ODI World Cup digest: South Africa go top after thumping New Zealand; Maxwell concussed on golf course

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One of the advantages of a long-drawn league phase is that teams have an opportunity to make up for indifferent starts. But New Zealand are finding out the converse can be true as well. A third straight loss amid a series of injuries in the camp threatens to throw their World Cup campaign off the rails.

If the loss to Australia in Dharamsala was heartbreaking, this one to South Africa in Pune was outright demoralising. The bowlers were sent on a leather hunt as Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen plundered centuries, and David Miller added more salt to the wounds with a blistering 30-ball 53 not out as South Africa posted 357 for 4; the last 10 overs alone brought them 119 runs.

It didn't always look easy with Rassie van der Dussen. If he was not lunging forward, his 1.88 metre frame making it look ungainly to defend, he was pushing awkwardly, trying to come to terms with the line. It didn't always look elegant - and it seldom does with van der Dussen - but it was definitely effective.

Van der Dussen scored South Africa's eighth century of the tournament, and 16th in ODIs this year, through a combination of patience and placement which perfectly demonstrated how he has moulded himself to his anchor role. He came in with nine balls remaining in the powerplay, after a brief but energetic knock from Temba Bavuma, and scored 21 off his first 33 balls. At the time, the talk was that South Africa were taking too long. That quietened when Quinton de Kock reached his fourth hundred of this World Cup. Van der Dussen then accumulated 112 off his next 85 balls to take South Africa within reach of 350, and went entirely silent after their 190-run win, but we'll get to that.

India. Sri Lanka. The Wankhede. The last time these two teams played an ODI at this venue, the occasion was the 2011 World Cup final. Twelve years later, though, things are a little different.

India have lived up to the billing of being the pre-tournament favourites. They have won all of their six matches so far despite missing Shubman Gill for their first two and Hardik Pandya for the last two. If they beat Sri Lanka on Thursday, they will become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.

India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Suryakumar Yadav, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Dinuth Wellalage/Dhananjaya de Silva, 8 Kasun Rajitha, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Dilshan Madushanka, 11 Dushmantha Chameera

Someone to help you move your books to a new apartment, an ear to vent to about your battles at work, a pick-up from the side of the highway when your vehicle breaks down, an arm around your shoulder after a break-up. For these and other wholesome acts of friendship, call KL Rahul.

Not seriously, because obviously he doesn't have time for the likes of you. Although, you sense, perhaps he'd like to.