By Brendon Atwell | At SuperSport.com

Shikhar Dhawan scored a delightful and fortuitous century as India crushed South Africa by 130 runs an ICC Cricket World Cup Pool B match at the MCG in Melbourne on Sunday.

Dhawan survided two run outs and was dropped on 53 on his way to 137 as India, who won the toss and elected to bat first, made 307 for seven in their fifty overs.

In reply, the Proteas were bundled out for 177 in 40.2 overs with Ravichandran Ashwin claiming 3-41 in his 10 overs.

Dhawan, who faced 146 balls and struck 16 boundaries and two maximums, shared in two century stands for the second and third wickets with Virat Kohli (46) and Ajinkya Rahane (79 off 60) respectively.

South Africa suffered an injury setback early on when Vernon Philander (4-1-19-0) suffered a hamstring injury.

“Their first three bowlers very good and put us under pressure early,” said the centurion Dhawan after the match.

“I just relaxed and played myself in so that I could bring the strike-rate up again. I felt I was in after the 35th over, where I could hit more shots but I was just playing them on merit and then started getting boundaries. Ajinkya (Rahane) kept the strike rate up nicely which meant I could relax and just rotate the strike,” added Dhawan.

Read More At SuperSport.com