South Africa on the brink after India condemn them to third defeat

Strike three, you’re just about out. This is the looming fate for South Africa after their six-wicket defeat by India – a third loss in the space of a week to begin their campaign – which probably leaves them with the task of winning all six of their remaining games to make the final four of this World Cup. Steering the chase in customary fashion, Rohit Sharma scored his 23rd ODI century, finishing unbeaten on 122 off 144 balls, to give the men in blue the ideal start.

The comfortable margin – Virat Kohli’s side reaching the victory target of 228 with 2.3 overs to spare – belies the fact that for the briefest moment, the period when Kagiso Rabada was charging in to start the Proteas’ defence of 227 for nine, the contest was red hot.