India vs South Africa: ICC Champions Trophy 2013 - Report

After posting 331 on the board, India beat South Africa by 26 runs in the opening game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Back in the ODI side after two years, Shikhar Dhawan marked his return with a well-paced maiden one-day century. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma made a sublime 65 to set up the game for India with a 127-run opening partnership in the Group B encounter.

Later, Ravindra Jadeja’s (47 off 29 balls) late onslaught ensured the MS Dhoni-led side posted a massive total, which the bowlers successfully defended by striking at regular intervals. 

Put in to bat, Dhawan and Rohit got India off to a flying start. Once they had a measure of the situation, they milked the South African attack at will. In the absence of Dale Steyn, the Proteas’ attack – with the exception of Morne Morkel – was found wanting as they were clobbered by the Indians. Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who finished with three wickets, was smashed for over eight runs per over and Rory Kleinveldt too received similar treatment.

It was in the 22nd over that SA got their first breakthrough when Rohit pulled Ryan McLaren to Robin Peterson at deep square-leg. However, Virat Kohli, who replaced him, continued to build on the platform with Dhawan. When AB de Villiers brought back Morkel into the attack for the third time, the pacer was hit for a couple of boundaries by Kohli, before having to leave the field due to injury without completing his over. With Morkel out of the attack, de Villiers’ choices were further limited. 

But later, Kohli’s blossoming partnership with Dhawan was halted for 83 when his mistimed pull off Tsotsobe was safely pouched by Hashim Amla. Then, Dhawan was dismissed for 114 as well.

A superb catch by the ‘keeper saw the back of Dinesh Karthik, and 20 runs later Suresh Raina departed. MS Dhoni was caught at long-on in the 47th over. Ravichandran Ashwin was run out with two balls remaining in the innings. Although the South Africans had managed to pull themselves back in the game, it was not enough to restrict India from piling on a big total. 

Defending the mountainous score, the Indian pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav struck early to remove the opposition openers. While a low catch at second slip by Raina, off Kumar, sent back Colin Ingram, Yadav took the inside of edge of the dangerous Hashim Amla and Dhoni snapped the catch to leave SA on 31 for two.

de Villiers then joined Robin Peterson and stitched a solid partnership to keep the match hanging in balance. Both the batsmen were cruising along when a brilliant piece of fielding by Jadeja ended their partnership for 124. JP Duminy, who then came to the crease, was trapped lbw by Jadeja. And then, Jadeja took a simple catch at square-leg to send back de Villiers off Yadav for 70.

With the pressure mounting, David Miller was run out in a mix-up with Faf du Plessis in the following over without facing a ball. du Plessis then found an able ally in McLaren (71*), but 50 runs later he perished taking the aerial route off Ishant Sharma only to land in the hands of Raina at mid-off. Sharma then claimed Rory Kleinveldt to put India in a comfortable position, while Jadeja castled Tsotsobe a couple of overs later. It was on the last ball of the innings that SA were bowled out for 305 when Kumar bowled Morkel.  

Brief scores: India 331/7 in 50 overs (S Dhawan 114, R Sharma 65, R Jadeja 47*, R McLaren 3/70) beat South Africa 305 all out in 50 overs (R McLaren 71*, AB de Villiers 70, R Peterson 68, R Jadeja 2/31, B Kumar 2/49) by 26 runs

Man of the Match: Shikhar Dhawan for his match-winning 114

source: bcci.tv