After bowling the Proteas out for 116, India chased down the target with ease to claim an eight-wicket victory in the 1st ODI at the Wanderers.
The Proteas and India played on the same wicket they played the T20I.
It was a used pitch and good weather conditions, which urged captain Aiden Markram to bat first.
The cracks on the pitch gave it a mosaic look, which the Indian bowlers took full advantage of. The inconsistent and mostly low bounce and movement made it difficult for batters to get settled in, particularly the right-handers.
A Test-match approach with the bat was essential on the wicket – assess and adapt to the conditions.
India dismissed both Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen for ducks.
Tony de Zorzi, found some swift runs but picked the wrong delivery to try the pull shot and was caught by the keeper after skying a pull shot for 28 off 22 balls.
Heinrich Klassen struggled to adapt to the pitch, and he was bowled too, Arshdeep Singh taking all four wickets by bowling a consistent and challenging line and length consistently.
Avesh Khan joined the party when Markram clipped the ball into his stumps and then he followed that up with another beauty to dismiss Wiaan Mulder lbw for a duck.
The Proteas were in a terrible situation on 52-6 after 10.2 overs.
Miller then nicked Khan to the keeper looking for a big swing, and SA were down 7 for 58 runs.
The Proteas made it to 73 runs, avoiding the lowest ODI total by them (69), and then Maharaj lost his wicket to Khan for his fourth, driving the ball to short cover.
Andile Phehlukwayo showed some fight for his 49-ball 33 to get the Proteas to 101, but he couldn’t prevent Arshdeep from getting his five-for by trapping the batter lbw.
Kuldeep Jadav wrapped things up with a googly to bowl Nandre Burger as the Proteas were all out for 116.
India chased the 117-run target down with ease. They only lost two wickets. Sai Sudharsan and Shreyas Iyer both got half-centuries, the former seeing through the whole innings.
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