A bunch of youngsters who took the field as an almost new team led India to a big 26-run victory over South Africa in the first match of the Champions Trophy 2013. Although it sounds like 26 runs, this is a big win for India, because South Africa scored 331 runs and almost touched India by scoring 305 runs. Amassing 127 runs in the Indian opening pair and the loss of 2 wickets for 31 runs in the subsequent South African opening pair, determined the course of the match.
Losing the toss and batting, the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shekhar Dhawan played uphill against the African bowlers from the start. Result India's collection stood at 127 runs before Sharma was dismissed in 21.2 overs. Sharma was caught by Pietersen off Ryan McLaren and scored 65 runs off 81 balls. After that, Virat Kohli made a partnership of 87 runs with Dhawan for the second wicket. On a wintry morning in Cardiff, Dhawan continued to take India forward with quick runs, assisted by Kohli. In the 35th over, Kohli, who scored 31 runs off 41 balls, was sent back by Totsobe.
Dhawan was beaten by Duminy's offbreak in the 37th over, but by then his first career century of 114 off 94 balls had given India a solid foundation. Later, captain Dhoni's 27 runs and Ravindra Jadeja's stormy batting of 47 runs in 29 balls lost 7 wickets in 50 overs and India threw a big target of 332 runs to South Africa. Totsobe took 2 wickets and McLaren 3 wickets each.
Chasing a mountain of runs, the Proteas fell into danger after losing Amla and Ingram within 31 runs. Yadav and Kumar gave India the big breakthrough. Although the Pietersen-Villiers duo quickly pulled Africa out of this danger, it was not enough to bring victory.
They added 124 runs in the third wicket pair. India got a big turning point when Pietersen was run out in the 24th over after the team scored 155 runs. Pietersen scored 68 runs before being run out. Duminy was trapped lbw for just 14 runs in the 30th over, then it was Yadav who again gave India relief by catching de Villiers out for 70 in the 31st over.
After that, the Proteas kept losing wickets at regular intervals, in between, McLaren showed a stormy batting of 71 runs off 61 balls. South Africa scored 305 runs after losing all wickets in 50 overs. Kumar, Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja got 2 wickets each.
Shikhar Dhawan, who scored the first century of his career to give victory to India, was recognized as the man of the match.
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