SA jinx haunts India

After the bowlers were belted and mauled, Indian batsmen committed hara-kiri in the middle and were gasping for breath at the end of 30 overs with the score looking a pitiable 161 for the loss of six wickets.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been waging a lone battle with an unbeaten 35. Giving him company was Ravichandran Ashwin on five.

Dressed in bright pink to raise awareness on breast cancer, the Proteas exploited the pitch conditions perfectly with the ever mean Dale Steyn sending down two maidens in his first five-over spell.

Shikhar Dhawan (12), Virat Kohli (31), Yuvraj Singh (0) and Rohit Sharma (18) failed to rise to the occasion.

Earlier, Dhoni’s boys began their African expedition on a bizarre note with the bowlers getting a feel of the form of the host team when an inspired South Africa’s batsmen collared the spineless attack all lover the park to post a massive 358 for four in its innings.

A magnificent century by opener Quibnton de Kock's century and equally clinical performances by skipper AB de Villiers and JP Duminy set the tone for a massive total.

de Kock scored a 121-ball 135 while adding 152 runs for the opening stand with Hashim Amla, who played the perfect sheet anchor for his 65. De Villiers smashed his way to a 47-ball-77 and Duminy slammed five sixes in his 29-ball essay that was worth all of 54 runs.

Dhoni's decision to bowl first boomeranged with the bowlers failing to get any purchase despite the favourable wind.

Brief Scores: South Africa 358 for four (Quinton de Kock 135, AB de Villiers 77, Hashim Amla 65, JP Duminy 59 not out, Shami Ahmed 3/68) vs India 161 for six in 30 overs ( M S Dhoni 35 not out, Virat Kohli 31, Ravindra Jadeja 29, Ryan McLaren 2/29)