As the World Cup gave India a noisy welcome, it cleared its throat for the demise of South Africa. After three games and three defeats, they seem determined to write their own epitaphs. They batted first when they should have bowled, played two spinners when they should have played one, then dropped Rohit Sharma when he had made a single. He finished with an unbeaten 122. For the South Africans, it was a comedy of errors, but with little reason to smile. Rohit Sharma celebrates after hitting a match-winning hundred for India on Wednesday Sharma hit 122 from 144 balls to lead India to an ominous six-wicket win in Southampton By winning with six wickets and 15 balls to spare, India barely broke sweat, even on a testing pitch. Ominously, they didn't even need a contribution from Virat Kohli, who was brilliantly caught for 18 by Quinton de Kock. And by slotting straight into form only two days after England's defeat by Pakistan, they made an instant bid to become the new tournament favourites. The narrative of this World Cup is changing daily, and it is fascinating to watch. South Africa may beg to differ. This was another wretched display, from the moment Faf du Plessis chose to bat under cloudy south-coast skies rather than unleash his quicks on India's barely-acclimatised batsmen. Having come a cropper by bowling first on a used pitch against Bangladesh at The Oval, he seemed to be chasing his own tail. Like some Escher nightmare, South Africa are wandering around in a daze. They need to wake up before Monday's game here against West Indies. Their batsmen were hit by two early bursts. Well supported by an attacking field, Jasprit Bumrah was irresistible during an opening spell of 5-0-13-2. Hashim Amla, back after a concussion scare, poked low to second slip, before de Kock flashed high to third. David Miller spills an easy catch in the field on another sorry afternoon for South Africa Chris Morris trips over the stumps as he completes a caught and bowled off of MS Dhoni Then came India's slow men. In his second over, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal bowled both Rassie van der Dussen, who got into a tangle aiming a reverse-sweep, and du Plessis, who played outside a beauty. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav then pinned JP Duminy. While the Indian pair picked up five for 97, South Africa's two spinners – Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi – managed none for 112. After admitting in advance that there were 'a lot of things haunting me at the moment', du Plessis had another item for his list. From 89 for five, South Africa did well to reach 227 for nine, but there has been a hapless air to their cricket in this opening week. Du Plessis keeps mentioning his side's injury crisis, while insisting it is not an excuse. He said his players would be relaxed, which they are not. Something is missing. 'The guys are disappointed and angry, which they have every right to be,' said all-rounder Chris Morris, who emerged with at least some credit. 'We'll sort that out in our heads. It's simple: win the next six and crack on.' Yuzvendra Chahal starred with the ball for India taking four for 51 as they bowled first In the commentary box, Graeme Smith – one of his predecessors – offered a pithier diagnosis: 'It looks as if they're all playing for their places.' For a brief but engrossing period at the start of the Indian reply, South Africa's bowlers threatened to make amends. Kagiso Rabada almost had Shikhar Dhawan caught at backward point, and would have removed Sharma if du Plessis, sprinting forward from second slip, had held on to a low chance after the ball looped up off the glove. Moments later, Sharma lobbed Morris just over gully. Rabada soon removed Dhawan, but South Africa needed more than one early blow. It never arrived, allowing Sharma to ease towards his 23rd ODI hundred. Two sixes took his tally since the last World Cup to 132 – comfortably more than anyone. 'In my opinion, this is by far his best ODI innings, because of the pressure the first game brings at the World Cup,' said Kohli. 'He played the perfect innings.' Well, almost. South Africa's day was summed up when Sharma, on 107, hit Rabada straight up in the air, and David Miller contrived to drop the chance at cover – a worse miss than Jason Roy's against Pakistan in Nottingham. Rabada looked aghast. South Africa are in danger of going out of this World Cup without landing a punch. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah took two for 35 as South Africa were restricted to 227 for nine All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility