Tsotsobe leads South Africa to emphatic win

DURBAN, South Africa, (Reuters) – Lonwabo Tsotsobe  received the man of the match award after his four wickets led  South Africa to a crushing 135-run win over India in the first  one-day international at Kingsmead yesterday.

A century partnership between AB de Villiers and JP Duminy  steered the home team, after winning the toss, to an imposing  total of 289 for nine before left-arm seamer Tsotsobe and his  fellow bowlers skittled India for 154.

“I thought we bowled really well and Lonwabo and Morne  Morkel bowled a terrific 10-over spell with the new ball,” South  Africa skipper Graeme Smith told a news conference.
“It was great to see the bounce and control they showed. We  have worked hard on adapting our skills after the test series  and it showed tonight.”

Dale Steyn trapped Murali Vijay lbw for a single in the  first over and Tsotsobe claimed the key wicket when he had  Sachin Tendulkar caught at fine leg for seven.
Lanky fast bowler Morkel made life hell for the middle-order  with an opening spell of two for nine in four overs, removing  Rohit Sharma (11) and Yuvraj Singh (2).

FREAK DISMISSAL

Virat Kohli and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni then put on 52  in 12 overs before Dhoni’s freak run-out brought India to their  knees.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was on 25 when Kohli’s fierce  straight drive was deflected back on to the non-striker’s stumps  by paceman Wayne Parnell.

Kohli top-scored with 54 before he flicked Steyn to a  leaping Smith at square-leg. Suresh Raina then added 32 in a  losing cause.

Tsotsobe finished with four for 31 while Morkel claimed two  for 12 and Steyn two for 29.
“If we had got off to a good start we would have fancied our  chances,” said Dhoni. “There was a bit of bounce in the wicket  but it wasn’t very fast and the ball was not doing a lot.”
Earlier, De Villiers (76) and Duminy (73) put on 131 for the  fourth wicket to lift South Africa after they slumped to 82 for  three, Graeme Smith (11), Colin Ingram (5) and Hashim Amla (50  off 36 balls) falling to cross-batted shots.

De Villiers collected seven fours and a six before he pulled  part-time off-spinner Sharma to Harbhajan Singh at deep  mid-wicket.

Sharma then trapped Duminy leg before as the left-hander  attempted a reverse sweep.
Left-armer Zaheer Zhan claimed two for 44, fellow paceman  Munaf Patel took two for 36 and Sharma picked up two for 30.

The second game in the five-match series is in Johannesburg  on Saturday.