South Africa prove too strong for brittle India

Lonwabo Tsotsobe grabbed four wickets as South Africa turned in a polished performance to thrash India by 135 runs in the first one-day international in Durban. Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn also took two wickets apiece to send the tourists crumbling to 154 all out in pursuit of a 290 victory target at Kingsmead.

The home side's innings was built around a trio of half centuries from AB de Villiers (76), JP Duminy (73) and Hashim Amla (50). But India's batsmen had a terrible start and never recovered with only Virat Kohli managing any significant score with his 54. After winning the toss and batting first, South Africa openers Graeme Smith and Amla put on 21 for the first wicket before the skipper (11) skied Ashish Nehra to Rohit Sharma running back from first slip. Colin Ingram was next in and shared in a 51-run stand with Amla for the second wicket, but then pulled Munaf Patel (two for 36) straight to Nehra at mid-on for five.

Amla followed when a lofted shot cleared mid-on but allowed Harbhajan Singh to run back and take a good catch. De Villiers and Duminy then rebuilt the innings with a 131-run partnership, but both threw away the chance of reaching the three-figure mark when the part-timers were introduced. The wicketkeeper had reached 76 from 69 when he was caught by Harbhajan while attempting to pull Sharma (two for 30), with Duminy trapped lbw by the same bowler. In between their dismissals, David Miller (nine) was bowled by Suresh Raina as the Proteas limped past 250 in the 43rd over.

Johan Botha (23) and Wayne Parnell (21 not out) offered some resistance, but Zaheer Khan (two for 44) ensured the home side were restricted to 289 for nine.

It proved to be enough to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series as the Indians capitulated.