Ravindra Jadeja leads India to comprehensive Cricket World Cup win over Proteas

A five-for from India spinner Ravindra Jadeja put the exclamation mark on a dominant 243-run win over South Africa at the 2023 Cricket World Cup on Sunday.

Birthday boy Virat Kohli was the leading run-scorer for India as they set South Africa a target of 327 runs in the top-of-the-table clash.

The former captain scored 101 runs from 127 balls and hit 10 fours in a hard-fought innings on a turning pitch and in hot weather.

The spectators in Eden Gardens rose to their feet when Kohli passed 90 runs and cheered every run thereon. As he took strike on 99, the mostly Indian crowd roared with delight and thousands of cameras flashed to record the iconic moment.

Kohli put on 134 for the third wicket to anchor the India innings with Shreyas Iyer, who came to the crease in the 11th over with the score 92-2 following a typically explosive start by Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.

Shreyas was eventually dismissed by Lungi Ngidi for 77 from 87 deliveries, before an energetic 22 from 14 balls from Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja's unbeaten 29 from 15 saw the innings end with a flourish.

India's powerful seam attack was backed up by their spinners as they breezed through the South Africa batting line-up, with Jadeja the pick of the bowlers, taking 5-33. The Proteas were then skittled out for just 89 in 27.1 overs.

The result means the undefeated India are assured of top spot after winning all eight of their group-stage matches.

Meanwhile, South Africa, who have already secured a semi-final place, are second on 12 points, two ahead of Australia in third.

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