KOLKATA, Nov  5, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Virat Kohli equalled Sachin Tendulkar's
record of 49 one-day international hundreds as India bowled out South Africa
for just 83 in a 243-run World Cup rout on Sunday with the superstar batsman
hailing his achievement as "the stuff of dreams".
       
Kohli, on his 35th birthday, got to the landmark in 119 balls, including 10
fours, at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.
       
"It's a huge honour to equal my hero's record. He's perfection with the
bat. It's an emotional moment," said Kohli.
      
 It had taken him 277 innings to score 49 hundreds at this level compared to
the 438 required by fellow India 2011 World Cup-winner Tendulkar.
      
 Kohli's 101 not out was the centrepiece of India's 326-5 before their
powerful attack cleaned up as Rohit Sharma's men made it eight wins out of
eight at the tournament.
       
Together with Shreyas Iyer (77) he shared a third-wicket partnership of 134
after India captain Rohit had won the toss.
       
India, fresh from dismissing Sri Lanka for just 55 during a 302-run rout of
the 1996 champions, sparked another collapse as South Africa were dismissed for
83.
       
It was the Proteas' second-lowest ODI total, behind their 69 against
Australia at Sydney in 1993 and lowest at a World Cup.
       
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja did the bulk of the damage with 5-33, with
India now assured of finishing the pool phase in top spot, while South Africa
lower-order batsman Marco Jansen's 14 was the innings' top score.
       
Like India, South Africa had also already made sure of their semi-final
spot.
       
This was South Africa's second pool defeat following a stunning loss to
non-Test side Netherlands and the gap between the top two teams on Sunday was
almost as much of a shock as that reverse.
       
Kohli, now averaging more than 108 in the World Cup, said during the
innings break: "Every opportunity to play for India is a big one, to be able to
ton up on my birthday is the stuff of dreams. It is something you dream about
as a child."
       
- Tendulkar tribute -
       
       
Tendulkar led the tributes to Kohli, the retired India great writing on X,
formerly Twitter: "Well played Virat. It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50
(years old) earlier this year. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record
in the next few days. Congratulations."
       
India had South Africa's Quinton de Kock, the tournament's leading
run-scorer, out for just five when he played onto Mohammed Siraj before Jadeja
bowled Proteas captain Temba Bavuma.
       
Mohammed Shami, coming off a superb five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka,
struck with just his fifth ball when Aiden Markram was caught behind off a
brilliant delivery that angled in and jagged away to take the outside edge.
       
Jadeja had dangerman Heinrich Klaasen leg before and 40-4 became 40-5 when
paceman Shami overturned another original not out decision as Rassie van der
Dussen was lbw for 13.
       
"We know the challenge, know the narrative around us while chasing. Didn't
do it any justice today," admitted Bavuma.
       
Earlier, left-arm quick Jansen, whose first over cost 17 runs, returned
expensive figures of 1-94 in 9.4 overs.
       
Rohit launched the innings in style with a typically brisk 40 before he was
well caught by Bavuma at mid-off.
       
Kohli carried on from where left off in his 88 against Sri Lanla with
successive fours off fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.
       
But Keshav Maharaj, struck with just his third ball, the left-arm spinner
bowling Shubman Gill (23) with a classic delivery that pitched just outside leg
and turned to clip the off-stump
       
Kohli and Iyer, who made a blistering 82 against Sri Lanka, rebuilt in
patient fashion before the accelerating Iyer holed out off Lungi Ngidi.
       
But with a capacity crowd willing him on as thousands in Eden Gardens held
up lights against the night sky, the composed Kohli's single off Rabada saw him
to a fine hundred.