India launches World Cup campaign with six-wicket win over South Africa

India's Rohit Sharma celebrates after his high score of 122 helped beat South Africa in the World Cup match at Southampton on Wednesday.

India launched their World Cup campaign with a six-wicket win over South Africa at Southampton on Wednesday as the Proteas suffered their third defeat in as many matches this tournament.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and batted but a superb double strike by Jasprit Bumrah left his side reeling.

India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal then took four wickets in a meagre total of 227 for nine.

India, with Rohit Sharma, dropped early in an innings of 122 not out — the highest individual score of the tournament to date — took their time over the chase before winning with 15 balls to spare.

India next play Australia at The Oval on Sunday while South Africa take on West Indies on Monday.

Brief scores

South Africa: 227 for 9 in 50 overs (Chris Morris 42, Fah du Plessis 38, Phehlukwayo 34, Miller 31, Kagiso Rabada 31 n.o., Dussen 22, Y. Chahal 4 for 51, Jasprit Bumrah 2 for 35, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar 2 for 44) lost to India: 230 for 4 in 47.3 overs (Rohit Sharma 122 n.o., M.S. Dhoni 34, K.L. Rahul 26, Rabada 2 for 39); Player of the Match: Rohit Sharma.

New Zealand survive Bangladesh scare

New Zealand survived a dramatic late fightback by Bangladesh to pull off a nervy two-wicket win in their World Cup clash at the Oval on Wednesday. Man-of-the-match Ross Taylor scored a 91-ball 82 before a clatter of wickets gave Bangladesh the chance to pull off a shock win. It needed a 20-run eighth-wicket stand between Mitchell Santner (17 not out) and Matt Henry (six) to bring the target down to seven required in a highly tense atmosphere. Lockie Ferguson (4 not out) and Santner hit a boundary each to seal the win.

The win is New Zealand’s second victory after their crushing 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, with the team hungry for a first-ever World Cup triumph.

Brief Scores

Bangladesh: 244 in 49.2 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 64, Md. Saifuddin 29, Soumya Sarkar 25, Tamim Iqbal 24, Md.Mithun 26, Matt Henry 4 for 47, Trent Boult 2 for 44) lost to New Zealand: 248 for 8 in 47.1 overs (Ross Taylor 82, Williamson 40, Martin Guptill 25, Colin Munro 24, Mehindy Hasan 2 for 47, Shakib Al Hasan 2 for 47, Md. Saifuddin 2 for 41, Mosaddek Hossain 2 for 33); Player of the Match: Ross Taylor.

This post was published on June 6, 2019 6:33 pm