India annihilates South Africa in top of the table clash

It was total annihilation at Eden Gardens on Sunday where India continued their dominance in the 2023 Cricket World Cup by thrashing South Africa by 243 runs to register their eighth consecutive of the league.  

It was supposed to be the big battle as the top two teams squared off. But India just shut out South Africa in a matter of 27.1 overs to have them all out for 83. The game was memorable for Virat Kohli equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s 49 ODI centuries on his 35th birthday. India’s total of 326 always looked above par on the slow surface which was beginning to assist spin.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj made life difficult for South Africa in the early overs before Ravindra Jadeja came on the scene and went on a wicket taking spree to finish with five. Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets apiece as they polished off the tail.

A brilliant batting display from India enabled them to post an above-par total on a slowish surface. After winning the toss and opting to bat, skipper Rohit Sharma got India off to a blazing start with a breezy 40 off 24 balls. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer took their time and put together a stand of 134, but after Iyer departed for 77 off 87 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes), and the quick dismissals of Lokesh Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav, it was Ravindra Jadeja that provided the final flourish to the innings with 29* off 15 balls that saw India total an impressive 326-5. Kohli stood solid as a rock from the other end and kept the scoreboard ticking. He slowed down before his century and eventually scored his 49th ODI ton to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record finishing on 101* off 121 balls (10 fours). Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada bowled brilliant spells but the rest of the bowlers were off colour.

Scores: India 326-5 (50) (Rohit Sharma 40, Shubman Gill 23, Virat Kohli 101*, Shreyas Iyer 77, Suryakumar Yadav 22, Ravindra Jadeja 29*)

South Africa 83 (27.1) (Marco Jansen 14, Ravindra Jadeja 5/33, Mohammad Shami 2/18, Kuldeep Yadav 2/7)