the ball through covers and mid off for a superb boundary.
END OF OVER 15 | 8 Runs & 0 Wkt | IND 96/1
14.6
1
Tabraiz Shamsi to Sai Sudharsan, Just short at the stumps. Sai Sudharsan taps the ball to long off and runs a single.
14.5
4
Tabraiz Shamsi to Sai Sudharsan, FOUR! That is swept away nicely for a superb boundary by Sai Sudharsan. Pitched up ball outside the leg stump with square leg inside the circle is a huge mistake and Sai Sudharsan made Tabraiz Shamsi realize that by sweeping the ball hard to the left of square leg for a handsome boundary.
14.4
1
Tabraiz Shamsi to Shreyas Iyer, Just short at the stumps. Shreyas Iyer flicks the ball to deep mid-wicket for a single.
14.3
1
Tabraiz Shamsi to Sai Sudharsan, Pitched up on the off stump. Sai Sudharsan drives the ball through to long off and takes a single.