Arshdeep takes five in easy win

Sai Sudharsan and Shreyas Iyer hit fifties as India chase 117 to beat South Africa by 8 wickets in first ODI

- Vivek Krishnan 

Arshdeep Singh's maiden five-wicket haul for India was the cornerstone of their eight-wicket victory over South Africa in the first ODI on Sunday. The conditions were helpful for the pace bowlers on a bright morning in Johannesburg, enabling Arshdeep (10-037-5) and Avesh Khan (8-3-27-4) to wreak havoc and skittle South Africa for 116 - their lowest total at the Wanderers Stadium.

India needed just 16.4 overs to wipe off the modest target. Debutant B Sai Sudharsan couldn't have asked for a smoother beginning to his ODI career, easing to an unbeaten 55 off 43 balls under minimal pressure after a brisk partnership with Shreyas Iyer (52).

South Africa skipper Aiden Markram chose to bat presuming that the used pitch would get more difficult for batting later in the game.

He must have realized his folly when he had to stride out at 3/2 and survive Arshdeep's hat-trick ball in the second over. He conceded after the game that he got it wrong at the toss.