After Yuzvendra Chahal bagged a four-wicket haul to restrict South Africa to 227/9, opener Rohit Sharma pulled back his 23rd ODI century to help India beat the Faf du Plessis-led side by six wickets in the eighth match of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2019 at Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday.
Here are the live updates:
# India beat South Africa by six wickets. India 230/4 (47.3 overs)
# 10 runs and a wicket off the last over. India now need five runs off 18 balls. India 223/4 (47 overs)
# Hardik Pandya is the new batsman in!
# WICKET! MS Dhoni hit the first delivery of the 47th over high into the air, only to hand the return catch to bowler Chris Morris. India need 15 runs off 23 balls. India 213/4 (46.1 overs)
# The Men in Blue need 20 runs off 30 balls. India 208/3 (45 overs)
# Five runs off the last over from Rabada. Rohit Sharma used the bounce to arch back and guide the ball over the keeper's head to notch up four runs. India 198/3 (44 overs)
# A good over for India as they added 14 runs, including two boundaries. Dhoni slapped the second delivery of the 43rd over into the gap at cover for four runs before Sharma swept the fourth delivery towards deep backward square for another boundary. India 193/3 (43 overs)
# CENTURY!! Rohit Sharma slammed his second World Cup century and 23rd in ODIs off 128 balls. He reached the feat by guiding the fourth delivery of 41st over past short midwicket to notch up a single. India 176/3 (41 overs)
# Four runs off the last over from Phehlukwayo. Rohit Sharma (97) is approaching his century as India need 60 runs from 11 overs. India 168/3 (39 overs)
# India added six runs in the last over. Dhoni pulled the last delivery from Morris to the deep square leg for four runs. Rohit, on the other hand, is currently batting at 95 and nearing his ODI century. India 164/3 (38 overs)
# Five runs off the last over. India have now reached the 150-run mark, with Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni currently batting at 88 and five, respectively. India 150/3 (36 overs)
# Good over from Shamsi, who gave away just two runs. The Men in Blue now need 83 runs from 16 overs remaining. India 150/3 (34 overs)
# Four runs off the last over. Dhoni got off the mark by working the full toss from Imran Tahir down to long-on for a single. India 143/3 (33 overs)
# Wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni is the new batsman in!
# WICKET! Rabada bowled a slower ball, outside off and Rahul looked to drive it but ended up handing it straight to South African skipper Faf du Plessis at mid-off. India 139/3 (31.3 overs)
# Runs have started flowing in at a decent pace for India as they added another six runs off the last over. Rohit played the fourth delivery from Rabada over midwicket to notch up four runs. India 129/2 (30 overs)
# Rohit Sharma (69) and KL Rahul (24) continue to stand strong at the crease and have reduced India's chase to 105 runs from 21 overs. India 123/2 (29 overs)
# Good over from Rabada as he conceded just a single each to Rohit (64) and Rahul (21). The Men in Blue now need 113 runs from 22 overs. India 115/2 (28 overs)
# Morris bowled a shorter delivery, but down the leg side and KL Rahul played a controlled pull towards long leg to notch up four runs. India 102/2 (26 overs)
# Tabraiz Shamsi bowled a tight last over, giving away just three runs to the Virat Kohli-led side. India 95/2 (25 overs)
# Good over from Morris as he conceded just a single to Rohit Sharma via leg bye. The Men in Blue now need 136 runs from 26 overs. India 92/2 (24 overs)
# FIFTY! Rohit Sharma has brought up a half-century off 70 balls. He reached the mark by driving the fifth delivery of the 23rd over down towards long on for a single. India 89/2 (22.5 overs)
# Rohit (43) continues to stand strong at the crease and is nearing his half-century, while KL Rahul (11) has somewhat settled at the middle after coming to bat following Kohli's dismissal. India 82/2 (21 overs)
# A good over for India as they added 10 runs. Rahul punched the first delivery from Phehlukwayo down the ground to notch up four runs before Sharma cut the fifth delivery fiercely towards point for another boundary.India 78/2 (20)
# Phehlukwayo came to bowl the last over and he conceded just three runs to the Men in Blue. Rohit (35) and Rahul (three) are batting cautiously after losing skipper Kohli for 18. India 65/2 (18 overs)
# Eight runs off the last over. Rohit (33) pulled the first delivery of the 17th over towards the square leg for four runs, while KL Rahul got off the mark by edging the third delivery to short fine for a single. India 62/2 (17 overs)
# KL Rahul is the new batsman in!
# WICKET! Phehlukwayo has bagged a big wicket for South Africa in the form Kohli (18). The Indian skipper was caught behind the wicket by Quinton de Kock on the third delivery off the 16th over. India 54/2 (15.1 overs)
# Just three runs off the last over from Phehlukwayo. India now need 181 runs from 36 overs. India 47/1 (14 overs)
# Good first over from Phehlukwayo as he conceded just three runs to the Men in Blue. Kohli (7) and Rohit (23) are currently batting cautiously at the middle and are avoiding going for big shots. India 39/1 (12 overs)
# Andile Phehlukwayo comes into the attack!
# Imran Tahir returned into the attack and he gave away just two runs, a single each to Kohli (5) and Rahul (22). India 36/1 (11 overs)
# Just three runs off the last over from Rabada. While Rohit Sharma (21) has entered into his hitman mode, Virat Kohli (4) is yet to go for big shots. India 34/1 (10 overs)
# A good last over for India as they added 15 runs. Rabada was smashed by Sharma for a six and four on successive deliveries before the Indian opener played a cracking shot toward cover point off the last delivery to add another four runs. India 29/1 (8 overs)
# Maiden over from Chris Morris. The South African bowlers continue to pile pressure on Rohit and Virat, who are yet to score freely. India now need 214 runs from 43 overs. India 14/1 (7 overs)
# Skipper Virat Kohli is the new batsman in!
# WICKET! Rabada gives an early breakthrough to South Africa by removing opener Shikhar Dhawan for eight. The Indian opener was caught by Quinton de Kock behind the wicket on the first delivery of the 5th over. India 14/1 (6 overs)
# Just two runs off the last over. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are currently standing at five and eight as India need 215 runs from 45 overs. India 13/0 (5 overs)
# Six runs off the last over. Dhawan trickled the fifth delivery from Morris into the square leg boundary. The Men in Blue now need 218 runs from 47 overs. India 10/0 (3 overs)
# Chris Morris comes into the attack!
# A good tight over from Rabada, conceding just a single. Dhawan just managed to fend the second delivery over point's head to add one run. India 4/0 (2 overs)
# Three runs off the last over. While Dhawan got off the mark by cutting the third delivery towards cover to notch up one run, Rohit too opened his account with a single by guiding the very next ball past midwicket. India 3/0 (1 over)
# Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have walked down the crease to begin India's chase. Imran Tahir will open the attack for South Africa.
# India restrict South Africa to 227 in their stipulated 50 overs. South Africa 227/9 (50 overs)
# WICKET! Chris Morris falls for 42. The South African batsman drove the second delivery for the last over in the air, only to see Indian skipper running in a few yards from long off to take a good catch. South Africa 224/8 (49.2 overs)
# Nine runs off the last over. Chris Morris (41) continues to stand strong at the crease and is nearing his half-century, while Rabada is comfortably batting at 23. South Africa 218/7 (48 overs)
# South Africa 209/7 (47 overs)
# Chris Morris (33) and Kagiso Rabada (13) have guided South Africa to the 200-run mark. South Africa 200/7 (46 overs)
# A good last over from Jasprit Bumrah, giving away just two runs. While Morris (29) and Rabada (12) are looking to add as many runs as possible with five overs remaining, the Men in Blue are looking to restrict South Africa under 200. South Africa 192/ 7 (45 overs)
# Yuzvendra Chahal came to bowl the last over and he conceded eight runs to South Africa, including a six. Morris swung the shorter delivery from Chahal around the corner, beyond the reach of deep midwicket for six runs. South Africa 190/7 (44 overs)
# South Africa 182/7 (43 overs)
# Nine runs off the last over. Morris moved back and sent the first delivery of the 42nd over towards deep square for a maximum.South Africa 173/7 (42 overs)
# Chris Morris is the new batsman in!
# WICKET! Fourth wicket for Chahal. Phehlukwayo came down the track to defend the third delivery from the Indian bowler, but the ball spun right in front of him and Dhoni clasped it with both hands before taking the bail off. South Africa 161/7 (41 overs)
# An expensive over from Kuldeep Yadav, conceding 11 runs to South Africa. Phehlukwayo belted the second delivery to clear wide long-on to notch up six runs. South Africa 157/6 (39 overs)
# South Africa 140/6 (37 overs)
# Chris Morris is the new batsman in!
# WICKET! South Africa are now down to six wickets. David Miller handed a return catch to Yuzvendra Chahal on the third delivery of the 36th over. The South African depart for 31. South Africa 138/6 (36 overs)
# Jadhav bowled the last over and he conceded five runs to South Africa. Phehlukway lofted the third delivery of the 34th over inside-out over extra cover to notch up four runs. South Africa 132/5 (34 overs)
# Three runs off the last over. Andile Phehlukwayo and David Miller continue to stand strong at the middle at their respective scores of 16 and 29. South Africa 127/5 (33 overs)
# Just one run off the last over from Jadhav. Miller played the third delivery down to long-on for a single. South Africa 124/5 (32 overs)
# A maiden over from Jasprit Bumrah. Andile Phehlukwayo and David Miller are currently batting at 15 and 26, respectively. South Africa 123/5 (31 overs)
# South Africa 123/5 (30 overs)
# Six runs off the last over. Bumrah bowled a fuller delivery on the pads and Miller played an exquisite flick towards deep midwicket to notch up four runs. South Africa 118/5 (29 overs)
# Kedar Jadhav was introduced into the attack by skipper Virat Kohli and he conceded five runs to South Africa. South Africa 112/5 (28 overs)
# Kuldeep Jadhav conceded just two runs in his seventh over. Miller and Phehlukwayo are currently batting 16 and nine, respectively. South Africa 107/5 (27 overs)
# A good tight over from Chahal as he conceded just one run each to Miller (15) and Phehlukwayo (eight). South Africa 105/5 (26 overs)
# South Africa 103/5 (25 overs)
# Nine runs off the last over, including a boundary from Phehlukwayo. Phehlukwayo got off the mark by notching up four runs with a powerful reverse sweep off the fourth delivery bowled by Chahal. South Africa 98/5 (24 overs)
# Andile Phehlukwayo is the new batsman in!
# WICKET! First wicket for Kuldeep Yadav. JP Duminy (three) was caught leg before wicket by the chinamam bowler off the last delivery of the 23rd over.South Africa 89/5 (23 overs)
# South Africa 88/4 (22 overs)
# Five runs off the last over from Kuldeep Yadav. Miller opened his account by chipping safely through mid-off and down to long off for a single. South Africa 85/4 (21 overs)
# WICKET! Chahal strikes again. Skipper du Plessis, who was looking in fine touch, was clean bowled by the Indian leg-spinner on the last delivery of the 20th over. South Africa 80/4 (20 overs)
# David Miller is the new batsman in!
# WICKET! A big relief for India! Yuzvendra Chahal breaks the 54-run stand between du Plessis (38) and Van de Dussen (22) by bowling out the latter on the first delivery of the 20th over. South Africa 78/3 (19.1 overs)
# Yuzvendra Chahal was brought into the attack and he gave away just four runs to South Africa. Faf du Plessis (37) and Van de Dussen (20) have brought up a half-century stand for the third wicket, while the Men in Blue are desperately looking to break this partnership. South Africa 75/2 (18 overs)
# South Africa 71/2 (17 overs)
# Kuldeep Yadav bowled the last over and he conceded nine runs, including four runs from du Plessis. The South African skipper (33) and Van de Dussen (13) have steadied the innings after two early blows. South Africa 65/2 (16 overs)
# Eight runs off the last over from Pandya. A fuller third delivery from Pandya and the ball takes the outside edge of du Plessis' bat and flies past slip, down to third man for a boundary. South Africa cross 50-run mark. South Africa 56/2 (15 overs)
# FOUR!! Van de Dussen cracked the last delivery of the 14th over from Kuldeep Yadav between extra cover and point to get four runs. South Africa 48/2 (14 overs)
# Just three runs off the last over from Hardik Pandya. Du Plessis flicked the second delivery away towards long leg to notch up two runs before he pulled back a single off the fourth delivery. South Africa 43/2 (13 overs)
# Kuldeep Yadav was brought into the attack and he gave away just three runs to South Africa. While the Men in Blue are avoiding conceding easy runs to their opposition, the du Plessis-led side are looking for chances to play big shots. South Africa 40/2 (12 overs)
# South Africa 37/2 (11 overs)
# Two runs off the last over. Rassie van der Dussen (6) and Faf du Plessis (11) are looking to steady ship after South Africa lost their openers cheaply. South Africa 34/2 (10 overs)
# A tight last over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Van der Dussen slapped a full delivery outside off towards extra cover to notch up a single. South Africa 32/2 (9 overs)
# Seven runs off the last over from Bhuvneshwar. South African skipper du Plessis got off the mark by flicking the last delivery of the over through midwicket for four runs. South Africa 30/2 (7 overs)
# Rassie van der Dussen is the new batsman in!
# WICKET! Bumrah strikes again. De Kock was caught by Indian skipper Virat Kohli at third slip off the fifth delivery of the sixth over. South Africa 26/2 (6 overs)
# Seven runs off the last over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Outside edge off de Kock races away to the third-man fence for a boundary. South Africa 22/1 (5 overs)
# Skipper Faf du Plessis comes to bat No.3!
# WICKET! Bumrah gives an early breakthrough to the Men in Blue. The Indian pacer bowled a good length delivery, just outside off, propelling Amla to defend from the crease as the ball took the outside edge of the bat and went straight to Rohit Sharma at second slip. South Africa 15/1 (4 overs)
# Bhuvneshwar Kumar came to bowl the last over and he conceded six runs to South Africa. Amla eased the first delivery into a square drive for four runs. South Africa 10/0 (3 overs)
# Just two runs off the second over. Bumrah delivered a loose ball, full and on the pads and De Kock smashed this away towards fine leg to notch up two runs. South Africa 4/0 (2 over)
# Jasprit Bumrah to share the new ball!
# A good first over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, conceding just two runs to South Africa. Amla got off the mark by cutting the first delivery down towards the third man for a single, while De Kock opened his account with one run by playing a forward defensive shot towards mid-off off the fourth delivery. South Africa 2/0 (1 over)
# Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock to open the batting for South Africa. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will begin the proceedings for the Men in Blue.
# The two sides have walked down the crease for the national anthems.
# Both teams have opted for two wrist spinners in their playing XI. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and KL Rahul have been roped in at the expense of Mohammad Shami and Vijay Shankar, respectively in India's Playing XI. South Africa, meanwhile, have brought in Hashim Amla and Tabraiz Shamsi.
# Lineups:
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (capt), KL Rahul, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
South Africa Playing XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, JP Duminy, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Imran Tahir
# South Africa win toss, opt to bat first against India!
# The toss is all set to take place in a few minutes.
Virat Kohli-led India will look to pile further misery on South Africa and kickstart their campaign at the ICC World Cup 2019 on a winning note when they square off with a bruised Faf Du Plessis' side in their opening fixture at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday.
The Men in Blue slumped to a disappointing six-wicket defeat at the hands of Kane Williamson-led New Zealand in their first warm-up game before registering a comfortable 95-run win in the second warm-up match against Bangladesh.
While South Africa, England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan have played two matches each and New Zealand and Australia one each, India had got more than a week`s time to tune off and get themselves prepared before they head into their first World Cup match.
As far as squad is concerned, it is to be seen whether Kohli will go in with an additional pacer in the form of Bhuvneshwar Kumar or opt for both the spinners namely Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in their bowling attack.
The Indian skipper will also face the dilemma of picking between fit-again Kedar Jadhav and all-rounder Vijay Shankar. While Jadhav is a more experienced batsman and could turn out to be a good finishing option for India at No. 6 alongside wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Shankar had failed to click in the two warm-up matches.
South Africa, on the other hand, lost both of their opening games. The Faf du Plessis-led side slumped to a crushing 104-run defeat against hosts and top-ranked England in the opening World Cup 2019 clash before being stunned by minnows Bangladesh by 21 runs in their second clash.
Heading into the match, the Proteas will look to bounce back and seal their first win of the mega event against India in order to stay alive.
The two squads are as follows:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, K L Rahul, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, David Miller, Beuran Hendricks , Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pertorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamshi, Imran Tahir, Lungi Ngidi, Chris Morris, Rassie van der Dussen.
Phehlukwayo
