India’s Dominating Victory Over South Africa Sparks Hope for Third World Cup Triumph

CrickeWorld Cup 2023 – India vs South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India on November 5, 2023

KOLKATA, Nov 5 (Reuters) – The clash between cricket giants India and South Africa in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 proved to be a one-sided affair, highlighting the vast difference in performance between the two teams. India’s dominant display at Eden Gardens left South Africa in the dust, establishing India as the standout team in the tournament.

Just three days after demolishing Sri Lanka for a mere 55 runs, resulting in a 302-run victory over the 1996 World Cup champions, India’s batting and bowling prowess was once again on full display. A brilliant century by Virat Kohli and a fantastic five-wicket haul by Ravindra Jadeja propelled the host nation to a resounding 243-run win over South Africa – their most significant defeat in World Cup history.

Entering the match, South Africa had high hopes of overcoming India, having won six out of their previous seven encounters and being the only team to defeat India when the tournament was last held in the country back in 2011. On that occasion, India suffered a collapse, losing their last six wickets for just 13 runs as South Africa secured a thrilling three-wicket victory.

However, twelve years later, South Africa faced the embarrassment of being bundled out by India for just 83 – their lowest-ever total in a 50-over World Cup match. “The first 10 overs with the ball made it a challenge,” admitted South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, as his team struggled to contain India’s aggressive batting. India raced to 61-0 after five overs and 91-1 after 10 overs, setting the stage for a massive total.

India may not have maintained the early run rate over the entire 50 overs, but Virat Kohli’s masterful 101 off 121 balls set South Africa a daunting target of 327 runs. The South African batsmen found it incredibly difficult to survive from the moment opener Quinton de Kock fell for just five runs. Seven of their batsmen failed to reach double figures, highlighting their struggle for survival.

“Going hard in the first 10 (overs) isn’t something we’ve discussed. That’s how (Shubman) Gill and I have batted together. We let our instincts take over,” said India captain Rohit Sharma, emphasizing their aggressive approach. With an unbeaten record in the tournament and guaranteed to finish top of their group, India’s confidence is soaring. Kohli’s brilliant century paired with Jadeja’s match-winning performance has further solidified their dominance.

Despite both teams already securing their spots in the semi-finals, the resounding victory for India has raised hopes that they will lift the World Cup trophy for the third time on November 19. “When we turn up, we want to play to our potential,” summed up Rohit Sharma, highlighting India’s determination to succeed.

Reporting by Pritha Sarkar, editing by Clare Fallon

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