Melbourne, Feb 22 (IANS) It was a good toss to win as a marvellous 137 by Shikhar Dhawan guided India to a strong 307/7 in their 50 overs against South Africa in a World Cup Pool B clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here Sunday.
Dhawan's ton, his seventh in the One-Day Internationals (ODI), is now his highest ODI score. It is also the highest ever World Cup score against the Proteas, surpassing former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming's unbeaten 134 scored in 2003.
The defending champions received a huge jolt when opener Rohit Sharma (0) was run out by a direct hit from South African skipper AB de Villiers in only the third over.
However, thereon Dhawan and vice-captain Virat Kohli (46) combined well to put up a 127-run second-wicket partnership. The duo were extremely cautious after Rohit's wicket offered a very slow start to India.
Backed by some excellent fielding, South African pacers restricted India quite easily in the powerplay because of which India were only 10/1 at the end of the fifth over.
With lethal pacer Dale Steyn (1/55) steaming in from one end, Dhawan started targeting other bowlers.
Both batsmen played the ball to its credit and kept on building the innings. The left-handed Dhawan took on the charge and played the anchor's innings in the presence of Kohli, which does not happen too often these days.
A fantastic square cut brought up Dhawan's half-century. But he was immediately given a reprieve when he was dropped by a flying Hashim Amla at backward point in the 20th over.
Though it was a difficult chance, Dhawan's wicket could have turned the match in favour of the Proteas.
Meanwhile, Kohli got out while trying to pull a short ball off Imran Tahir (1/48) at short mid-wicket. The 26-year-old, who scored a match-winning 107 against Pakistan last Sunday, was livid with himself.
However, Ajinkya Rahane (79) ensured that India did not suffer due to that wicket. His knock of 79 from 60 deliveries was studded with seven boundaries and three sixes over the huge MCG boundary.
Both -- Dhawan and Rahane -- upped the ante in the batting powerplay from 36th over to provide a brilliant platform for India to post a big total. The duo scored all over the park and South African bowlers appeared hapless.
In the process, Dhawan notched up his century in 122 balls while Rahane brought up his ninth ODI half-century. The run-flow continued as Rahane and Dhawan upped the ante following the latter's century.
The 29-year-old from Delhi hit 16 boundaries and two sixes in his 146-ball knock. Even Steyn, regarded as the world's best pacer, was hit for sixes!
However, from a strong position of 261/2 in the 44th over, India finished poorly as they lost five wickets in the last six overs. Three consecutive boundaries by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni helped India push the score but with several wickets in hand a 320-plus score looked on the cards.
Meanwhile for statistics freaks, India have never lost a World Cup match after scoring 300 or more while South Africa have won all three previous Cup meetings against India.
COVID-19: Woman corona positive in the middle of air travel, isolated in the bathroom for about 5 hours
COVID-19 Positive In Flight: An American woman was found to be Corona positive during air travel, after which she had to travel sitting in the bathroom of the plane itself. It is being told that after
Sagarmala to have coastal economic zones, 12 smart cities: Gadkari
New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Asserting that the Sagarmala project approved by the cabinet on Wednesday will alone lift India's GDP growth by 2 percent, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari
The panel of PM, Leader of Opposition, CJI will choose Election Commissioner: Supreme Court said – these appointments should be like CBI director; Earlier the government used to decide
The Supreme Court on Thursday gave a historic verdict on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. The court ordered that a panel of the PM, the Leader of the
Now you will get information about the nearest vaccination center on WhatsApp, just have to do this work
The vaccination campaign is going on fast in this difficult time of the corona epidemic. The process of applying the vaccine to people between 18 and 45 years has been started on May 1. But the
Nitish Kumar, Modi main rivals in Bihar's 'Pichkari' Market
Patna, March 5 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are rivals not only in politics, but also in the 'pichkari' market here as water sprinklers -- used to
SC upholds Goa minister's conviction for assault
New Delhi/Panaji, March 30 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a Bombay High Court judgment sentencing Goa's Archives and Archaeology Minister Francisco alias Mickky Pacheco to six months'
In the support of the farmers, the voices rising from the curtains, efforts are also being made to shine the politics in the name of sympathy
New Delhi: Efforts are also being made to mobilize and garner international support for the ongoing farmer movement in India. 36 UK MPs have appealed to intervene by writing letters to the British
Cryptocurrency: Mixed trend seen in the crypto market, Ether slips on gains in Bitcoin, Solana, Polkadot
The price of cryptocurrencies has seen a sluggishness during the last 24 hours. The global cryptocurrency market cap is showing a slight increase of 0.09% from Sunday's level. It is made over a
Dhanshree Verma breaks fast on a video call: Choreographer shares beautiful video of Karva Chauth
Dhanashree Verma, the wife of Indian cricket team cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, has shared a loving video on her Instagram on Karva Chauth. In this video, Chahal was seen opening his wife's fast on a
Endosulfan victims got justice, the government will give 2 billion rupees compensation, know what is the whole matter
After a long rebuke by the Supreme Court, the Kerala government has finally released Rs 2 billion as compensation to the victims of Endosulfan pesticide. The Supreme Court, in its several orders of
