In a thrilling Cricket World Cup 2023 match, India dominated South Africa by extending their winning band to eight matches in the ODI tournament. The match, featuring the tournament’s top two teams, was held at the renowned Eden Gardens. India, led by their captain Virat Kohli, celebrated his 35th birthday by scoring his second century of the World Cup, highlighting his exceptional batting skills. His unbeaten 101 featured 10 fours and had put him on par with the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, both boasting 49 one-day international hundreds. Kohli’s outstanding form throughout the event pushed his total runs past the 500-run mark.
India’s innings got off to a blazing launch after winning the toss and electing to bat. Marco Jansen’s unpredictable pace of bowling allowed them to capitalize on the power play, reaching 91-1. However, their skipper Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a quick 40 runs off 24 balls when he tried to hit Kagiso Rabada over mid-off. Despite losing Shubman Gill for 23 runs in the 11th over due to an unplayable delivery from Keshav Maharaj, India maintained their momentum. Kohli’s solid partnership with Shreyas Iyer, who contributed 77 runs with 7 fours and 2 sixes, handed the backbone of their innings. In the 49th over, Kohli reached his century, and India finished with a formidable total of 326-5, thanks to some late hitting by Ravindra Jadeja (29 not out).
South Africa faced a daunting chase of 327 runs, but their pursuit began shakily. They lost half of their side for a mere 40 runs within 14 overs. Ravindra Jadeja was the star of the Indian bowling attack, claiming 5 wickets for just 33 runs. Mohammed Shami also contributed with 2 wickets for 18 runs, wreaking havoc in the South African batting lineup.
Jadeja’s brilliant performance included shattering the stumps of three South African batsmen, while Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav also played their part in India’s comprehensive victory. South Africa, despite their strong performances in the tournament, was dismissed for a mere 83 runs in 27.1 overs, marking only their second defeat in the World Cup. India and South Africa’s prior qualification for the semi-finals turned this match into a crucial preview of a potential title showdown later in the month.
In the end, India’s early control of the game and their outstanding batting and bowling performances secured their eighth consecutive victory, leaving them in prime form as they progressed in the Cricket World Cup 2023.
