South Africa vs India 2018, 1st ODI: Hits and Misses
The Indian Cricket Team took a 1-0 lead in the six-match ODI series against South Africa after securing a 6-wicket victory in the first game of the same, which was hosted in Durban on Thursday (February 1). India’s triumph on the day ended South Africa's longstanding winning streak at Kingsmead, which had lasted for as many as 17 matches.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, South Africa put up a fighting total of 269 for the loss of 8 wickets at the end of 50 overs. India lost both their openers in quick succession and the chase started to seem tricky for the visitors at that point.
However, chase-master Virat Kohli stepped up once again to score his 33rd ODI century and took the game by the scruff of its neck to take his team past the finishing line.
Here are the success and failure stories from the game:
#5 Hit: Virat Kohli
Where there’s a chase, there’s Virat Kohli. Where’s there’s Virat Kohli, there’s purpose.
The Indian skipper added to his limited over greatness yet again with the terrific hundred that he scored in Durban yesterday. His innings was pivotal to the chase and paved the way for a brilliant Indian victory.
The Indian skipper looked in control from the second he stepped onto the field and stitched a tremendous partnership with Ajinkya Rahane for the third wicket. The pair batted for more than 30 overs and scored as many as 189 runs between them.
Kohli walked into the middle in the 7th over of the game after Rohit Sharma threw away a good start and returned to the pavilion with just 20 runs to his name. Kohli took guard with the scoreboard reading 33 for the loss of one wicket. He batted with poise and persistence right from that second and scored 112 runs off 119 deliveries before being dismissed by Andile Phehlukwayo in the 45th over of the innings.
However, the match had already been won till then. Kohli had done it again. The 29-year-old now has an ODI century in every nation that he has played in. He has tied with Sourav Ganguly for the maximum number of one-day centuries scored by an Indian captain. The point that must be asserted here is that Kohli reached the milestone in just 41 innings, as opposed to Ganguly’s 142.
If this doesn’t point towards Kohli’s mastery, what does?