New Delhi:
Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team finally start their ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 campaign against South Africa at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. In recent clashes, India has held the upper hand when it comes to ODI contests in South Africa. In January 2018, India registered a comprehensive 5-1 win series win in the six-match ODI series and in 2017, they had gotten the better of South Africa at The Oval in the ICC Champions Trophy. In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, South Africa hold a 3-1 head-to-head advantage but on current form, India is favourites to get their campaign off to a great start. South Africa, on the other hand, are low on confidence after losing to England and Bangladesh. Here are the past encounters between India and South Africa in the World Cup
Game 1: India vs South Africa, 1992 World Cup, Adelaide. Result: South Africa won
The first meeting between the two sides took place in the 1992 World Cup clash in Adelaide. India was already out of the reckoning for the semi-finals while South Africa had a chance. Rain in Adelaide reduced the clash to a 30-overs-per-side affair. India batted first and was boosted by a splendid knock of 79 off 77 balls from Mohammad Azharuddin. Kapil Dev blasted 42 off 29 balls as India reached 180/6. In response, Andrew Hudson’s 53 and a brilliant 84 off 86 balls from Peter Kirsten gave South Africa a six-wicket win with five balls to spare.
Game 2: India vs South Africa, 1999 World Cup, Brighton. Result: South Africa won
India chose to bat in the second match of the 1999 World Cup held in England and they were boosted by a 130-run stand between Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. Ganguly’s 97 and Dravid’s 54 helped India reach 253/5. In response, South Africa was in trouble at 116/4 but Jacques Kallis’ awesome 96 and a calm knock of 39 off 42 balls from Jonty Rhodes prolonged India’s agony as South Africa won by four wickets.
Game 3: India vs South Africa, 2011 World Cup, Nagpur. Result: South Africa won
India again chose to bat and they got a great start thanks to Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Sehwag and Tendulkar’s opening stand was 142 and despite Sehwag falling for 73, Tendulkar notched up his 99th international century and Gautam Gambhir chipped in with 69. However, a collapse of nine wickets for 29 runs restricted India to 296 all out with Dale Steyn taking 5/50. South Africa was boosted by fifties from Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis but AB de Villiers’ 52 off 33 balls was key. Johan Botha’s 23 off 15 balls and a seven-ball 18 from Robin Peterson helped South Africa over the line by three wickets with two balls to spare.
Game 4: India vs South Africa, 2015 World Cup, Melbourne. Result: India won
India finally broke their jinx against South Africa in the World Cup clash at the MCG. Shikhar Dhawan blasted 137 and was aided brilliantly by Ajinkya Rahane who blasted 79 off 76 balls as India reached 307/7. Ravichandran Ashwin took 3/41 and was well backed up by Mohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami’s two wickets as India won by a comprehensive margin of 130 runs.
