Shikhar Dhawan hit his maiden one-day international century to set up India's 26-run win over South Africa in a high-scoring Champions Trophy opener on Thursday, lifting the gloom in Indian cricket amid a spot-fixing scandal back home.
Dhawan's 94-ball 114 and a late flurry of boundaries by Ravindra Jadeja (47 not out) helped the world champions post 331-7 under sunny skies, leaving the Proteas requiring a record run chase in Cardiff to win the Group B fixture.
The South Africans recovered from losing two early wickets to be well positioned on 155-2 in the 25th over, but a run out of Robin Peterson (68) and captain AB de Villiers' departure for 70 left the pre-tournament favorites with too much to do and they were bowled out for 305 on the final ball.
India is looking to add another 50-over ICC trophy to its World Cup title from 2011 but came to England and Wales with a youthful squad as it looks to the future after the golden period of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and others.
Dhawan is among those to benefit from the selectors' forward-looking approach and having exploded onto the test scene by making 187 off 174 balls against Australia in Mohali in March for the fastest century by a debutant, he's now made his mark in the limited-overs format.
Playing only his sixth ODI, the left-hander set a fierce pace with Rohit Sharma (65) as the openers punished a slew of short, erratic deliveries to make a 127-run partnership.
Dhawan's 12th four, a sharp pull, brought up his 80-ball century and he took his helmet off to reveal his trademark twirled moustache and earring as he received the acclaim of India's boisterous fans inside Sophia Gardens in south Wales.
The Proteas attack lost Morne Morkel to a left groin injury midway through his seventh over and continued to leak runs, despite taking wickets at regular intervals in the final 16 overs. Jadeja enthralled the crowd with his late 29-ball salvo that featured seven fours and a big six, and it was the allrounder who would prove to be an instrumental figure during South Africa's chase, too.
Colin Ingram (6) and Hashim Amla (22) fell early to leave South Africa on 31-2 but Peterson and De Villiers steadied the innings with a partnership of 124. That ended, though, after a piece of sharp fielding from Jadeja, who dived to stop a drive from Peterson and showed alertness to quickly throw to the wicketkeeper's end and leave the batsman stranded.
The Proteas then lost JP Duminy (14), De Villiers and David Miller (0) in the space of 13 balls and India slowly cleaned up the tail despite a fine unbeaten knock of 71 from Ryan McLaren. Jadeja had figures of 2-31 off nine overs.
India's national sport has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons in the past few weeks, with three players in the Indian Premier League arrested on suspicion of spot-fixing. Indian police said on Thursday that a co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, Raj Kundra, has admitted to betting on his team in the tournament, and the whole saga has put India's preparations for the Champions Trophy under a cloud.
Pakistan and West Indies are the other teams in Group B, with England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and defending champion Australia making up Group A in the 18-day tournament.
