After India restricted South Africa to 204 all out in the sixth ODI on Friday, courtesy Shardul Thakur's 4/52, Kohli scored an unbeaten 129* in 96 balls as the visitors won by 8 wickets in 32.1 overs.
After India restricted South Africa to 204 all out in the sixth ODI on Friday, courtesy Shardul Thakur's 4/52, Kohli scored an unbeaten 129* in 96 balls as the visitors won by 8 wickets in 32.1 overs.
That's it! Kohli hits Tahir for a straight boundary to signal India's 8-wicket win and 5-1 series triumph.
After the visitors restricted South Africa to 204 all out, courtesy Shardul Thakur's 4/52, Kohli scored an unbeaten 129* in 96 balls as the visitors won by 8 wickets in 32.1 overs. Rahane remained unbeaten on 34 runs.
Records galore for Virat Kohli. Now:
1. First batsman to score 500 runs in the history of bilateral ODI series, going past Rohit Sharma's 491.
2. Tops the list of most runs by a captain in a bilateral ODI series, going past Australia's George Bailey (478).
Meanwhile, India cruising towards 205. Currently 136/2 in 21.3 overs.
South African bowlers focused on not pitching anything up to Dhawan (5*) and Kohli (14*), but so far it's producing runs, not wickets. Kohli, especially, looking to hook and pull at the slightest opportunity as he showed in two consecutive fours off Morkel in the 7th over. IND 42/1, chasing 205 to win.
ALL OUT! A brilliant diving return catch by Thakur (4/52) gives him his fourth wicket and helps India dismiss the hosts for 204 in 46.5 overs. Zondo was the top-scorer for South Africa with 54 but Indian bowlers, led by Thakur, continued to strike at regular intervals and eventually dismissed SA inside 50 overs. Chahal & Bumrah took two wickets each, while Pandya and Kuldeep took one apiece.
Chahal collects his third wicket, almost. Morkel's attempted sweep missed the ball that went on to hit his front pad. He decided to take a review and was saved by the turn as the ball-tracker showed it to be spinning and missing the leg-stump. Aleem Dar has to change his decision to not out. SA 160/7 in 39 overs.
Wicket No. 3 for Shardul Thakur. He can hardly put a foot wrong today, but tremendous support from fellow fast bowler Bumrah at the third-man fence, as he pouches a smart effort - almost one-handed in the end. Behardien (1) attempted to guide Thakur over third-man boundary but couldn't beat Bumrah who dived to his right to take the catch. SA 136/5 in the 32nd over. But Zondo completes a well-deserved fifty as the lone warrior.
Zondo given out lbw but goes for a review straight away. Saved by a shave off the glove before the ball hit his front pad as he tried to sweep a fullish delivery from Chahal. And Zondo (36*) celebrates it with a pulled six next ball, followed by another biggie in the same area two balls later. Brings up South Africa's hundred as well - 100/2 in 19 overs.
Virat Kohli brings first change, replaces Shardul Thakur with Hardik Pandya in the ninth over of South African innings. Thakur's first spell read an impressive 1/22 in 4 overs. Meanwhile, AB de Villiers has begun on his characteristic aggressive note, hitting a boundary in his 6*. SA 33/1 in 8 overs.
Shardul Thakur starts the proceedings for India and concedes a four off the second ball of the over to Aiden Markram. There is one more, very similar to the first one, cuts it between backward point and cover. The last three balls yield no runs. South Africa 8/0 in 1 over. Not the start Thakur would have wanted for himself.