ICC Champions Trophy 2017: India rout South Africa, likely to face Bangladesh in semi-finals

India crushed South Africa by eight wickets on Sunday to reach the Champions Trophy semi-finals and knock the world’s top-ranked team out of the tournament. South Africa crumbled from 116 for one to 191 all out in good batting conditions at The Oval before Shikhar Dhawan (78) and Virat Kohli (76 not out) shared a fluent partnership of 128 to lead India to victory with 12 overs to spare.

The defending champions followed hosts England and Bangladesh into the last four and they will be joined by the winners of Monday’s final Group B game between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

“Our bowlers bowled really well and the fielders backed it up. It was a complete performance in the field — we grabbed the chances that came our way,” captain Kohli said at the presentation ceremony. “The guys really stepped up with their intensity.”

South Africa started cautiously after being sent in to bat as Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock added 76 for the first wicket without undue alarm. Amla raised the tempo with a six over mid-wicket but, on 35, he tried to cut spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and nicked a sharp catch to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

South Africa were 94 for one …read more