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In the end, it was a stroll. A stroll that anybody who has witnessed India’s slumping fortunes over the last couple of months could not have envisaged. Outstanding with both bat and ball, and electric in the field, India thrashed South Africa by 130 runs in their second group game of the World Cup in Melbourne on Sunday. Chasing 308, the Proteas folded up for 177 in 40.2 overs, putting up no resistance whatsoever.
India dominated right from the outset, with the new ball duo of Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami stifling South Africa early on in their chase, never letting them get away. Francois Du Plessis and skipper AB De Villers slowly rebuilt the innings after the early departures of Quinton De Kock and Hashim Amla, putting on 68 for the third wicket. But just as South Africa looked like pulling away, they lost De Villiers to a splendid piece of fielding by Mohit Sharma. Du Plessis kept the innings going, scoring a 71-ball 55. However, South Africa could never recover from that body blow, losing their last six wickets for just 44 runs. For India, offie Ravichandran Ashwin was the star of the show, picking up 3 for 41. Shami and Mohit Sharma also chipped in, picking up two wickets apiece.
Earlier, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won an important toss and chose to bat on a Melbourne Cricket Ground track that looked tailor-made for batting. After losing Rohit Sharma for a duck, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli weathered the early storm from Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, batting cautiously. Kohli made a subdued 60-ball 46, eventually falling to Imran Tahir.
Ajinkya Rahane joined Dhawan after the dismissal of Kohli, and the 125-run partnership between the pair swung the game in India’s favour. Rahane was severe on the South African bowlers, taking advantage of anything loose on offer. Dhawan, at the other end, again batted within himself and reached his seventh one-day international hundred in the process. Rahane was eventually dismissed for a dazzling 79, while Dhawan made 137. South Africa’s death bowling helped them come back strongly at the end, restricting India to a score of under 320.
This is India’s first win against South Africa in the World Cup, and incidentally, the Proteas’ heaviest loss in the history of the tournament. India next play the United Arab Emirates in Perth on Saturday.
