After a disappointing Test series, South Africa bounced back and beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in the first ODI at The Wanderers in Johannesburg and took 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. Earlier South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first and come back man Lungi Ngidi gave them a perfect start by removing both Sri Lankan openers Upul Tharanga and Niroshan Dickwella inside five overs.
Debutant Oshada Fernando and Kusal Perera's 66 runs partnership rebuilt the innings but first Tahir sent back Kusal and later Oshada Fernando got run out and they reduced to 101/4 and were in trouble but Kusal Mendis and Dananjaya de Silva's 94 runs partnership brought Sri Lanka into the game but Kusal Mendis couldn't convert his fifty into a hundred and once again Tahir broke a threating stand and triggered the collapse and Sri Lanka lost their last 6 wickets for 36 runs and bowled out for 231 runs.
In the chase, South Africa also started off poorly and lost Reeza Hendricks for just 1 run but captain Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock not only rebuilt the innings but also took away the game from Sri Lanka. They added 136 runs for the second wicket. Quinton de Kock scored 81 runs before getting out off Akila Dananjaya bowling. Later Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen's unbeaten 82* runs stand helped South Africa to get over the line in the 39th over. Captain Faf du Plessis played an outstanding knock of 112* runs.
Standout Performers -
Faf du Plessis - 112* runs off 114 balls
Quinton de Kock - 81* runs off 72 balls
Imran Tahir - 3/26
All the major stats and facts from the first ODI between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Johannesburg :
6 - This was Sri Lanka's 6th consecutive loss against South Africa in South Africa in ODI cricket.
8 - South Africa have won 8 of their 9 ODIs at The Wanderers in Johannesburg. The only defeat came at the hands of Pakistan this year in January.
11 - Faf du Plessis scored 11th hundred of his ODI career - the seventh most ODI hundreds for South Africa.
Most ODI hundreds for South Africa -
27 - Hashim Amla
25 - AB de Villiers
21 - Herschelle Gibbs
17 - Jacques Kallis
13 - Quinton de Kock / Gary Kirsten
11 - Faf du Plessis
27 - Imran Tahir has taken 27 wickets at an average of 15 in just 11 ODIs he played against Sri Lanka.
136 - Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis' 136 runs partnership for the second wicket is the third highest second partnership for South Africa against Sri Lanka in ODIs.
Highest second wicket partnerships for South Africa against Sri Lanka in ODIs -
145 - Hashim Amla / Faf du Plessis at The Oval, 2017
144 - Hashim Amla / Jacques Kallis at Paarl, 2012
136 - Quinton de Kock / Faf du Plessis at Johannesburg, 2019
111 - Boeta Dippenaar / Jacques Kallis at Paarl, 2001
