The Indian Cricket team produced a clinical performance by winning the match by 8 wickets to qualify for the semi-final of Champions Trophy 2017 played at Kennington Oval, London just finished few minutes ago. India won the toss and elected to field, restricting South Africa for 191 in 44.3 overs, chased down the target with ease.
Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bowl first. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah bowled good line and lengths not allowing the South African openers of Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock to score runs with ease. At the end of first 10 overs, South Africa was 35 runs. The left handed de Kock and Hashim put the pressure on Hardik Pandya with attacking strokes. R Ashwin who was given a chance in place of Umesh Yadav took the wicket of Hashim Amla for 35 runs to end a 76 runs partnership.
Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis slowly build the innings with a 40 runs stand for the second wicket. De Kock completed his half century in 68 balls. Ravindra Jadeja took the important wicket of De Kock for 53. Faf du Plessis ran out captain AB de Villiers and David Miller to change the course losing the plot. From 140 for 2 in 28.2 overs, South Africa lost their last 8 wickets for 51 runs and was bowled out for 191 in 44.3 overs. JP Duminy remained not out on 20 in 41 balls. All the Indian bowlers were brilliant not making the life easy for South African batsmen.
Chasing the target of 192, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma put on 23 runs for the first wicket in 5.3 overs as Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 12 runs. At the end of 10 overs, India was 37 for 1. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli played excellent strokes off the pace bowlers as well spinners. Both of them put pressure on South African bowlers. Dhawan continued his brilliant form in Champions Trophy 2017 with the third successive fifty in the tournament. He completed his fifty in 68 balls while Virat Kohli looked in good touch hitting his fifty in 71 balls. Dhawan was dismissed for 78 to end a 128 run partnership for the second wicket. Yuvraj Singh completed the match with a six remaining not out on 23 while Kohli remained not out on 76. It was a dominating win as India won it by 8 wickets with 72 balls to spare.
India 193 for 2 in 38 overs ( Shikhar Dhawan 78, Virat Kohli 76*) beat South Africa 191 in 44.3 overs( Quinton de Kock 53, Faf du Plessis 36, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/23, Jasprit Bumrah 2/28) by 8 wickets
India 2 South Africa 0
India will play Bangladesh in the second semi-finals on 15th June at Edgbaston.
