The hosts India will end at the top of the table at the ICC Cricket World Cup following a convincing 243-run win over South Africa in Kolkata.

India had a bat first and scored 326/5 in their 50-0vers thanks to 101 not out by Virat Kohli while Shreyas Iyer scored 77.

Keshav Maharaj was the pick of the Proteas bowlers with 1/30, while most of the other bowlers conceded more than 7 runs an over. The only other South African bowler turn economical figures in the match

In reply, Ravindra Jadeja took 5/33 as the Proteas were bowled out for just 83 in 27.1 overs.

Kohli said scoring a century on his birthday made the win extra special.

“It was a big game, we were probably playing the toughest team in the tournament that we had played so far, to be honest,” said the star batter.

“They played some amazing cricket and there was this motivation of wanting to do well for the team.

“Because it happened on my birthday, people made it a bit more special for me. I had this sense of it's going to be something more today, rather than it's just one more game in the World Cup. I did wake up with that excitement.”

While the Proteas defeat halted their momentum, it’s far from panic-stations in the camp as they are already guaranteed of their place in the semi-finals and this is due to Pakistan’s 21-run win over New Zealand according to the DLS method.

On Friday the Proteas will face Afghanistan in Ahmedabad in their last game before the semi-finals.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport