Dhawan made his career-best
137 which leads India to a comfortable 307/7. The bowlers
performed brilliantly to crush South Africa for 177 in 40.2 overs. This was India's maiden
World Cup win against South Africa after having lost the clashes in 1992,
1999 and 2011.
Ajinkya Rahane, who blasted his way to 79 off 60 deliveries, India posted their highest total in a World Cup game against the south africans.
De Villiers and Du
Plessis were going strong at one stage adding 68 runs for the third wicket
as South Africa reached 108 for two before the skipper got run-out. Du Plessis (55) tried
his best to stem the rot but once he mistimed a pull-shot off Mohit to
Dhawan at covers.
Melbourne Cricket Ground is filled with 'Men In Blue', Crowd attendance was 86,786 of which at least 75,000
were Indian supporters. Sachin Tendulkar also cheering them from the stands, it was an electric atmosphere at the MCG as
Dhoni's men cantered home in style. The Indian dressing room erupted in
joy and the players hugged each other after last man standing Imran
Tahir was trapped leg before by Ravindra Jadeja.
Rahane hit seven
fours and three sixes with Dhawan, who has regained his form just when it
mattered the most, started his innings from where he had left off against
Pakistan. Rahane showed why he
is rated so highly by one and all. The six over long-off of Steyn's
bowling was a pure delight as was his step out off Tahir to dispatch him
for maximum.
Mohit Sharma (2/31 in
7 overs), Ravichandran Ashwin (3/41 in 10 overs) and Mohammed Shami (2/30
in 8 overs) kept the opposition batsmen under tight leash for better part
of the innings.
With two wins from as
many matches, India now have a very good chance of qualifying for the
quarter-finals as group leaders. It was yet another
commendable show by the Indians, who came into the tournament with a
string of poor results in the tri-series preceding the mega-event.
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