in Cardiff. Chasing a mammoth 331/7 set by the Indians, the South Africans fought hard but were bowled out for 305.
The Stage was set:
The stage was set for the Men in Blue to again play for pride and honour - to again carry the hopes of billions and again play for the Tri-Colour. South Africa had inspiration of their own. The Champions Trophy was Gary Kirsten's swansong and they wanted to begin their campaign in style. AB de Villiers won the toss and put India in in slightly overcast conditions . The big news was that Dale Steyn was sitting out due to a side strain. South Africa went in with 4 fast bowlers. India went in with a predictable eleven. Rohit Sharma pipped Murali Vijay for the opener's slot.
The New-Found Opening Partnership:
The Indian openers, Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were off to a circumspect start. Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe were getting considerable bounce and were bowling good lengths. India had managed just 15 in the first 5 overs. Rohit now decided to break the shackles. He smashed Tsotsobe over deep cover for a maximum. There was no looking back.
Tsotsobe and Rory Kleinveldt were put to the sword by Sharma. Exquisite pull shots were interspersed with sublime cover drives. India's 50 came up in the 10th over. 53 runs came off the mandatory powerplay.
The boundaries were coming at frequent intervals now. Dhawan got stuck into Robin Peterson and hammered him for 2 boundaries off the first two deliveries of the 15th. The pair brought up the hundred partnership in the 16th over. Rohit Sharma had monopolized the strike. He notched up a fine fifty off 63 balls. Dhawan soon followed suit and registered a slightly contrasting half-century - quicker and more fluent than his partner. Ryan Mclaren finally broke the splendid 127 run opening stand in the 22nd over dismissing Rohit Sharma for 65.
Dhawan's maiden 100:
Shikhar Dhawan continued on his merry run and lapped Tsotsobe over the keeper for a boundary before ending the 24th with a bludgeoning six straight over the bowler's head. India brought up its 150 in the 25th. Virat Kohli, who came in at no. 3, was not at his fluent best though. He was consuming a number of deliveries and was unable to rotate the strike. JP Duminy was keeping a tight leash on the flamboyant Indian batsman and had given away just 8 runs from his first 3 overs.
However, Dhawan went from strength to strength and was soon in his nineties. He flashed a silken cut past backward point before swatting Kleinveldt to the square leg boundary to reach a magnificent maiden ton in ODI cricket. His century came off just 80 deliveries and included 12 fours and a six. Kohli got going with a couple of consecutive boundaries off Morkel. India crossed 200 in the 34th over. Kohli fell to Tsotsobe for 31.
South Africa crawl back:
South Africa came back well in the batting powerplay which was enforced between the 36-40 overs. India could manage 37 and lost the wickets of Dhawan and Karthik. The former fell to Duminy for a magnificent 114 off just 94 deliveries. Raina departed for 9 thereafter and it was a good 10 over period for South Africa where they not only pegged back the Indian run-rate but also picked up crucial wickets.
Jadeja's cameo propelled India:
Ravindra Jadeja got stuck into Ryan McLaren in the 48th over hitting him for a couple of boundaries. He then blasted Tsotsobe back over the left-armer's head for a huge six. 11 runs came off the 48th and 13 off the 49th. Jadeja ended the innings on a high carving McLaren over extra cover for a boundary before dabbing the last delivery over AB de Villiers' head for a one-bounce four. India had posted a mammoth 331/7. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 47 off just 29 deliveries.
South Africa lose couple:
Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave India the early breakthrough getting Colin Ingram caught at second slip by Suresh Raina for 6 in the 3rd over. Hashim Amla looked in ominous touch taking Umesh Yadav for 3 boundaries in the next over but the Indian pacer had the final laugh getting rid of the South African run-machine off the fifth ball of the over. South Africa had been reduced to 31/2 after 4 overs.
The AB, Peterson stand:
Robin Peterson was promoted up the order to take the attack to the Indian bowling. He began confidently taking on the Indian medium pacers hitting boundaries of Kumar, Sharma and Yadav. AB did not waste much time and soon displayed his class picking up boundaries with ultimate ease. He hammered Ishant Sharma through extra cover before punching him off the backfoot for an exquisite boundary through cover. The pair raised the team's hundred in the 14th over.
The duo were now milking the Indian bowling. Peterson notched up a maiden ODI fifty off 51 balls. His skipper soon followed with a 45 ball half-century. South Africa had crossed 150 in the 24th over. The platform for the chase had been laid by AB and Peterson.
Jadeja provides inspiration/ Indian Spinners lead fightback:
India needed some inspiration on the field. And it came in the form of Ravindra Jadeja. A brilliant piece of fielding ended the 124 run stand between AB and Peterson. The latter departed for 68 off 72 deliveries. Spinners were now operating from both ends. Ashwin, Raina and Jadeja were keeping things tight and not giving anything away. Boundaries had dried up. The required run rate was increasing. Jadeja's day kept getting better as he dismissed JP Duminy for 14 in the 31st over. Jadeja at the time had figures of 21/1 off his 5 overs. Raina had just conceded 22 off his 4 and Ashwin just 36 off his 9. The pressure got to the South African skipper. He charged at Umesh Yadav in the next over but could only manage a top edge and was caught by Jadeja at forward square leg. The Proteas had moved to 187/5 after 32 overs. Another piece of good fielding by the Indians coupled with some suicidal running by the South African batsmen saw the power-hitter David Miller walk back to the pavilion for a duck leaving his team reeling at 188/6 after 33 overs.
The McLaren-du Plessis scare:
Umesh Yadav went for 11 in the 34th over before Raina was hit for 3 boundaries in the next. The batting powerplay, like the Indian innings was enforced between the 36-40 overs. Yadav conceded 10 in the 36th. Ashwin was taken for 11 in the 37th. The target was now under 100. 99 runs were needed off 13 overs. The Indians got a scare.
Ishant Sharma was introduced in the 38th. He was smashed straight back past the non-striker for a blistering boundary off the first ball of the over by Faf du Plessis. But Ishant had his revenge. du Plessis mistimed a lofted shot and was caught by Raina at mid-off off the third ball of the over. Sharma sent Kleinveldt packing in his next. South Africa needed 81 off the last 10 overs with 2 wickets in hand.
India finish if off:
Jadeja cleaned up Tsotsobe in the 43rd. Ryan McLaren was running out of partners and thus decided to win it single-handedly for South Africa. He blasted Ishant Sharma for a couple of fours and a massive six in the 44th and soon notched up an impressive fifty. But his heroics went in vain as South Africa were wrapped up for 305. McLaren remained unbeaten on a fine 71 off just 61 deliveries.
India came out victorious by 26 runs and started their campaign in style. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the Indian bowlers and picked up 2 wickets, conceding just 31 runs off his 9 overs. India maintained their winning streak against South Africa in the Champions Trophy (this was their 3rd win against the Proteas over 3 editions of the Tournament). Shikhar Dhawan was adjudged the man of the match for his majestic 114.
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