<p>India captain Shikhar Dhawan admitted that his team leaked too many runs in the death overs and fielded poorly, leading to the nine-run defeat to South Africa in the rain-hit first ODI here on Thursday.</p>.<p>Opting to bowl in the rain-curtailed 40-over-a-side game, India had reduced South Africa to 110 for 4 in 22.4 overs but David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen powered the visitors to 249 for 4.</p>.<p>While the Indian bowlers conceded 54 runs in the last five overs, the hosts were also guilty of dropping as many as four catches in the outfield.</p>.<p>"I thought 250 was too many runs. We gave away too many runs on a wicket that swung and spun, the fielding wasn't great, we leaked a few runs but this was a good learning experience for us," Dhawan said in the post-match presentation.</p>.<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/samsons-unbeaten-86-in-vain-as-india-lose-to-sa-by-9-runs-in-1st-odi-1151271.html" target="_blank">Samson's unbeaten 86 in vain as India lose to SA by 9 runs in 1st ODI</a></strong></p>.<p>South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma said his bowlers lost a bit in the middle overs with Sanju Samson (86 not out) going great guns but he was happy that they managed to hold their nerves in the end.</p>.<p>"A good fight at the end, obviously Sanju pushed us at the end, but the boys stood firm and took us to the win," he said.</p>.<p>"Bowling upfront was good, in the first 15 overs by KG and Parnell. I thought we lost our way in the middle overs, gave away far too many runs, but at the end, the result did go our way and I'm happy with that."</p>.<p>Talking about his side's batting, Bavuma said: "We lost a couple of wickets in the middle overs, myself and Aiden (Markram), but the boys knuckled down.</p>.<p>"Miller and Klaasen played positively, stung together a partnership and took us to a good score."</p>.<p>Heinrich Klaasen, who was adjudged the Player of the Match for his 74 not out off 65 balls, said it was a difficult wicket to bat.</p>.<p>Asked if the conditions were easy to bat, Klaasen said, "Not at all, the ball was moving a lot and was spinning just before I walked out to the middle.</p>.<p>"But we have worked hard in the nets, I do have a good record against India and looking forward to the rest of the games."</p>.<p>Keshav Maharaj, who took one for 23, said partnership between Miller and Klaasen was the turning point of the match.</p>.<p>"I thought Heinrich (Klaasen) came in and absorbed (the pressure) really well and David (Miller) was hitting the ball stupendously and just exploded in the back end and I think that was the difference between us and the Indian side, getting that partnership towards the end.</p>.<p>"We are just making sure that we are doing the right things and hopefully put in more performances going forward building towards the World Cup."</p>.<p>India and South Africa will now clash in the second ODI in Ranchi on Sunday.</p>
<p>India captain Shikhar Dhawan admitted that his team leaked too many runs in the death overs and fielded poorly, leading to the nine-run defeat to South Africa in the rain-hit first ODI here on Thursday.</p>.<p>Opting to bowl in the rain-curtailed 40-over-a-side game, India had reduced South Africa to 110 for 4 in 22.4 overs but David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen powered the visitors to 249 for 4.</p>.<p>While the Indian bowlers conceded 54 runs in the last five overs, the hosts were also guilty of dropping as many as four catches in the outfield.</p>.<p>"I thought 250 was too many runs. We gave away too many runs on a wicket that swung and spun, the fielding wasn't great, we leaked a few runs but this was a good learning experience for us," Dhawan said in the post-match presentation.</p>.<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/samsons-unbeaten-86-in-vain-as-india-lose-to-sa-by-9-runs-in-1st-odi-1151271.html" target="_blank">Samson's unbeaten 86 in vain as India lose to SA by 9 runs in 1st ODI</a></strong></p>.<p>South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma said his bowlers lost a bit in the middle overs with Sanju Samson (86 not out) going great guns but he was happy that they managed to hold their nerves in the end.</p>.<p>"A good fight at the end, obviously Sanju pushed us at the end, but the boys stood firm and took us to the win," he said.</p>.<p>"Bowling upfront was good, in the first 15 overs by KG and Parnell. I thought we lost our way in the middle overs, gave away far too many runs, but at the end, the result did go our way and I'm happy with that."</p>.<p>Talking about his side's batting, Bavuma said: "We lost a couple of wickets in the middle overs, myself and Aiden (Markram), but the boys knuckled down.</p>.<p>"Miller and Klaasen played positively, stung together a partnership and took us to a good score."</p>.<p>Heinrich Klaasen, who was adjudged the Player of the Match for his 74 not out off 65 balls, said it was a difficult wicket to bat.</p>.<p>Asked if the conditions were easy to bat, Klaasen said, "Not at all, the ball was moving a lot and was spinning just before I walked out to the middle.</p>.<p>"But we have worked hard in the nets, I do have a good record against India and looking forward to the rest of the games."</p>.<p>Keshav Maharaj, who took one for 23, said partnership between Miller and Klaasen was the turning point of the match.</p>.<p>"I thought Heinrich (Klaasen) came in and absorbed (the pressure) really well and David (Miller) was hitting the ball stupendously and just exploded in the back end and I think that was the difference between us and the Indian side, getting that partnership towards the end.</p>.<p>"We are just making sure that we are doing the right things and hopefully put in more performances going forward building towards the World Cup."</p>.<p>India and South Africa will now clash in the second ODI in Ranchi on Sunday.</p>