Durban - South Africa managed to notch a win in their first of a five-match One Day International (ODI) series against India - defeating their opponents by 135 runs at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead.
The Proteas won the toss, elected to bat and posted a comprehensive 289 for nine after 50 overs.
Hashim Amla (50) and Colin Ingram (5) steadied the ship after the early loss of Graeme Smith (11), putting on 55 runs together.
AB de Villiers and JP Duminy were just superb, scoring 131 runs off 132 balls for the fourth-wicket.
De Villiers raced to 76 off 69 balls (seven fours and a six), while Duminy hit 73 off 89 (one four and a six).
The Indian spinners again challenged the Proteas batsmen - four spinners were used for 27 overs, which resulted in South Africa losing four wickets and only scoring 139 runs during this period.
Meanwhile, Lonwabo Tsotsobe ripped into the Indian batting line-up, taking four wickets and earning himself the man of the match award. The left-arm quick bowler figures were impressive, with four for 31 off 8.4 overs.
India, bowled out for 154 in 35.4 overs, had a disastrous start, losing four early wickets.
Dale Steyn claimed the first wicket off Murali Vijay in the first over for just one run.
Sachin Tendulkar (7) was next to go - he fell victim to Tsotsobe, who said in a post-match presentation that the Indian maestro's wicket was always the nicest to get.
Morne Morkel traumatised the middle-order when he quickly dismissed Rohit Sharma (11) and Yuvraj Singh (2) in his opening spell.
Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave India slight hope with a 52-run fifth-wicket partnership.
Kohil top scored for India with 57 off 70 balls, while Dhoni made 25 runs from 35 balls. But the Indian skipper lost his wicket under unfortunate circumstances when he was run out at the non-striker's end while backing up.
India's task thereafter became too much to bear. Suresh Raina soldiered on for 32 runs before falling prey to Tsotsobe.
The lower order collapsed completely with three wickets taken for just eight runs.
The second game will be played on Saturday in Johannesburg.
