| Scores | Upcoming | Results |
Cardiff: Shikhar Dhawan's maiden ton followed by some outstanding fielding helped India begin their Champions Trophy campaign with a convincing 26-run victory over South Africa at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Thursday.
Young Indian fielders inflicted couple of run-outs and took some amazing catches to bowled South Africa out for 305 in 50 overs, while chasing a massive 332-run target.
Ravindra Jadeja, who scored unbeaten 47 off 29 balls, was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with 2 for 31 in nine overs.
Pacers Umesh Yadav (2-75) and Ishant Sharma (2-66) too claimed two Proteas wickets apiece, but Indian spinners turned out to be more effective in the high-scoring contest. Ravichandran Ashwin and part-timer Suresh Raina were economical in their spell as the former conceded just 47 runs in his 10 overs whereas latter gave away 36 in 6 overs.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who bowled the final over, finished with 2 for 49 in his seven overs.
Ryan McLaren toiled hard for the Proteas in the end, scoring unbeaten 71 off 61 balls with the help of a six and 11 fours, but failed to take his team to the target. The all-rounder added impressive 48-run stand for the final wicket with Morne Morkel (8) as they refused to bog down by quick wickets.
Ravindra Jadeja was part of all the action in the field as he first caught JP Duminy plumb and then took the catch of South African skipper AB de Villiers (70), who misjudged an Umesh Yadav delivery.
Earlier, India finally managed to break a solid 124-run stand between De Villiers and Robin Peterson when the latter was runout.
A flamboyant maiden century by opener Shikhar Dhawan guided India to a mammoth total of 331/7.
India set a challenging 332-run target despite Ryan McLaren's triple-strike towards the end of the innings.
Ravindra Jadeja (47* off 29) hit the South African bowlers to all parts of the ground and slammed seven boundaries and a single six to lead the Indian run charge after losing flurry of wickets.
McLaren picked up the wickets of Dinesh Karthik and Raina in quick succession after India lost Dhawan, who played a gem of an innings.
Dhawan (114) hit his maiden ODI century in just 80 balls to dominate the proceedings that came with the help of 12 boundaries and a lone six, which also included a 83-run partnership with Virat Kohli.
However, JP Duminy ruined Dhawan's party by dismissing the southpaw when he had him caught by substitute fielder Aaron Phangiso at backward square leg.
Soon after that McLaren dismissed Karthik (14), who was caught behind the stumps by AB de Villiers while attempting to loft a bouncer to third man.
Rohit completed his half-century with 8 boundaries and a lone six to his credit that helped India cross 100 in the 16th over after a cautious start to the Indian innings.
Earlier, South Africa skipper AB de Villiers won the toss and he decided to bat first.
South Africa have gone with four seamers but Dale Steyn missed out. Colin Ingram open the innings.
In India, Murali Vijay misses out. Rohit Sharma will open, with Dinesh Karthik in the middle order.
Teams
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (captain & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma
South Africa: Hashim Amla, Colin Ingram, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (captain & wk), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Robin Peterson, Morne Morkel, Rory Kleinveldt, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
Brief scores
India 331/7 (Dhawan 114, RG Sharma 65, Jadeja 47, McLaren 3-70)
South Africa 305 (McLaren 71*, de Villiers 70, Peterson 68)
Result India won by 26 runs
Points India 2, South Africa
MOM Sikhar Dhawan (India)
