Virat Kohli equals Sachin Tendulkar record with 49th ODI century as India thrash South Africa to secure top spot in the table at World Cup

• India thrashed nearest rivals South Africa to make it eight wins out of eight
• Virat Kohli made an unbeaten 101 on his 35th birthday to equal record
• India are now guaranteed to go through to the semi-finals as group winners 

Virat Kohli drew level with Sachin Tendulkar on 49 one-day international hundreds as India thrashed nearest rivals South Africa by 243 runs to make it eight wins out of eight at the World Cup.

On his 35th birthday, Kohli made an unbeaten 101 as tournament hosts and favourites India racked up 326 for five after choosing to bat at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.

South Africa’s powerful batting unit were then bundled out for just 83 – the joint-second-lowest total in their history – as left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja picked up five for 33, including the in-form Heinich Klaasen leg-before for a single.

But it was Kohli who stole the show, equalling Tendulkar’s mark from astonishing 175 innings fewer, and earning a congratulatory tweet from the Little Master, who urged him to break the record ‘in the next few days’.

India’s last remaining group match is against the Netherlands on Sunday, and they are now guaranteed to go through to the semi-finals as group winners.

Virat Kohli hit his 49th ODI century as India thrashed South Africa at the Cricket World Cup

‘It’s all too much to take in for now,’ said Kohli. ‘It’s a huge honour to equal my hero’s record. He’s perfection with the bat. It’s an emotional moment. I know the days I have watched him on TV. To receive appreciation from him means a lot to me.’

India don’t yet know the identity of their oppponents in the last four, with Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Pakistan all in the mix as the tournament’s marathon group stage enters its final week. South Africa are already through.

But the manner in which the Indians dismantled the biggest-hitting team in the World Cup – Marco Jansen top-scored with just 14 – has laid down a marker ahead of the knockout stages. And a nation of 1.4 billion will be demanding Kohli wraps things up with No 50.

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