With the help of 16 fours and two sixes, he put 137 runs on the board before getting out in the final overs of the match, helping India finish with a competitive total of 307 runs.
Fans on Twitter were quick to react to the fabulous knock with each extra ball that Dhawan managed to slice in the gap. Here's a selection:
South African bowlers before and after Indian batting #IndvsSA pic.twitter.com/uaUhsZsnVn
— MoviesNowTV (@moviesnowtv) February 22, 2015
Hey South Africans, this is Dhawan right now. Try and dislodge him. Good luck, ha ha. pic.twitter.com/U9smpkDoIJ
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARangarajan1972) February 22, 2015
Dhawan To his critics pic.twitter.com/dFP3MWlG9Y
— TranceFormer (@friendlii_ghost) February 22, 2015
How Dhawan played. 0-50 Dravid. 50-90 Shewag. 90-99 Sachin. #IndvsSA
— Maithun (@Being_Humor) February 22, 2015
Dhawan's Mom: Hello ! Dhawan ? Rohit: Nahi Aunty vo Khel raha hai Mom-Beta Jab Phone Karti Hu tuhi uthata hai ? Tu batting Nahi karta kya?
— Sittu Sharma (@Sarcaism) February 22, 2015
Dhawan has Aust wife. Tahir has SA wife. Dhawan plays for his country. Tahir plays for his wife's country. Joru ka gulaam saala. #IndvSA
— cricBC (@cricBC) February 22, 2015
EXCLUSIVE PIC of those who were making fun of Shikhar Dhawan before the World Cup! #IndvsSA pic.twitter.com/p1CPDajsfB
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) February 22, 2015
Shikhar Dhawan clearly enjoying the sasuraal advantage. #KheloDumLagaKe #CWC15 #IndvsSA
— Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) February 22, 2015
The only way to stop Dhawan from hitting sixes is by building a house of an uncle in that area who doesn't return ball.
— SAMBHA (@sambha_bhilane) February 22, 2015
Alia Bhatt calls up David Dhawan to congratulate him.
— Kartikeya Tanna (@KartikeyaTanna) February 22, 2015
Dhawan trying a hit and run there. Not everyone is Salman bro.
— Dorkstar (@Dorkstar) February 22, 2015
Proof that Dhawan is probably a wizard. pic.twitter.com/GhHdXGnS2o
— BuzzFeed India (@BuzzFeedIndia) February 22, 2015
Ashutosh : What an innings by Dhawan! He deserves standing ovulation!
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) February 22, 2015
JUST IN: Gilette sales drop after Shikhar Dhawan scores 100. #IndvsSA #SAvsIND
— Ashwin S Kumar (@ashwinskumar) February 22, 2015
Dhoni after Dhawan's century pic.twitter.com/wr4xYlQ47d
— Tyler (@EngineeRoholic) February 22, 2015