In a thrilling ODI World Cup 2023 encounter at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens on a Sunday, India continued its relentless march by overpowering South Africa with a commanding 243-run victory. This resounding win extended India’s unblemished record in the tournament. The match witnessed several remarkable milestones and records, headlined by Virat Kohli’s spectacular performance and Sachin Tendulkar’s illustrious records being equaled and even surpassed.
Key Records from the Match:
- Virat Kohli’s Remarkable Century:
- Virat Kohli notched his 49th ODI century, matching the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s remarkable feat.
- Kohli’s Milestones in Indian Soil:
- Kohli became the second batsman, following Tendulkar (6976 runs), to accumulate 6000 runs in ODIs within India.
- Dominance in the World Cup:
- Kohli also became the third Indian, joining Rohit Sharma and Tendulkar, to amass 500 runs in a single edition of the World Cup.
- Historic Run-Scoring Feat:
- Kohli’s stellar performance propelled him to become the third-highest run-scorer in World Cup history, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara.
- Pinnacle of World Cup Run Accumulation:
- Kohli now stands as the second Indian, after Tendulkar, and the fourth player worldwide to amass over 1500 runs in World Cup matches.
- Birthday Century Feat:
- Virat Kohli joined an elite group, including Mitchell Marsh and Ross Taylor, by scoring an ODI World Cup century on his birthday. This marks the seventh instance of such an achievement in the format, alongside greats like Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya.
- Quinton de Kock’s Milestone:
- South Africa’s Quinton de Kock became the fourth South African batsman to accumulate 1000 career runs in World Cup matches.
- Marco Jansen’s Expensive Bowling:
- Marco Jansen’s bowling figures of 94 runs in 9.4 overs set an unwanted record as the most expensive by a South African bowler in a World Cup match.
- South Africa’s Struggles:
- South Africa encountered a difficult day as they recorded their worst bowling PowerPlay (91/1) and worst batting PowerPlay (35/3) performance in World Cup 2023.
- Rohit Sharma’s Six-Hitting Prowess:
- Rohit Sharma equaled South Africa’s AB de Villiers for hitting the most ODI sixes in a calendar year, an impressive feat with 58 sixes.
- South Africa’s Lowest World Cup Total:
- South Africa’s total of 83 runs marked their lowest-ever in World Cup history and the second-lowest in the ODI format.
- India’s Convincing Victory:
- India’s 243-run victory margin against South Africa was their largest-ever defeat of the Proteas in World Cup matches and the ODI format.
- Jadeja’s Five-Wicket Haul:
- Ravindra Jadeja achieved a milestone, becoming only the second Indian spinner after Yuvraj Singh (5/31 vs Ireland in 2011) to take a five-wicket haul in the ODI World Cup.
- India’s Winning Streak:
- With this victory, India extended its winning streak to 8 matches in a single edition of the ODI World Cup, equalling their longest streak in the tournament’s history.
- South Africa’s Sixless Outing:
- This match also marked the first time South Africa failed to hit any sixes in an ODI encounter.
In summary, India’s dominant performance, spearheaded by Virat Kohli and supported by a series of records and milestones, left South Africa reeling in what proved to be a historic ODI World Cup clash at the Eden Gardens.
