Champions Trophy top run scorer Shikhar Dhawan led India to the semi-finals after South Africa crumbled to 191, with three run-outs abruptly ending their qualification hopes. Both sides were written off prior to the tournament but stunning wins against their higher-ranked opponents has them just one more strong performance from a semi-final berth.
Kohli survived an edge towards Amla in the slip cordon as more boundaries followed to bring up the 100 for India, with no further wickets lost. A decent wicket to bat on.
Kohli was enjoying a great day in the field and the India skipper made the right call to challenge a not-out decision against an lbw appeal against Andile Phehlukwayo, who also went for four - with Kagiso Rabada (five) also quickly back in the pavilion off the next ball.
India showed intensity from the word go, and the reward was a comprehensive win.
In-form opener Dhawan was the key figure with 78 from 83 balls, including 12 fours, while captain Kohli weighed in with a typically elegant 76. "If the opportunity comes your way, you have to grab it", said Kohli after the match. Two run-outs of skipper AB de Villiers (16) and David Miller (1) within the space of six deliveries triggered the slide from which they could never recover.
"The side have been missing that spark, or that intensity to their play that characterises South Africa cricket.The positivity to our play and the energy that we've come to expect from this group of players just hasn't been there", he lamented. It was important for someone to bat until the end.
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An exuberant Bradley ran to the endline and raised the badge on his jersey to the several thousand red-white-and-blue-clad fans. The Americans will resume their qualifying schedule in early September against Costa Rica at home and Honduras on the road.
About the game against Bangladesh, he said, "We played in Birmingham, we like that pitch, suits our game".
"There is always small point you can improve on, can't rest on your laurels".
"It's not an ideal way to finish the tournament. Credit to them in those first 15-20 overs, they put the pressure on us", De Villiers said. We've got to play really good cricket to beat them, and we all know that they're a very unsafe team. Couldn't it get away. Asked whether a radical shake up is needed, De Villiers said, "That's a question can only be answered by people who are in control of making radical decisions".
"Yes, we had some of the days which were not nice, and I think the first game was one of those where we all tried our level best but things didn't work for us", the 36-year-old top-order batsman and off-spinner added. "It's probably our most complete game yet", said Kohli in the post-match press conference.
"I'm happy with any role given to me". You have to be good enough to do that for the country and you have to be good enough to bounce back, as well. "A good toss to win, chasing has been relatively easier".
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