India ensured they will finish the league stage of the 2023 World Cup as the top-ranked team after a massive 243-run win against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

After Virat Kohli equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries, which helped India reach a competitive total of 326, the hosts bundled out South Africa for 83 to keep their winning streak alive in the competition. With eight wins from as many games, India have ensured a top-place finish in the league, with South Africa and Australia only able to get to a maximum of 14 points each.

Kohli was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 101, acting as the anchor for the Indian innings on a low and slow wicket. After a blazing start from Rohit Sharma (40 in 24), the introduction of spin made scoring tougher, but Shreyas Iyer combined with Kohli to stitch a crucial 134-run stand.

With the pitch offering significant turn, Kohli and Iyer mainly relied on singles during the 11-20 over phase, with just one boundary. While Maharaj bowled ten consecutive overs without conceding a boundary, South Africa’s second spinner, Tabraiz Shamsi, struggled with his line and length, allowing Iyer to increase the scoring rate.

Both Kohli and Iyer reached their half-centuries, pushing the run rate back above six runs per over. Iyer was the dominant scorer, hissing three fours in a single Jansen over. However, his innings came to an end at 77 when he mistimed a lofted shot off Lungi Ngidi. KL Rahul and Kohli found it challenging to maintain the same fluency against the older ball, and Rahul fell to Jansen. In the overs between 35 and 40, India managed to score only 20 runs, and boundaries became scarcer.

Kohli continued to accumulate runs steadily, finding gaps and running hard. He achieved the record-equalling century off the 119th ball he faced, making it his joint-slowest century in the ODI format. Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja provided crucial cameos towards the end of the innings, with Yadav scoring 22 runs off 14 balls and Jadeja remaining unbeaten on 29 runs from 15 balls.

However, South Africa were never in the game as the Indian bowlers struck early once again. Mohammed Siraj bowled Quinton de Kock with the scorecard on six, and the team could never recover. Jadeja made most of the conditions on offer, picking up his first ODI five-for in a decade, while Mohammed Shami’s bowling average in this tournament dipped to a stunning seven with two more wickets.

South Africa lost their last five wickets for 24 runs as they were shot out for 83, failing to surpass India’s score of 91, which they accumulated in the first powerplay.

India’s last league game is on November 12 against the Netherlands, while South Africa will play Afghanistan two days earlier.

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