DURBAN, South Africa, (Reuters) – Lonwabo Tsotsobe received the man of the match award after his four wickets led South Africa to a crushing 135-run win over India in the first one-day international at Kingsmead yesterday.
A century partnership between AB de Villiers and JP Duminy steered the home team, after winning the toss, to an imposing total of 289 for nine before left-arm seamer Tsotsobe and his fellow bowlers skittled India for 154.
“I thought we bowled really well and Lonwabo and Morne Morkel bowled a terrific 10-over spell with the new ball,” South Africa skipper Graeme Smith told a news conference.
“It was great to see the bounce and control they showed. We have worked hard on adapting our skills after the test series and it showed tonight.”
Dale Steyn trapped Murali Vijay lbw for a single in the first over and Tsotsobe claimed the key wicket when he had Sachin Tendulkar caught at fine leg for seven.
Lanky fast bowler Morkel made life hell for the middle-order with an opening spell of two for nine in four overs, removing Rohit Sharma (11) and Yuvraj Singh (2).
FREAK DISMISSAL
Virat Kohli and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni then put on 52 in 12 overs before Dhoni’s freak run-out brought India to their knees.
The wicketkeeper-batsman was on 25 when Kohli’s fierce straight drive was deflected back on to the non-striker’s stumps by paceman Wayne Parnell.
Kohli top-scored with 54 before he flicked Steyn to a leaping Smith at square-leg. Suresh Raina then added 32 in a losing cause.
Tsotsobe finished with four for 31 while Morkel claimed two for 12 and Steyn two for 29.
“If we had got off to a good start we would have fancied our chances,” said Dhoni. “There was a bit of bounce in the wicket but it wasn’t very fast and the ball was not doing a lot.”
Earlier, De Villiers (76) and Duminy (73) put on 131 for the fourth wicket to lift South Africa after they slumped to 82 for three, Graeme Smith (11), Colin Ingram (5) and Hashim Amla (50 off 36 balls) falling to cross-batted shots.
De Villiers collected seven fours and a six before he pulled part-time off-spinner Sharma to Harbhajan Singh at deep mid-wicket.
Sharma then trapped Duminy leg before as the left-hander attempted a reverse sweep.
Left-armer Zaheer Zhan claimed two for 44, fellow paceman Munaf Patel took two for 36 and Sharma picked up two for 30.
The second game in the five-match series is in Johannesburg on Saturday.