World Cup: India thrash SA, record their eighth successive win
India thrashed South Africa in Kolkata to record their eighth successive win in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. The Men in Blue successfully defended 326, bowling out the Proteas for 83. Ravindra Jadeja took five wickets. Earlier, Virat Kohli shone with a record-equaling 49th ODI century. India have finally broken SA's streak of four consecutive wins. Both sides have qualified for the semi-finals.
A look at the match summary
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill powered India after electing to bat. The former smashed a 24-ball 40 before India were 93/2. Kohli and Shreyas Iyer added a century stand to lift India. Suryakumar Yadav (22) and Jadeja (29*) helped India reach 326/5. The SA batters faced the wrath of Jadeja, who dismantled SA's middle order. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami took two wickets each.
Joint-most ODI sixes in a year
Rohit smashed 2 sixes in his 24-ball 40. With this, he completed 58 ODI sixes in 2023. SA's AB De Villiers also smoked as many maximums in 2015. While he featured in 18 ODI innings that year, Rohit has played 23 ODI innings in 2023. West Indies's Chris Gayle (56 in 2019) is the only other batter with 50-plus ODI sixes in a year.
Kohli slams a record-equaling 49th ODI ton
Kohli arrived after India lost Rohit (62/1). The former took India past 200 along with Iyer. Kohli paced his knock brilliantly, completing his century off 119 balls in the 49th over. He returned unbeaten on 101 off 121 balls, a knock laced with 10 fours. It was his 49th century in ODI cricket, now the joint-most with Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar.
Second Indian with 6,000 ODI runs at home
During his knock, Kohli also completed 6,000 runs in ODI cricket at home. He is only the second player to achieve this feat after Tendulkar, who owns 6,976 runs in this regard. Kohli smashed his 23rd ODI ton at home, already the most in home conditions. He is the only player with more than 20 ODI tons at home venues.
119 fifty-plus scores in ODIs
Kohli slammed his 119th fifty-plus score in ODI cricket, now the second-most after Tendulkar (145). Kohli broke a tie with Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara (118) in this regard. Besides 49 tons, the former has 70 half-centuries in the format. Kohli is the fourth-highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, having smashed over 13,500 runs. He is only behind Tendulkar, Sangakkara, and Ricky Ponting.
Third Indian with an ODI century on their birthday
King Kohli turned 35 on November 5. He marked the occasion with a scintillating ton against the Proteas in Kolkata. Interestingly, Kohli became the third Indian batter to have scored an ODI century on their birthday. Tendulkar (134 vs Australia, 1998) and Vinod Kambli (100* vs England, 1993) are the only other Indian players on this list.
Iyer slams his third WC half-century
Iyer came to the crease when India were 93/2 in 10.3 overs. He took his time before playing the spinners with ease. He also didn't shy away from playing the big shots. Lungi Ngidi dismissed Iyer in the 37th over. Iyer has raced to 2,094 runs from 55 ODIs at 46.53. Iyer registered his 17th ODI fifty.
The highest partnership against SA in WC 2023
Kohli and Iyer added 134 runs for the third wicket after Gill and Rohit departed. They now have the highest partnership against South Africa in the ongoing World Cup. The previous-highest partnership against SA was 84 by Pakistan's Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan in Chennai.
Ngidi has dismissed Iyer five times in ODIs
Ngidi has had the upper hand over Iyer in ODI cricket. As per ESPNcricinfo, the SA speedster has now claimed Iyer's wicket five times in six meetings while conceding 36 runs in 38 balls at a strike rate of 94.73. Notably, Iyer averages a paltry 7.20 versus Ngidi, who is the most successful bowler versus the former. Australia's Adam Zampa is next (three dismissals).
A forgettable feat for Marco Jansen
Ngidi, Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi took one wicket each. Jansen finished as SA's most expensive bowler, having conceded 94 runs in 9.4 overs. These are the most runs conceded by a SA bowler in a World Cup match. Notably, Jansen only occupies the second spot on this list, with 92 runs against Sri Lanka in WC 2023.
Jadeja perturbs SA with a fifer
Jadeja, the pick of India's bowlers, came into the attack as a first-change bowler. He started by dismissing SA skipper Temba Bavuma and then removed Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Maharaj, and Rabada. The left-arm spinner conceded 33 runs in nine overs, including a maiden. Jadeja choked the Proteas across two spells, with his first being the decider.
Second Indian spinner with a WC fifer
Jadeja recorded his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI World Cups. It was also his second fifer in the format. Moreover, Jadeja has become only the second Indian spinner to pick up a World Cup fifer. Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is the only other Indian spinner with this feat. He took a fifer against Ireland in the 2011 World Cup.
Other feats attained by Jadeja
Jadeja has become the third Indian bowler to take a fifer against South Africa in ODI cricket. Sunil Joshi and Yuzvendra Chahal are the only Indians with this record. Overall, Jadeja is the seventh Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in ODI World Cups. He is also the second Indian with an ODI fifer at Eden Gardens after Anil Kumble.
Second-most WC wickets among Indian spinners
Jadeja now has the second-most wickets among Indian spinners in the World Cup (25 wickets at 26.96). He broke a tie with Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj (20 each), Jadeja is now only behind Kumble, who owns 31 World Cup wickets.
Eight successive wins for India
India now have eight successive ODI World Cup wins, now the joint second-most along with New Zealand (eight in 2015). India also won eight consecutive encounters in World Cup 2003. Australia are the only side with over 10 such wins (11 in 2007 and 2003).
A look at other notable numbers
South Africa lost the match by 243 runs, their biggest defeat in ODIs (by runs). This was the first instance of SA losing an ODI by more than 200 runs. SA's previous biggest defeat in a World Cup match came in 2015 (130 runs vs India). As per Cricbuzz, SA failed to hit a six in an ODI for the first time in 2023.
Kohli surpasses 1,500 ODI WC runs
Kohli raced past 1,500 ODI World Cup runs. Kohli now owns 1573 runs at an average of 58.25 with the help of four tons and 10 fifties. He is the third player with 1,500-plus ODI World Cup runs. Kohli has smashed 500-plus runs in the ongoing World Cup at 108.60. He owns two tons and four fifties from 8 matches.
1,500-plus runs for Kohli versus SA
In 29 innings, Kohli now has 1,504 runs against SA in ODIs. He averages a sensational 65.39 with the help of five centuries and eight fifties. Kohli now owns 1,500-plus ODI runs against five nations. He has the most runs versus Sri Lanka (2,594). Kohli further has 2,313 runs versus Australia, 2,261 versus West Indies, and 1,527 runs versus New Zealand.
Quinton de Kock completes 1,000 runs in ODI World Cups
Quinton de Kock raced to 1,000 runs in ICC Cricket World Cups. He accomplished the milestone with his fifth run. De Kock was dismissed for five right after he achieved the mark. Mohammed Siraj got the southpaw. AB de Villiers (1,207), Jacques Kallis (1,148), and Herschelle Gibbs (1,067) are the other Proteas batters with 1,000-plus WC runs.
SA recorded their lowest-ever ODI World Cup score
SA recorded their lowest-ever ODI World Cup score. SA's previous lowest total was 149 versus Australia in 2007. Meanwhile, SA also registered their lowest ODI total versus India. Before this game, SA's lowest ODI score was 99 in October 2002.
Kuldeep Yadav becomes the leading wicket-taker in ODIs this year
Kuldeep Yadav has become the leading wicket-taker in ODIs this year. He has now gone past Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane's tally of 43 scalps this year. Kuldeep took 2/7 in 5.1 overs. Kuldeep has raced to 45 wickets in 25 ODIs this year at a sensational average of 17.77. He has an economy rate of 4.51.
