DHAKA: Shikhar Dhawan’s 137 and Ajinkya Rahane’s 79 helped India set a responsible 308-run target for South Africa in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Pool B match in Melbourne Sunday.
India scored 307 runs for seven losses in the stipulated 50 overs at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Opener Rohit Sharma got duck, becoming run out by AB de Villiers before the team’s score reached the double digit. Virat Kohli came to the crease, replacing Sharma.
Another opener Dhawan began taking on Poretas’ bowling. He played well, scoring 137 runs off 146 balls with 16 boundaries and two over boundaries.
Kohli was also accompanying Dhawan well. He added 46 runs off 60 balls before Imran Tahir made him walk to the pavilion. At that time, India’s score was at 136 runs in 27.1 overs.
Rahane gave audiences cheerful mood awhile with his shots one by one. He scored 79 runs off 60 balls. His innings was made by seven fours and three with a strike rate of 131.66.
Morne Morkel took two wickets while Dale Willem Steyn, Imran Tahir, and Wayne Parnell bagged one each.
Earlier India captain MS Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat first. The match began at Melbourne Cricket Ground at 9:30am Bangladesh time.
Rahane said it's a decent total to defend, with the big outfield, "if we bowl well. First ten overs will be crucial."
India are playing the match with the same eleven that played against Pakistan. South Africa brought one change as Wayne Parnell is in for Farhaan Behardien. They have a potentially short batting line-up in a bid to make early inroads for India.
Previously, both teams played a match each and won against their respective rivals. In their first matches, India defeated Pakistan and South Africa took on Zimbabwe.
Teams
India
S Dhawan, RG Sharma, V Kohli, AM Rahane, SK Raina, MS Dhoni*†, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, UT Yadav, MM Sharma
South Africa
HM Amla, Q de Kock†, F du Plessis, AB de Villiers*, DA Miller, JP Duminy, WD Parnell, VD Philander, DW Steyn, M Morkel, Imran Tahir
BDST: 1411 HRS, FEB 20, 2015
