Kohli’s century helps India wallop South Africa 5-1

CENTURION, South Africa: India captain Virat Kohli scored 129 as India thrased South Africa by eight wickets and also won the One-day International (ODI) series by 5-1 in day/night match here on Friday.

In good batting conditions in Centurion, South Africa’s batsmen grappled with their own lack of confidence and India’s disciplined bowling, resulting in another mediocre total. Shardul Thakur, playing his first match of the series, led another clinical display from India with figures of 4 for 52 as South Africa were bowled out for 204.

Hashim Amla and Aiden Markram began cautiously.Amla saw an opportunity to hit Thakur over fine leg for six in the seventh over but could only strangle a leg-side delivery to the keeper.

Markram played some fluent strokes, including a well-timed six over square leg, but like in Port Elizabeth he was caught in the circle trying to force the pace. South Africa’s best period of batting followed, with AB de Villiers and Khaya Zondo attacking India’s wristspinners. In the 18th over, de Villiers hit Kuldeep for three successive fours — a drive through point, an inside-edge just past the stumps, and a reverse sweep. Zondo pulled Yuzvendra Chahal for two sixes over midwicket in the next over. They had added 62 off 65 balls before de Villiers missed a straight, flat delivery, trying to cut.

Fresh off a match-winning hundred, Rohit Sharma began the chase with a few exquisite cuts behind and in front of point. South Africa’s short-ball ploy worked as he gloved a bouncer from Lungi Ngidi to the keeper. They persisted with that length thereafter which, on a slow pitch, was always fraught with risk.

Kohli pounced on that length. With attacking fields and the short deliveries sitting up, Kohli laid into cross-batted strokes on either side of the pitch. He blazed away to 38 off 25.Kohli and Rahane added an unbeaten 129 off just 117 balls.

India won toss

South Africa

*A K Markram c Iyer b Thakur 24

H M Amla c Dhoni b Thakur 10

A B de Villiers b Chahal 30

K Zondo c Pandya b Chahal 54

†H Klaasen c Kohli b Bumrah 22

F Behardien c Bumrah b Thakur 1

C H Morris c Dhawan b Yadav 4

A L Phehlukwayo c & b Thakur 34

M Morkel c Iyer b Pandya 20

I Tahir c Kohli b Bumrah 2

L Ngidi not out 0

Extras (w 3) 3

Total (all-out; 46.5 Overs) 204

Fall: 1-23, 2-43, 3-105, 4-135, 5-136, 6-142, 7-151, 8-187, 9-192, 10-204

Bowling: Thakur 8.5-0-52-4; Bumrah 8-1-24-2; Pandya 10-0-39-1; Yadav 10-0-51-1; Chahal 10-0-38-2

India

S Dhawan c Zondo b Ngidi 18

R G Sharma c Klaasen b Ngidi 15

*V Kohli not out 129

A M Rahane not out 34

Extras (b 4, lb 1, w 5) 10

Total (2 wickets; 32.1 Overs) 206

Did not bat: S S Iyer, †M S Dhoni, H H Pandya, K Yadav, S N Thakur, J J Bumrah, Y S Chahal

Fall: 1-19, 2-80

Bowling: Morkel 7-0-42-0; Ngidi 8-1-54-2; Morris 6-0-36-0; Phehlukwayo 4-0-27-0; Imran 7.1-0-42-0

Result: India won by 8 wickets

Series: India won the 6-match series by 5-1

Man of the Match: V Kohli (India)

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and S George (South Africa). TV Umpires: I Gould (England). Match Referee: A Pycroft (South Africa)