Virat Kohli struck his 35th ODI century and third in the six-match ODI series against South Africa as India sailed to an eight-wicket victory over the Proteas in the sixth and final ODI at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday (Feb 16).
With the win in the final ODI, India thumped South Africa 5-1 in the series, equalling the biggest thrashing South Africa has ever received in an ODI bilateral series involving over five games. The only other team to beat South Africa 5-1 was Ricky Ponting's Australia in 2001/02.
While India was once more successful in picking South African wickets regularly, South Africa failed to do it again as India cruised to the victory with 107 deliveries remaining.
It looked just another day at work for Kohli who struck two big sixes and 19 boundaries in his glittering knock of 129 off 96 deliveries. Ajinkya Rahane supported his captain with utmost conviction scoring 34 off 50 deliveries, including three boundaries.
In their chase of a mere 204, India did not have the brightest of starts as Rohit Sharma, the centurion of the fifth ODI, departed early on for just 15. As his wicket fell, Kohli came on the crease and looked comfortable from the very start.
Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli then steadied the Indian innings and Kohli was the aggressor since he came on. Just when Shikhar Dhawan was beginning to find his feet, Lungi Ngidi struck his second blow and sent Dhawan back to the pavilion for 18 off 34 deliveries.
However, India never looked in danger of crumbling like South Africa did as their captain hardly looked troubled and kept getting those consistent boundaries. With Rahane by his side, rotating the strike was also no trouble, as the two strung together 126-run partnership off 117 deliveries to guide India to a massive victory.
Earlier, Khaya Zondo struck his maiden ODI fifty to help South Africa scrape to a sub-par total of 204 against a disciplined Indian bowling at the SuperSport Park.
Zondo top-scored for the Proteas and hit three boundaries and two sixes in his 74-ball 54 on a good batting track but Indian bowlers struck hard and quick at the other South Africa, who could not weather the storm. Shardul Thakur had a dream comeback and returned with figures of 4/52 while Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal picked two wickets each.
South Africa crumbled under pressure once more after Shardul gave India an ideal start to the match where he dismissed openers Hashim Amla and Aiden Markram for 10 and 24 respectively. AB de Villiers and Zondo then struck a good 62-run partnership before Chahal dismissed his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate for just 30 runs and reduced South Africa to 105/3.
Such was the dominance of the Indians that the explosive Klassen failed to find a way to free his arms and when he attempted to drive a slower one from Bumrah, skipper Virat Kohli smartly grabbed a low catch at short cover. Thakur was then brought back for his next spell and he responded in style by dismising Farhaan Behardien (1), caught by Bumrah at third man.
Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, who had a relatively silent outing today, joined the party with the wicket of Chris Morris (4) as the Proteas stared at yet another batting collapse. Zondo, after much delay and struggle due to falling wickets on the other end, reached his maiden ODI fifty with a touch off Kuldeep for a single and sensed the urgency to shift gears, which turned fatal for him.
After reaching the milestone, the 27-year-old Zondo lost his concentration and mistimed a tossed up delivery from Chahal only to find Hardik Pandya running in from sweeper cover to complete a regulation catch. Reduced to 151/7, South Africa lost all hopes of a competitive score with Andile Phehlukwayo (34) and Morne Morkel (20) adding a quick-fire 36-run stand before Pandya sent Morkel back to pavilion.
The tailenders Imran Tahir (2) and Lungi Ngidi (0 not out) hardly troubled India even though Phehlukwayo clobbered Thakur for two consecutive sixes to raise South Africa to 200.
