SA vs IND 1st ODI: Du Plessis' fighting ton lifts South Africa

Durban: South African skipper Faf du Plessis exhibited excellent batting and leadership skills in the first One Day International (ODI) against India by smashing a brilliant hundred at the Kingsmead Durban here on Thursday.

Through his ninth huundred in 50-over Cricket, Du Plessis took his struggling side to a challenging total of 269/8 runs.

He scored 120 runs off 112 deliveries with the help of 11 fours and 2 sixes. He exploited the Indian bowling in the testing conditions despite consistent fall of wickets at the other end.

Hashim Amla (16 off 17, 1 four) was the first Proteas batsman to depart as he was trapped in front of the wickets by Jasprit Bumrah.

Quinton de Kock (34 off 49, 4 fours) was the next to return to the pavilion. He also got LBW off the bowling of Yuzvendra Chahal.

Aiden Markram (9 off 21) also failed to perform as Hardik Pandya took a sharp catch off the bowling of Chahal.

Experienced South African batsman JP Duminy was looking good bout could not go beyond 12 runs off 18 balls with 1 four. He became the first victim of Kuldeep Yadav who went on to get two more wickets later.

Also Read: SA vs IND 1st ODI: South Africa wins toss; India to bowl

Explosive left-arm batsman David Miller was also trapped by Kuldeep at the individual score of 7 runs off 7 balls. He found the ropes on one occassion.

All-rounder Chris Morris, however, played a crucial inning of 37 runs off only 43 balls when their team was looking in great trouble. He came in to bat when Proteas team was reeling under pressure at 134/5.

He stitched a 74-run partnership with Du Plessis before falling to Kuldeep. Their partnership brough the home team back into the match.

Andile Phehlukwayo also contributed amazingly well when most of the batsmen had failed to live up to the expectations. He remained unbeaten at 27 runs off 33 balls with one four and a six.

Kagiso Rabada, who is capable of big hitting, got run out at the individual score of 1 run. Morne Morkel also remained unbeaten without facing any balls.

Kuldeep was the pick of the bowlers as he bagged 3 wickets while the other wrist-spinner Chahal took two scalps. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah bagged a wicket each, while Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya remained wicket-less.

India surely have got a big task to achieve as it is not going to be easy to chase a target as big as 270 on a tough wicket in front of a fierce pace attack.