World Cup 2019: India start on winning note defeating South Africa

Andile Phehlukwayo, Faf du Plessis, ICC World Cup, India Cricket Team, Jasprit Bumrah, Kagiso Rabada, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, South Africa Cricket Team, Team India, Team South Africa, Virat Kohli, World Cup, World Cup 2019, Yuzvendra Chahal June 5, 2019February 25, 20204 years ago

Rohit Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Jasprit Bumrah help India start their World Cup 2019 campaign on a winning note as India defeat South Africa by 6 wickets.

INDIA VS SOUTH AFRICA SCORECARD:

India: 230-4 in 47.3 overs | Winner

Rohit Sharma: 122(144) | MS Dhoni: 34(46) | Kagiso Rabada: 2-39

South Africa: 227-9 in 50 overs

Chris Morris: 42(34) | Yuzvendra Chahal: 4-51 | Jasprit Bumrah: 2-35

Player of the match: Rohit Sharma

MATCH SUMMARY

India had to wait for 7 matches to begin their World Cup 2019 campaign, but when they did, they did it on a winning note.

After winning the toss, South Africa decided to bat first, but the things didn’t go as planned as a fiery, Jasprit Bumrah got rid of both the openers.

Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen did try to rebuild after that, but Yuzvendra Chahal spun a spin-web to get rid of both of them in the 20^th over. With South Africa reeling at 161-7 in the 40^th over, Chris Morris’s 42(34) and Kagiso Rabada’s 31(35) helped South Africa post a decent total of 227-9 in 50 overs.

Yuzvendra Chahal, the most successful bowler for India with his spell of 4-51, while Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar got 2 wickets each.

THE CHASE:

With 228 required to chase, Indian openers too had to face a fiery spell of Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris. The pitch had uneven bounce, and Rabada’s spell of first three overs proved very lethal.

Shikhar Dhawan was lucky getting away with a bouncer on one occasion, but he wasn’t fortunate on the second occasion as Rabada got rid off him.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma then did survive the thrilling initial 15 overs, but Kohli threw his wicket away with an over-ambitious poor shot off Andile Phehlukwayo in the 16^th over.

Rohit Sharma, however, stayed till the end as he combined perfectly with KL Rahul, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya to steer India home in the 48^th over.

Rohit Sharma scored a fantastic 122(144) with 13 fours and 2 sixes as he was awarded the player of the match.

So, the calm and composed Rohit Sharma helped India get off to a winning note in their World Cup 2019 campaign as India beat South Africa by 6 wickets.

South Africa, meanwhile suffered another loss as their semi-final hopes look bleak now.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

South Africa’s inability to play spinners in the middle overs
South Africa being short of a good pacer to support Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris.
Playing two spinners against India on a pace friendly track.

KEY MOMENTS:

Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery first spell of 2-13 in 5 overs.
Yuzvendra Chahal dismissing Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen in a single over.
Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada’s solid partnership for the eighth wicket.
Virat Kohli’s over-ambitious poor shot against Andile Phehlukwayo in the 16^th over.
Rohit Sharma guiding India home with a brilliant century.