India’s carrom-baller, spin wizard Ashwin bids adieu to international cricket
India's decorated off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his decision to retire from international cricket moments after the Brisbane Test ended in a draw.
The much-awaited India-South Africa World Cup clash began with South African skipper Faf du Plessis winning the toss and electing to bat first, after failing to chase two consecutive scores of 300 runs in their first two games. However, they didn’t start as well as they desired.
Having lost their first wicket for just 11 runs, South Africa were at one stage reeling at 7-158 but then stitched a little come back as Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris put together 66 runs for the eight wicket.
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South Africa ended with 227 runs in 50 overs – not the performance they would have liked – having elected to bat first, but would be contended to have at least something to bowl at.
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India need 228 to win the game and register consecutive World Cup wins against a country they had lost three in the first place.
India will be satisfied with the discipline they showed with the ball throughout the innings, with Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar setting the tone right from the start.
The spin pair of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were the ones who truly made the Protean wheels fall off, with Chahal picking up 4 wickets.
Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada have in any case given themselves something to bowl at and will have to take South Africa’s destiny in their own hands when they come out to try and defend this total.
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