Rohit Sharma scored an unbeaten 122 to help India get off to a winning start at the World Cup, beating India by six wickets at Southampton. Yuzvendra Chahal took 4 for 51 to restrict South Africa to 227 for 9.
South Africa could have folded for even less, had it not been for the late fightback by Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris, who added 66 for the eighth wicket. Jasprit Bumrah did the damage early by removing the openers as South Africa struggled to put partnerships in the middle order.
(If you are viewing this on The Hindu app , click this link to open the scorecard in your browser)
South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to bat.
Injury-ravaged South Africa brought spinner Tabraiz Shamsi into the playing XI, while playing two allrounders in Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo. South Africa’s pace spearhead Dale Steyn was ruled out of the World Cup Tuesday due to a shoulder injury, while Lungi Ngidi too is nursing a hamstring strain.
It’s been a week since the ICC World Cup commenced with the game involving England and South Africa at the Oval. The last few days witnessed a medley of lop-sided clashes and nerve-shredding upsets but India, cricket’s commercial heart, was yet to stride onto the turf.
After the Indian Premier League concluded on May 12, Virat Kohli’s men rested a bit, jetted to holiday destinations and a few of them lit up their Instagram accounts.
(With inputs from agencies)
