India vs South Africa | King Kohli century ensures India rout hosts 5-1

02/16/2018

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Virat Kohli brought up his 35th ODI ton as the master of chase continued his brilliant run in the series to help India wrap up the series 5-1 in ruthless fashion. South Africa had made it all the more easy for the visitors as they could make only 204 runs after being asked to bat first.

Brief Scores : South Africa 204/10 (Khaya Zondo 54, Andile Phehlukwayo 34; Shardul Thakur 4/52, Jasprit Bumrah 2/24) lost to India 206/2 (Virat Kohli 129*, Ajinkya Rahane 34*; Lungi Ngidi 2/54) by 8 wickets.

India opted to field first as they decided to go with an inexperienced Shardul Thakur in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar after sealing the ODI series in the last game. South Africa, on the other hand, made numerous changes to their squad, quite expectedly, as Khaya Zondo, Chris Morris, Farhaan Behardien and Imran Tahir came in.

Indian bowling prove too much for hosts, again

With the series already out of their hands, South Africa seemed dispirited in their effort to salvage whatever little pride they could in the ODI series. Though skipper Markram started off well against a nervy Thakur by hitting him two consecutive boundaries in the first over, the rookie adapted to the conditions fast and never let the run rate shoot up. The pressure soon started piling up and Amla gave away his wicket in the seventh over as the ball went into Dhoni’s gloves. It was soon followed by Markram’s wicket who looked restless as Zondo came into support de Villiers in the middle. The tempo remained low as the duo decided to build up, bringing up SA’s 50-run stand in the 13th over and 100-run stand in the 19th. A well-settled Zondo was even taking on the wrist spinners well as he hit Kuldeep Yadav for five boundaries, but the 62-run partnership was abruptly broken when de Villiers fell prey to Yuzvendra Chahal. Heinrich Klaasen came next to steer the ship to safety as South Africa ended the half-way line at 116/3.

South African middle-order crumble before Phehlukwayo’s late resurgence

Klaasen and Zondo started to rebuild another partnership as they refrained from anything adventurous. However, they had added just 30 runs in the next ten overs when Kohli latched on a loose drive by Klassen, who couldn’t keep Jasprit Bumrah’s slower delivery down. With the Proteas reduced to 135/4, in came Farhaan Behardien, but could only survive five balls as Thakur took his wicket in the immediate next over. Morris stepped in next, but their last last remaining regular bat wielder went walking only 10 balls later to Kuldeep after the second drinks break. Morris misjudged his lofted fuller delivery and gave away his wicket cheaply to Dhawan at long-off. Alongside a caveat Phehlukwayo, Zondo brought on his half-century soon before he eventually fell to Pandya’s tossed up delivery. With nothing more to lose from thereon, Phehlukwayo and Morne Morkel looked to clear the ball at every instance. Their cagey approach bought SA 36 runs and more importantly, brought them closer to 200, before Morkel and Imran Tahir were dismissed quickly. With the hosts reduced to 192/9, Phehlukwayo hit Thakur for two sixes as they brought up the 200-run mark before he was eventually caught and bowled by the same player.

Kohli’s leads the charge after openers falter

After a significant and timely century by Rohit Sharma helped India seal the series in the last ODI, the opener floundered again in Centurion with a low target to chase. He started, as usual, in an explosive manner hitting three boundaries in Morkel’s initial two overs before his adventurous self led him to a cheap dismissal. Kohli stepped in with India reduced to 19/1 and with India chasing a paltry total (204), everyone knew what to expect from the skipper. He was on the mark right from the beginning as he, alongside Dhawan, brought up India’s 50 in the eighth over. The partnership was going smoothly before Dhawan was dismissed by Zondo in the 13th over reducing India to 80/2. However, with Kohli reaching closer to another ODI ton, the outcome was more than known as Ajinkya Rahane came in next. India were 110/2 at the first drinks break.

Kohli finishes things in style with his 35th ODI ton

India could plan their next course of action easily at the break with less than 100 runs left on the board and 34 overs to go. And Rahane and Kohli did exactly that from thereon as the Mumbai batsman kept rotating the strike for Kohli (58) to help his get his 35th ODI ton. Kohli had no problem putting his foot on the gas pedal as and when required as the duo brought up India’s 150-run stand nine overs later, which was soon followed by Kohli’s much awaited century in the 27th over that he brought up with a cracking boundary off Imran Tahir’s delivery. The need to finish things fast increased after that, which was reflected by Kohli’s two consecutive maximums against Tahir three overs later. The match ended aptly, with Rahane and Kohli hitting consecutive boundaries in 32nd and 33rd over as India finished the series 5-1.