Kohli equals Tendulkar's milestone with ton

AFP

Virat Kohli marked his 35th birthday with his second century of the World Cup while Shreyas Iyer scored a fifty as India posted a formidable 326-5 against South Africa in a clash between the tournament's top two teams at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.

Kohli's unbeaten 101 contained 10 fours and left him level with Indian great Sachin Tendulkar on 49 one-day international hundreds as he continued his superb form by taking his tally past 500 runs in the tournament.

He dropped anchor in a third-wicket partnership of 134 with Iyer, who made 77 with seven fours and two sixes, before getting to his ton in the 49th over after India went past 300 runs on a slow Kolkata wicket.

India elected to bat first after winning the toss and took advantage of some wayward pace bowling by Marco Jansen to make a blazing start but skipper Rohit Sharma fell for a 24-ball 40 as he looked to launch first-change Kagiso Rabada over mid-off.

After reaching 91-1 in the powerplay, the hosts lost opener Shubman Gill (23) to an unplayable delivery from Keshav Maharaj in the 11th over as South Africa brought the run-rate under control with spin.

More from Sports

  • Dozens arrested in NBA illegal gambling probe

    Chauncey Billups, an NBA Hall of Fame player and head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Terry Rozier, a guard with the Miami Heat, were among more than 30 people charged on Thursday in connection with two separate but related federal gambling investigations that involved the league and the Mafia.

  • FIA defends return of sanctioned Russian to governing body

    Formula One's governing body has defended the quiet reinstatement to its World Motor Sport Council of a Russian member subject to international sanctions as a result of the war in Ukraine.

  • Messi extends Inter Miami contract

    Lionel Messi has extended his contract with MLS side Inter Miami to 2028, the club announced on Thursday, a boost for the North American league as the Argentine great keeps his career going.

  • Australia fend off India in Adelaide to seal ODI series

    Australia all-rounders Matt Short and Cooper Connolly scored half-centuries as the hosts claimed a two-wicket victory over India at Adelaide Oval to seal their one-day international series with a match to spare.

  • South Africa beat Pakistan by eight wickets to level series

    South Africa romped to an eight-wicket win over Pakistan on the fourth day of the second Test in Rawalpindi on Thursday, claiming victory before lunch to level the two-match series.