Southampton,June 5: India started their campaign in the ICC World Cup 2019 on a winning note as they defeated South Africa by 6 wickets in a low-scoring game on Wednesday (June 5) at Southampton.
Rohit Sharma slammed his career's 23rd ODI century and carried his bat through as India overhauled the total of 228 from 50 overs in 47.3 overs. The Mumbaikar remained unbeaten on 122 while all-rounder Hardik Pandya hit the winning runs for his team.
CWC 2019 Special Site | Full Schedule | INDvsSA: Highlights
With KL Rahul (26) Rohit stiched a partnership of 85, and the later with MS Dhoni (34) the stylish batsman added another 70-plus runs and ensured India reached home without any trouble. Dhoni was dismissed when India were 15 short of the target as Rohit and Hardik closed the game.
Shikhar Dhawan (8) and Virat Kohli (18) were not as effective with the bat in the run chase as they were dismissed by a clinical South Africa pace attack. Kagiso Rabada (2/39) and Chris Morris (1/36) were the standout performers for their team as they bowled their hearts out while defending a below-par total.
Earlier in the day, Yuzvendra Chahal (4/51) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/35) shined with the ball for India as the Men In Blue limited the Proteas to a low total. Chris Morris (42) and captain Faf du Plessis (38) were the top-scorers for their team as a disciplined bowling effort from the Indians prevented them from posting a decent total on the board.
Here's how the match between India and South Africa panned out:
Kohli, India captain: The wait was very long and then you get a game like this where it was challenging throughout. We might not have had the run rate, but if you look at how the game went and how the pitch behaved, it was challenging. Hats off to Rohit, and also the guys who batted around him. We were going to bowl first. Jasprit is operating at a different level to be honest. Chahal was outstanding as well. There's one thing to see a bowler bowl, but to catch that ball, to feel the heaviness of it. When I caught it, I could feel the pain for 15 minutes. With the new ball he was absolutely outstanding. Haven't seen Amla get out like that. Even Quinny, he rushed him for pace. The first win is always important. On the field, we were confident as a group. With the bat, we had to work our way through. That's where Rohit's innings was very very special. KL batted really well with him. Then MS showed great composure. Hardik finished well too. He looks in a good headspace.
Faf du Plessis, South Africa captain: I thought India were magnificent on a tough pitch. They bowled really well. Their bowling attack is strong. All bases covered. Fast bowlers initially and spinners who get wickets. We clawed back with the bat again. Some great batting by Rohit, a bit of luck, but he did what we didn't do - saw the innings through. The build-up to the match, a lot of runs were scored, and the make-up of our team, with the fast-bowling resources gone, we went with spin. If we had Ngidi, we would have the chance to attack with overcast conditions. Rabada was an absolute champion - he was extremely unlucky, and I have never seen so many balls falling in no-mans land, but he and Morris were excellent today, bowling with pace and good control and even got 40-odd runs today. They were the two stand-out performers today. The change-room is hurting. We are making mistakes all the time - today the mistake was one guy not batting through the innings. To have so many 30s and 40s is not acceptable at a World Cup.
50th ODI victory for Virat Kohli as captain. He might not have fared with the bat but he was great as captain.
50th ODI win for Virat Kohli as captain and he is the quickest among all captains from the subcontinent to do so, taking only 69 matches.#CWC19 #SAvIND #INDvSA
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) June 5, 2019
Rohit Sharma wins the man of the match award for his unbeaten knock.
Rohit Sharma, Man of the Match: Different experience from India. There was something in it for the bowlers through the game, so you had to play out the overs initially and see what the ball was doing. Certain shots that I like playing, I had to cut out and play close to the body, and follow the basics properly. Building partnerships were key in this chase. It was a small total, but since there was something in it for the bowlers, it was tough and we needed partnerships. It's the batsmen's job to get the job done. We can't rely on one of two individuals all the time. That's been the hallmark of this team over the last two years - someone always puts their hand up and takes the responsibility to take the team across the line. That's the beauty of playing in England - the weather has been good, and overcast, so you don't sweat too much like in India,. It wasn't a typical Rohit Sharma innings, but I had to play out the overs initially to make sure that the job is done.
It's all over! Hardik hits the winning shot. India beat South Africa by 6 wickets and they start their World Cup 2-2019 campaign on a winning note. Great all round performance from Team India. Rohit Sharma carries his bat through with 122*.
South Africa have succumbed to their third consecutive defeat in the tournament. It is the first occasion when Proteas have suffered a hat trick of losses in the World Cup. But they looked a better side with the ball.
Hardik Pandya is looking in a hurry to finish this game quickly for his team. India need 5 runs to win and have 18 balls in hand.
Four! Hardik Pandya gets off the mark with a boundary off Chris Morris. India need 10 more runs to win.
Wicket! MS Dhoni (34) mistimes and Chris Morris takes a well-judged catch off his own bowling. A bit of anti-climax for India this. India - 213/4 in 46.1 overs.
0,2,1,0,1,1! 5 runs came from Kagiso Rabada's final over. He finishes with the impressive figures of 2/39. India - 213/3 in 46 overs, they need 15 more from 24 deliveries.
10 runs came from Imran Tahir's final over of the match. He finishes with 10-0-58-0. India reach 208/3 in 45 overs. 20 needed from 30 deliveries now.
5 runs came from that Rabada over and India reach 198/3 in 44 overs. They need 30 runs from 36 deliveries.
DROPPED! David Miller drops a sitter as Rohit gets a life late on. Nothing going South Africa's way. Kagiso Rabada couldn't believe his luck. It could have been a game-changing moment.
12 centuries for Rohit under Virat Kohli's captaincy.
Most ODI 100s by Indians under a particular captain:
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) June 5, 2019
19 Virat under Virat (3.47 inns/100)
19 Virat under MSD (7.00)
18 Sachin under Azhar (8.67)
13 Sachin under Sourav (7.62)
12 Rohit under Virat (4.75)#CWC19 #SAvIND #INDvSA
26th Century for India in the World Cup.
Rohit Sharma registers India's 26th #CWC century and overall the 168th in CWC history!
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 5, 2019
India now equals the tally of Australia - now the two sides with most individual centuries (26) in CWC!#CWC19 #CWC2019 #INDvSA #SAvIND
Century! Rohit Sharma gets to his 23rd ODI ton, his second in the World Cup. This one came off 128 deliveries. This is a brilliant start to his WC campaign.
Most ODI hundreds for India:
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) June 5, 2019
49 S Tendulkar
41 #ViratKohli
23 ROHIT SHARMA
22 S Ganguly
16 S Dhawan
15 V Sehwag#INDvSA #TeamIndia #CWC19
India are 171/3 in 40 overs. They need 57 more runs from 60 deliveries. Dhoni - 17* Rohit - 97*
Rohit Sharma completes 3000 ODI runs under Virat Kohli (in 57 innings).
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) June 5, 2019
Among all Indians who have scored 3000+ ODI runs under a captain (including themselves) only one has reached the mark in fewer innings than Rohit - Virat himself ! (49 innings).#CWC19 #SAvsIND #INDvsSA
FOUR!! MS Dhoni ends Morris' over with a boundary. It was short-pitched deliveries and Dhoni gave him the treatment. India - 164/3 in 38 overs. They need 64 runs in 72 deliveries.
SA skipper Faf du Plessis brings back Andile Phehlukwayo into the attack and put some pressure on the Indian middle-order.
Another milestone for Rohit.
Going past 12,000 international runs the Hitman way 😅💙#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #CWC19 #TeamIndia #SAvIND https://t.co/oJT9JPVUzG
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) June 5, 2019
150 comes up for India in the 35th over. Dhoni and Rohit are dealing in ones and twos at the moment and rotating the strike.
South Africa are looking to unsettle the Indian middle-order to keep things tight and stay in the contest. India - 143/3 after 33 overs.
Wicket! Soft-dismissal. KL Rahul (26) gives a simple catch to Faf du Plessis and India have lost their third wicket in the run chase. Rabada has done what his captain was expecting of him i.e. breaking the partnership between Rohit and Rahul. Even the bowler couldn't believe that he got Rahul's wicket in this fashion. India - 139/3 in 31.3 overs.
10 runs came from that over bowled by Tahir. India 139/2 after 31 overs. The partnership between Rohit and Rahul is worth 85 off 94 deliveries.
Four! Rohit Sharma plays another beautiful late cut off Tahir and the ball races towards the third-man boundary. India - 123/2 in 29 overs.
All of us thought it was going to be a 350 World Cup. Average score so far is 240 and we are starting to getting good contests. This is nice!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 5, 2019
Rabada returns to break the partnership between Rohit and Rahul and he starts by conceding just 2 from that over. India - 115/2 after 28 overs.
50-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul with a boundary off Rohit's bat.
Four! KL Rahul uses the pace of the ball off Morris and guides the ball towards fine leg region and gets a boundary. And 100 comes up for India in the 26th over,
Fifty! Rohit Sharma brings up his half-century off 70 deliveries. A composed knock from the opener and vice-captain of the side. He had his share of luck early in the innings but ensured he stayed into the middle. India - 91/2 after 23 overs.
Kohli's dismissals!
Caught off a back of a length ball when set, was it? #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/zrkwzoDq6H
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) June 5, 2019
Rohit Sharma keeps the scoreboard ticking. The opener will need KL Rahul to build a partnership for the Men In Blue. India's current run rate is 3.84 while the required run rate is 5.09.