India crush South Africa in 1st ODI

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 17 (AFP): Pace bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan set up a convincing eight-wicket win for India in the first one-day international against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.

Left-armer Arshdeep took five for 37 and Avesh claimed four for 27 as South Africa crashed to 116 all out.

New cap Sai Sudharsan and Shreyas Iyer hit half-centuries as India needed just 16.4 overs to reach the target.

Indian captain KL Rahul said he had expected India's spinners to play a prominent role on the same pitch on which spin had prevailed in a Twenty20 international on Thursday.

"It was completely different to what we expected," Rahul said at the post-match presentation.

"There was a lot of help in the wicket and the boys bowled really well."

Kuldeep Yadav was the only spinner used, taking the last wicket at a cost of three runs in 2.3 overs.