Virat Kohli marked his 35th birthday with a stellar performance, scoring an unbeaten century to lead India to a resounding 243-run victory over South Africa in the Cricket World Cup. This win maintained India’s perfect record in the tournament’s group stage.
In a match between the top two teams, India posted a formidable total of 326-5 after electing to bat first. Kohli, the show’s star, anchored the Indian innings with an unbeaten 101, his second century of the tournament. His knock moved him level with Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time list of ODI centuries.
Kohli’s innings was complemented by Shreyas Iyer, who contributed a valuable 77, including seven fours and two sixes. The duo shared a solid partnership of 134 runs for the third wicket, laying the foundation for India’s commanding total.
South Africa’s chase began disastrously, losing half of their side for 40 runs inside 14 overs. Ravindra Jadeja, with a brilliant spell of five wickets for 33 runs, wreaked havoc on the Proteas batting lineup. Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav also chipped in with wickets to dismantle South Africa’s chase further.
Marco Jansen, with 14 runs, was the highest scorer for South Africa, but their batters struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack. The Proteas were eventually skittled out for a paltry 83 runs in 27.1 overs, suffering a humiliating defeat.
India’s victory cemented their position as one of the favorites to win the World Cup. Their batting prowess, led by Kohli and Iyer, coupled with their sharp bowling attack, makes them a formidable force in the tournament.