Sai Sudharsan Scores Debut Half-ton Against South Africa in Massive Victory at Wanderers – News18

India cruised to a massive 8-wicket win over South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg in the first of a three-match ODI series on Sunday as the men in blue managed to bundle out the South African batting unit for a paltry 116-run total before successfully chasing down the target in just 16.4 overs.

Debutant Sai Sudharsan starred with the bat as he made an unbeaten 55 runs off just 43 deliveries to guide India to a victory over the Proteas while Shreyas Iyer added a 52-run knock in the winning cause.

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Sai Sudharsan opened the innings alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad and ensured that he would remain at the crease to help India see out the game after an astounding bowling performance from the team’s pacers.

South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first as Reeza Hendricks and Tony de Zorzi came out to bat. Team India did not have to wait too long for the breakthrough as Arshdeep Singh struck in the second over as he castled Hendricks. The pacer went on to clean out Rassie Van Der Dussen in the very next delivery.

De Zorzi and Aiden Markram pressed pause on the South African collapse for a brief period before De Zorzi was sent back to the hut by Arshdeep, who also managed to get rid of Heinrich Klaasen.

Arshdeep was supported by Avesh Khan at the other end as the 27-year-old dismissed Markram, Wiaan Mulder, David Miller and Keshav Maharaj in quick succession to claim a four-wicket haul of his own.

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Arshdeep came back into the attack to complete his five-wicket haul with the scalp of Andre Phelukwayo before Kuldeep Yadav polished off the Protea batting with his dismissal of Nandre Burger.

Chasing the low total, Gaikwad and Sudharsan opened the batting for the visitors before Gaikwad was sent back to the pavilion for just 5 runs off 10 deliveries.

However, Sudharsan and Shreyas notched up a half-century each to help India get over the line.