India shock South Africa in record defeat!

13th match, Pool B India V South Africa played at Melbourne Cricket Ground

India 307 for 7; Dhawan 137 ,Rahane 79, Kholi 46, Morkel 2-59South Africa 177 all out F du Felissis 55, AB de Villers 30, Ashwin 3-41, Shami 2-30(India win by 130 runs) 

Indian Opener Melbourne resident, Shikar Dhawan struck shocking 137, Ajinkya Rahane an electrifying knock of 79, ad Virat Kohli’s 46, in front of 86,000 crowd, to take India to 307-7 and ensured South Africa toiled on a steamy day in the filed after losing the toss and they needed a record chase. India’s first resounding 130-run win against South Africa at the World Cup after three previous losses at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. South Africa was skittled for 177 all out after they lost seven wickets for 44 runs, with 10 overs to spare.

South Africa dropped three catches, including the crucial chance to Hashim Amla at backward point that reprieved Dhawan at 53. Due to a hamstring injury to South African star seamer Vernon Philander, could bowled only four overs.

For South Africa, after breaking through at the tail end of India’s innings, their failed to capitalise, soon after Faf du Plessis followed AB de Villiers to the pavilion. Not one six either, compared to 14, that were sent out of the same ground against Zimbabwe.

Ravichandran Ashwin finished on three for 41 to lead the India bowling, with the fast bowler Mohammed Shami and the medium-pacer Mohit grabbing two wickets each.

Behind every successful batsman there is a woman. In 2004 although, he had been the leading run-scorer at an Under-19 World Cup, but after that, he was lost after spending more than half a decade in limpo, barring few innings for Delhi.

Acting on impulse Shikar Dhawan who came across the Melbourne-based Ayesha Mukherjee, of British-Bengali origin, on Harbhajan Singh’s Facebook friends’ list that changed his life for ever. Engaged in 2009 and married in 2012 and 2013 Dhawan destroyed Australia on his Test debut, carrying that form forward into the Champions Trophy, where he was player of the tournament. Mukherjee, a trained kickboxer (12 years older and mother of two girls) Dhawan and her now have a baby boy sorted him out, to master discipline and mental equanimity.