RSA VS IND - Match 8, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Hasn't taken long at all for India to get into rhythm in this World Cup. Up and running straightaway with a reaffirming win. South Africa, unfortunately, are staring at the barrel already. They have more injured frontline bowlers than fit ones. The batting has exposed a rot that's being stubborn about going away. And that dropped catch from Miller, phew it was hard to watch. Hope they're not that hard to watch in the matches to come. Hope they play like South Africa. That's all from us here. Goodnight!

A stat-wrap, courtesy Deepu Narayanan
** Fewest ODIs to 50 wins as captain:
63 C Lloyd/ R Ponting
68 H Cronje
69 VIRAT KOHLI
70 V Richards
** First time South Africa have lost three consecutive matches in a single edition of the World Cup
** Last six meetings in ICC events between SA & India:
WT20 2012: India won by one runs
CT 2013: India won by 26 runs
WT20 2014: India won by six wkts
WC 2015: India won by 130 runs
CT 2017: India won by eight wkts
WC 2019: India won by six wkts
** Most unbeaten ODI 100s in chases:
11 V Kohli
9 ROHIT SHARMA
8 S Tendulkar
7 Saeed Anwar

Kohli (2/2): The first win is always important. On the field, we were confident as a group. With the bat, we had to work our way through because of the attack they have. That's where Rohit's innings was very very special. You need experienced guys to stand up. One of the top three getting a hundred is something we bank on. KL batted really well with him. Then MS showed great composure. Hardik finished well too. He looks in a good headspace. One thing to say we're a strong team on paper, but it's another to be professional about the win in all three aspects.

Kohli, India captain (1/2): The wait was very long and then you get a game like this where it was challenging throughout. From our point of view it was important to start on the right note. We might not have had the run rate, but if you look at how the game went and how the pitch behaved, it was challenging. Hats off to Rohit, his innings was special. And also the guys who batted around him. I would say it's a professional win. We were going to bowl first. They were coming off two losses, so you have to make sure you get the first 15 overs right. Jasprit is operating at a different level to be honest. The way he's bowling, the batsmen feel the pressure all the time. Not the other way round. Chahal was outstanding as well. There's one thing to see a bowler bowl, but to catch that ball, to feel the heaviness of it. When I caught it, for 15 minutes my hands were buzzing. He's not giving any freebies. With the new ball he was absolutely outstanding. Haven't seen Amla get out like that in one-day cricket. Even Quinny, he rushed him for pace.

Faf (2/2): Morris who hasn't played too much recently for us, was excellent today, bowling with pace and good control and even got 40-odd runs today. They were the two stand-out performers today - Morris and Rabada. The change-room is hurting; the guys are a little down. But we are still fighting. We are making mistakes all the time - today the mistake was one guy not batting through the innings. That's what you need in England. You have to set a good total for your bowlers to defend, and to have so many 30s and 40s is not acceptable at a World Cup. We need six wins from six now to make it up.

Faf du Plessis, South Africa captain (1/2): I thought India were magnificent on a tough pitch. They bowled really well. Their bowling attack is strong - all bases covered. Fast bowlers initially and spinners who get wickets in the middle-overs. We clawed back with the bat again after the spinners bowled in the middle-overs. We started well with the ball again, but some great batting by Rohit, a bit of luck, but he did what we didn't do - got a hundred, and saw the innings through. Two things: The build-up to the match, the info said, a lot of runs were scored, and the make-up of our team, with the fast-bowling resources gone, we went with spin. If we had Steyn and Ngidi, we would have the chance to attack with overcast conditions. Rabada was an absolute champion - he was extremely unlucky, and I have never seen so many balls falling in different areas. That's how it goes when you aren't playing well. Little 50-50 things tend to go against you.

Harsha Bhogle: Wonderful result for India. Many boxes ticked. Bumrah was magnificent as was Chahal and India will like the solidity from Rahul and Dhoni. And Rohit Sharma was unhurried, his slowest ODI century but one that was invaluable

Rohit Sharma, Man of the Match: Different experience from India. There was something in it for the bowlers throughout the game, so you had to play out the overs initially and see what the ball was doing. Couldn't play my natural game. You have to take your time. Certain shots that I like playing, I had to cut out and play close to the body, and follow the basics properly - try and leave as many balls as possible on a pitch that is doing a bit. Building partnerships were key in this chase. It was a small total, but since there was something in it for the bowlers, it was tough and we needed partnerships. It's the batsmen's job to get the job done, whoever is out in the middle. We can't rely on one or two individuals all the time. That's been the hallmark of this team over the last two years - someone always puts their hand up and takes the responsibility to take the team across the line. I hope at some stage someone will put their hand up and take that challenge. That's the beauty of playing in England - we are playing a little early. We play in July/August, but this is June. The weather has been good, and overcast, so you don't sweat too much like in India. It wasn't a typical Rohit Sharma innings, but I had to play out the overs initially to make sure that the job is done.

South Africa - ravaged by lack of form and injury - tried hard with the ball, but were always playing catch-up after their batsmen had disappointed once more. It's their third defeat on the bounce in this tournament now, and given how their morale has sunk - evidenced by some shockers in the field today - their outlook is rather grim.

18:16 Local Time, 17:16 GMT, 22:46 IST: The target was only 228, but the way Rabada came gunning for the Indian batsmen at the start, South Africa carried a threat. The pitch was still offering some nip, and it continued to do so right through. But India had what South Africa didn't. They had a player who was prepared to weather through the storm. Rohit Sharma, over the course of his slowest ODI ton, showed great responsibility for the team. He was helped with a couple of dropped catches, and also by the fact that he knew what they were chasing, but then had the wherewithal to capitalize in conditions that weren't necessarily suited for his style of strokeplay.

Phehlukwayo to Hardik Pandya, FOUR, width for Pandya who scythes it through backward point. It skims through to the boundary as India start their World Cup campaign with a comfortable win

Phehlukwayo to Hardik Pandya, wide, another sharp bouncer, but this one's even higher than the previous one and will be signalled wide

Phehlukwayo to Hardik Pandya, no run, dug in short, vaults over Pandya's shoulders and he puts his ego aside to bail out of the pull shot

Phehlukwayo to Hardik Pandya, 2 runs, back of a length delivery outside off, Pandya flays this through backward point. There's a desperate dive, rather collapse, from Tahir in the deep. Does really well to cut it off

Andile Phehlukwayo [8.0-0-33-1] is back into the attack

Ishaan Bhatnagar: "Chris Morris has delivered every possible thing today for his team. Good performance with bat as well as ball. He has bowled his heart out today and got awarded with Dhoni's wicket."

Chris Morris to Hardik Pandya, 1 run, short of length delivery outside off, punched through the covers

Chris Morris to Hardik Pandya, FOUR, now through the on-side. Short of length, he batters the pull shot well in front of square to show the bowler who's boss

Chris Morris to Hardik Pandya, FOUR, that's struck fiercely off the back foot from Pandya who - despite not having too much width - manages to generate great power through backward point

Chris Morris to Hardik Pandya, no run, back of a length delivery at the top of off, Pandya punches to point

Chris Morris to Rohit, 1 run, back of a length delivery just outside off, Rohit runs it down to third man

Hardik Pandya, right handed bat, comes to the crease