SAvIND, 1st ODI: When Quinton de Kock did India a huge favour by not using DRS despite being ‘not-out’

South Africa won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat in the first ODI against India at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban on Thursday.

Skipper Faf du Plessis had spoken about the visitors’ threat on Wednesday and the first ODI of the six-match series was being looked at as a must-win game.

The hosts, though, managed to peg themselves back quite early on in the match on Thursday.

South Africa got off to a decent start thanks to openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock. The run-rate wasn’t very high in the first five overs but they hadn’t lost a wicket.

India, though, struck soon enough with Jasprit Bumrah trapping Amla in front. The experienced right-hander wisely chose to not take a review, the ball was indeed crashing in to his stumps.

While Amla’s decision against taking a review was right, De Kock got it all wrong a few overs later.

The left-hander missed a delivery from leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal as he tried to find the mid-wicket gap. The Indians went up in appeal and the umpire didn’t hesitate in raising his finger.

De Kock was batting well on 34 off 49 at that time and his presence would’ve surely propelled …read more