JOIN USIt's an Indian show at the MCG
With over 80,000 people screaming their lungs out, South Africa unravelled in stunning fashion as India registered their second consecutive win to take a big step towards topping Group A.
On a day when little went right for their opponents, right from the toss, India produced another all-round show to end their three-match losing streak to South Africa in World Cups here at the MCG on Sunday. India came up with another splendid batting show, man of the match Shikhar Dhawan leading the charge with his seventh ODI hundred (137, 146b, 16x4, 1x6). Virat Kohli chipped in with a patient 40 (60b, 3x4) while Ajinkya Rahane blasted his way to 79 (60b, 7x4, 3x6) as India ran up an impressive 307 for seven though the eventual total was a lot less than what they promised to achieve at one stage of the innings.
South Africa had the men and all the means to scale down the target on a two-paced wicket but they crumbled under the weight of their own expectations. While the Indian bowlers didn’t quite blast through the South African line-up, they were disciplined enough to put the batsmen under pressure and force them into mistakes.
The pacemen procured considerable swing under lights and used the bouncers to good effect to surprise the South African batsmen. The spinners, especially R Ashwin, then maintained the pressure as the Proteas failed to kick on in a big chase. Save for the partnership between Francois du Plessis and AB de Villiers, which ended in the run out of the latter who himself had effected two such dismissals during India’s innings, South Africa never measured up to the task. Their innings eventually folded up at 177 in 40.2 overs, to concede a massive 131-run defeat.
Dhwan’s innings had been cut short after a mix-up with Kohli in Adelaide against Pakistan and here it began with Rohit Sharma getting run-out after a yes-no situation with the southpaw; de Villiers’ throw, almost from zero angle, hitting the target. It wasn’t the start India were looking for after opting to bat first on a big occasion and expectedly, Dhawan and Kohli embraced caution against aggression as only 36 runs came off the first 10 overs of power play. In fact, up until the end of 14th over India’s run-rate remained under four per over.
The wait was worth its weight in gold though. Having sized up the conditions and having played out the danger bowlers, the two Delhi mates effortlessly raised the tempo. Their running between the wickets was aggressive even as the South Africans showed rare blip on the field. There were quite a few fumbles and they gave away one too many overthrows to their liking. While Kohli and Dhawan would surely have been surprised by this South African largesse, this wasn’t the only reason why they prospered.
The duo picked their targets, in particular Wayne Parnell who went for 85 in his nine overs, while South Africa’s bowling suffered a bit when Vernon Philander walked off after bowling four tidy overs with a left hamstring. Barring the lone blemish when he was dropped on 53 by Hashim Amla off Parnell, Dhawan was positively good right from his flicked four off Philander for his first runs. He was the rock around which the Indian innings flourished. He wasn’t completely brazen in his approach but he didn’t either slow down things. The opener did appear a bit nervous on 99 but gathered steam again after bringing up his first ton in Australia on this trip. His innings wasn’t only his highest but also bettered Stephen Fleming’s 134, which was the previous highest against South Africa in World Cups. While Dhawan essayed a range of strokes on either side of the pitch, it was his audacious straight six off Dale Steyn that stood out. His association with Kohli was worth 127 runs off 24.3 overs before Rahane came up with gem of an innings.
Rahane had been held back in the batting order against Pakistan to allow big hitters to make the most of slog overs but the Mumbai batsman showed he is inferior to none with a wonderful exhibition of stroke-play. He dominated the 125-run partnership off 16.3 overs with Dhawan and for the first time on this tour India had a productive batting power play, scoring 44 off the five-over block. Sitting pretty at 227 for two after 40 overs, India looked good for a total of 330-340 but another collapse forced them to settle for a lesser total which, in the end, proved more than enough.