World Cup 2019: Rohit Sharma’s gutsy century gives clinical India winning start

Rohit Sharma scored a composed unbeaten century while Yuzvendra Chahal picked up four wickets as India got their Cricket World Cup campaign off to a winning start at The Rose Bowl, Southampton on Wednesday on Wednesday. South Africa on the other hand, face an uphill battle after losing their third match in a row.

Toss: South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to bat against India in a World Cup match at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

First innings: South Africa decided to bat despite the overcast conditions but the decision backfired as Jasprit Bumrah (10-1-35-2) set the tone for the match with twin blows in his opening spell. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal grabbed four wickets, helping India restrict South Africa to a sub-par 227/ 9 in their opening encounter of the World Cup.

Chahal (10-0-51-4), with able assistance from Kuldep Yadav (10-0-46-1), then tightened the noose on South Africa in the middle overs. South Africa’s total got some semblance of respectability courtesy Chris Morris (42 off 34) and Kagiso Rabada (31 not out off 35), who shared a much needed 66-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Second innings: In reply, India were shaky at the start as the new ball seamed around. Shikhar Dhawan departed early in the sixth over with just 13 runs on board. Virat Kohli then tried to steady the innings along with Sharma but Andile Phehlukwayo got rid of the Indian skipper just after they crossed the 50-run mark.

Rabada struck again in the 32nd over to send back KL Rahul (26) after his 85-run stand for the third wicket with Rohit Sharma. However, Rohit held one end up and brought up his hundred off 128 balls. This was his slowest ODI ton. MS Dhoni supported Sharma well to pull off a solid win for India.

Gamechanger: Rohit Sharma’s brilliant hundred was the gamechanger of the match. Rohit curbed his natural flair for the greater good as his gritty hundred complemented a superb bowling effort in India’s resounding six-wicket victory over a hapless South Africa. It was an uncharacteristic 23rd ODI hundred for the Indian vice-captain (122 no off 144 balls) as conditions were not exactly conducive for free-flowing strokeplay.

Scorecard: RSA 227/9 (50 ovs) | IND 230/4 (47.3 ovs)