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WC 2015 IND vs SA: Team India break World Cup jinx, stun South Africa by 130 runs

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DC Correspondent
22 Feb 2015 8:30 AM GMT
Shikhar Dhawan’s ton powers India to big win, choker tag continues
WC 2015 IND vs SA: Team India break World Cup jinx, stun South Africa by 130 runs
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Suresh Raina (L) celebrates the last South African wicket - Imran Tahir - with Ravindra Jadeja as MS Dhoni looks on at the MCG on Sunday. (Photo: AP)

Melbourne: Mahendra Singh-led Team India pulled off a stellar show, beating South Africa by 130 runs, in their Pool B match here on Sunday.

Here's how the action unfolded

Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday. Riding on Shikhar Dhawan (137) and Ajinkya Rahane (79) - they put up 307 for the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs.

South Africa: 177 (40.2) (Target: 308)

First wicket down for South Africa. Shami provides the breakthrough, Kohli catches Quinton de Kock (7) at mid-off.

The wicket - under lights - is assisting the bowlers. Shami and Umesh Yadav have kept it tight.

Now, there is change of bowling attack. Mohit Sharma brought on by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The captain knows Sharma well enough due to the bowler's successful stint with Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.

Rahane misses a chance to run Faf du Plessis out after a terrific stop. Suresh Raina misses the stumps on a second effort.

Shami has only conceded 8 runs and he is currently bowling his fifth over. What an effort!

And that's the end of Hashim Amla (22). South Africa get a taste of their own medicine - short ball. Mohit Sharma does the needful, caught by Mohammad Shami.

The big man is in the middle - welcome AB de Villiers.

AB is cutting it loose gradually.

Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar seems to be enjoying his day out at MCG.

AB (28*) and Faf (33*) consolidate Proteas' innings, India need a wicket now. Ravichandran Ashwin comes into the attack.

Faf steals two back-to-back boundaries off Ashwin.

And India got the wicket they needed, a spectacular throw by Mohit Sharma runs AB de Villiers out.

That's half-century for Faf du Plessis.

But the man has to go, caught by Shikhar Dhawan off Mohit Sharma.

Wicket for Ashwin - JP Duminy commits suicide, reverse sweeps and finds Suresh Raina, scores 6 off 15.

Killer Miller (David) dismissed, Team India most likely have sealed the deal.

Shami sends Dale Steyn back, caught by Shikhar Dhawan.

India innings (below)

Dale Steyn tastes success in first over, bowls a maiden. Vernon Philander, from the other end, concedes first boundary. Shikhar Dhawan looks in good touch.

Beautiful cut by Dhawan through the point, another boundary off Philander.

That's suicidal. A mix-up between Dhawan and Rohit Sharma leads to a run-out. AB de Villiers' direct-hit dismisses Sharma. However, it was Dhawan's call who was hesitant. Sharma slipped while backing up and falls short of crease. Virat Kohli out in the middle.

Nonetheless, look who's out in the middle.

(Photo: Facebook)

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is here to join the commentary panel.

Steyn slowly gaining steam. That was a superb bouncer to Dhawan.

Philander is known for his outswing abilities. He has 37 wickets from 25 ODIs. On the other hand, Dhawan - who did not have a good triangular series prior to the World Cup - has six centuries and 12 half-centuries under his belt.

And that's a beautiful cover drive by Dhawan, he has moved on to 17. The whole stadium erupts as the camera finds Sachin Tendulkar sitting beside Dave Richardson. The cricket icon was seen clicking a selfie as well.

After 11 overs, India have managed 37 runs led by Dhawan. The South African bowlers have kept the proceedings tight. Kohli's intentions look clear, he is here to bat till the end.

Morne Morkel treats Dhawan with disdain with a bouncer and is treated with a boundary in the next ball. Interesting contest. Dhawan on 44.

Imran Tahir appeals for a leg-before against Dhawan, umpire rules out. In other news, Philander is off the field due to a hamstring pull. That's the second consecutive half-century for Dhawan.

(Fans break into celebrations after Dhawan's 50, Photo: Twitter)

And that's 100 runs for India. Dhawan batting on 64.

The left-hander has decided to take on Wayne Parnell. His upper cut is reminiscent of Virender Sehwag. Dhawan on 74 now. Can he score a hundred? That's the end of Kohli, he departs for 46, caught by Faf du Plessis off Tahir.

Ajinkya Rahane was come out. He is doing exactly what Kohli did, sticking around with singles. The right-hander from Mumbai has quickly moved to 21.

Dhawan is batting on 99.

And that's hundred for Dhawan, his second against South Africa, seventh in his career. With the ton, he becomes the second Indian after Tendulkar to score a century against South Africa in a World Cup match.

Read: Aamir Khan, VVS Laxman congratulate centurion Shikhar Dhawan

(Photo: AP)

On the other end, Rahane has scored at a brisk pace - 38 off 28.

And that's 200 up for Team India.

Dhawan is batting on 137. Earlier, there were doubts over his selection in Team India following his poor form. He was even dropped during the Test series Down Under but he changed all perceptions in two innings.

Rahane is using his feet well, he has already hit two sixes. One off Parnell, the other off Tahir.

A fantastic knock comes to an end. Dhawan pulls Parnell but finds Amla on the boundary line. He scored 137 off 146 with 16 boundaries and two sixes. Till now, Tendulkar was the only Indian to have scored a century against South Africa in World Cup. Now, Dhawan is the second player to have achieved the feat.

Rahane hits a six off Steyn.

What a comeback! The fast bowler traps him leg-before the next ball. A fantastic inning comes to an and, the Mumbai boy scored 79 off 60 with three sixes and seven boundaries.

India's death over crisis continues. Wickets are falling like pack of cards. Ravindra Jadeja falls short of crease, sixth wicket down. He scored 2 off 4. And AB de Villiers is on a roll - this is his second consecutive direct-hit in the match.

Captain Cool making things look easy, three consecutive boundaries off Parnell. He has moved to 17 off 8. Short ball from Morne Morkel, Dhoni caught unaware, departs for 18 off 11 balls.

Steyn bowling the last over. Mohammad Shami smacks him for a boundary, a much needed one for Team India.

In the meanwhile, huge crowd cheering for Team India has gathered outside the stadium making MCG look like Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

(Photo: Twitter)

Brief scores: India 307/7 in 50 overs (S Dhawan 137, A Rahane 79, V Kohli 46; M Morkel 2/59) beat South Africa 177 (F du Plessis 55; R Ashwin 3/36, M Shami 2/30, M Sharma 2/31) by 130 runs

Man of the Match: Shikhar Dhawan

Here's how the teams stand

AB, at the post match presentation, said: "Run outs cost us dear tonight. The couple of run outs, including mine, changed things."

"The wicket changed a lot too and we lost our way," he added.

Team India captain, Dhoni, said: South Africa are a really good side. We really enjoyed playing today. The bowling and fielding was the key. Apart from the fast bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja bowled well too. It was a complete performance."

( Source : dc/pti )
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