Shikhar Dhawan’s century helped defending champions India display their World Cup credentials with a dominant 130-run victory over South Africa.
In front of a remarkable 86,876 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Dhawan struck 16 fours and two sixes in his knock of 137 off 146 deliveries.
The opening batsman shared century stands with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, who made 79 off 60 balls, to help India post 307 for six.
Despite a fifty from Francois du Plessis, that total proved well beyond South Africa’s reach as they were dismissed for 177 in the 41st over, Ravichandran Ashwin taking 3-41.
After Rohit Sharma was run out for a duck, Dhawan and Kohli built a platform with an alliance of 127 in 24.2 overs.
Dhawan, dropped on 53 by Hashim Amla at point, and Kohli started watchfully before accelerating, taking 53 off seven overs at one stage as Wayne Parnell was targeted.
The 25-year-old, back in the side, conceded 85 from his nine overs, the most runs leaked by a South Africa bowler in a World Cup.
Kohli departed for 46 when he clubbed an Imran Tahir long-hop to short midwicket, but Dhawan found another willing partner in Rahane.
The pair took 125 off 16.3 overs, Dhawan reaching his seventh one-day international ton off 122 balls, to set India up for a huge score.
Dhawan’s excellent innings ended when he top-edged Parnell to long-leg, the first of five wickets to fall in as many overs, including Rahane, as the Proteas pegged India back.
South Africa buckled under the pressure of the chase, though, Quinton de Kock hitting Mohammed Shami to Kohli at mid-off and Amla top-edging Mohit Sharma.
That left du Plessis and captain AB de Villiers with work to do and they looked up for the fight in a 68-run stand.
But de Villiers, on 30, misjudged a second run and was short of his ground following a fine throw from Mohit, six overs before du Plessis became Mohit’s second scalp.
South Africa then succumbed to spin as India, led by Ashwin, collected their first World Cup win over the Proteas, leaving them favourites to top Pool B.
Ashwin had a reverse-sweeping JP Duminy caught at slip, trapped Vernon Philander, who injured a hamstring bowling, lbw and bowled Morne Morkel before Ravindra Jadeja wrapped things up by removing Tahir.