South Africa vs India 2018, 1st ODI: Things which went right for the visitors

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India chased down 270 in 45.3 overs, to beat South Africa by 6 wickets in the first ODI of the six-match series in Durban on Thursday.

Riding on Virat Kohli's 112 off 119 deliveries, India completed the highest successful chase against South Africa at Kingsmead in ODIs. The previous highest was 268 chased by Australia in 2002. 

Virat Kohli & Co. also ended South Africa's 17-game winning streak at home as they went 1-0 up in the ODI series.

Interestingly, this was the first-ever ODI played in South Africa where both the teams' captains, Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli, scored a century each.

The second ODI will be played on Sunday, February 4 at Centurion.

Now, let us have a look at the factors that led to India's win.

#5 Ajinkya Rahane at number 4

Ajinkya Rahane proved to be a solid reply to India's number 4 conundrum as he produced a scintillating knock of 79 off 86 balls as India chased down South Africa's target of 270 with 27 balls remaining.

Rahane, who had been struggling with his form in the longest format of the game, brought up his fifth ODI fifty on the trot to shut down his detractors and cement is place in India's batting line-up for the rest of the series.

India were in a spot of bother after losing openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma early, but, Rahane turned out to be an able partner for skipper Virat Kohli as they brought up a 189-run stand, the second highest by an Indian pair against in South Africa against South Africa in ODIs, to take the visitors in the touching distance of a comfortable win.

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