South Africa batsmen continued to dominate India's bowlers with captain Temba Bavuma leading the way in an easy 31-run win in the first ODI in Paarl on Wednesday.
Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen scored centuries and shared a partnership of 204 as the hosts continued their great form with the bat against India bowlers, having secured seven-wicket wins in their previous two Tests chasing 200-plus scores in the last innings.
The home side elected to bat and posted 296-4 in their 50 overs, with Bavuma’s 110 from 143 balls anchoring the innings and an unbeaten 129 not out off 96 from Van der Dussen, who scored his maiden ODI ton, providing the impetus.
India captain KL Rahul, who had taken over from Virat Kohli, made the curious decision of not using his sixth bowler Venkatesh Iyer even as his regular bowlers struggled to break the partnership. That, and the ineffectiveness of India's spinners allowed the Proteas to score freely on a low and slow pitch.
In the chase, India started well as opener Shikhar Dhawan scored 79 from 84 balls and former captain Virat Kohli 51 from 63. However, when they were dismissed the visitors struggled to keep up with the required run-rate and finished on 265-8. Shardul Thakur provided resistance with an unbeaten 50 from 43 balls, but he only managed to reduce the margin of defeat.
Andile Phehlukwayo (2-26) was the pick of the home attack and claimed the key wicket of Rishabh Pant (16), but Tabraiz Shamsi (2-52) and Lungi Ngidi (2-64) also played their part.
“It was a nice game actually. There was so much to learn,” new India captain Rahul said. “We started off well but couldn’t get wickets in the middle.
“And then when we batted, our middle order couldn’t get going. I thought we would chase it down quite easily but the South Africans came back well.”
Bavuma took his time to revive the innings after they were in trouble at 68-3 in the 18th over. The captain and Van der Dussen were particularly impressive against India spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, who picked up just one wicket between them. Once again, Jasprit Bumrah (2-48) was the pick of the tourists’ attack.
“We played close to the perfect game. We can take a lot of confidence from what we did out there,” Bavuma said. “The partnership [with Van der Dussen] was probably the decider.”
The second match in the series will be played at the same venue on Friday, with the third and final one in Cape Town on Sunday. The results do not count towards the Cricket World Cup Super League.
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
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Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
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- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
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Who inspires you?
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