Miller and Klaasen’s half-centuries, South Africa scored 249 for four

South Africa scored 249 for four in 40 overs against India in the rain-hit first one-dayer of the three-match series here on Thursday with half-centuries from David Miller (75 not out) and Heinrich Klaasen (74 not out). South Africa lost four wickets for 110 runs. But after this, Miller (five fours, three sixes in 63 balls) and Klaasen (six fours, two sixes in 65 balls) put their team beyond 250 runs with an unbeaten 139-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

For India, Shardul Thakur took two wickets for 35 runs in eight overs. The start of the match was delayed due to rain and it was reduced to 40 overs. After being invited to bat, South Africa made a slow start and scored 41 runs in 10 overs for the loss of a wicket. Indian captain Shikhar Dhawan’s decision to bowl was proved right by the new ball bowlers Mohammad Siraj and Avesh Khan.

Siraj initially troubled the South African batsmen by swinging the ball both ways but could not take any wickets. Dhawan hit Thakur in the ninth over and it was only after two balls that this fast bowler gave his team the first opportunity in which Jaaneman Malan touched his ball and he could have been dismissed by Shubman Gill at first slip but this Indian The fielder could not catch it.

But Thakur made Malan his victim after four overs when the ball touched his bat and fell into Shreyas Iyer’s hands at short midwicket. Debutant leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi conceded 31 runs in his first three overs. South African captain Temba Bavuma (08) hit Bishnoi for a four in the 14th over with a reverse sweep and then the next ball across the boundary with a drive. Thakur then took his second wicket in the form of Bavuma.

Kuldeep Yadav bowled Aidan Markram with his excellent leg spin and did not even allow him to open the account. Quinton de Kock continued to play his innings standing at one end but in the 23rd over, he was dismissed leg before by Bishnoi. De Kock scored 48 runs in 54 balls with the help of five fours. After his departure, South Africa’s score was 110 for four in the 23rd over. Two overs later, Miller hit Bishnoi for the first six of the innings against the hosts at long on.

Miller and Klaasen then fired aggressively against the opponent’s bowlers to collect runs. Miller, playing with restraint and alertness, took loose deliveries to the boundary and completed his 18th fifty in 50 balls with four fours and a six. Klaasen also soon completed his fourth fifty in ODIs for which he took 52 balls. Bowling problems continued in the ‘death over’ as Miller and Klaasen completed a century partnership in just 84 balls. India also performed poorly in the fielding during the match and dropped four catches.