Virat Kohli’s 52nd ODI century made his family members very happy in addition to making his supporters grin. His older brother Vikas Kohli and sister Bhawna Kohli Dhingra took to their separate Instagram accounts to commemorate their younger brother’s incredible effort just minutes after Kohli hit 100 during the ongoing ODI match against South Africa at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi. “Well well well (a couple of flexed biceps emojis)” was written with a photo of Kohli that Vikas shared. Conversely, Bhawna posted multiple photos of Virat from the game. Openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave Team India a strong start after Proteas chose to bat first.
Virat Kohli In India vs South Africa 1st ODI
Jaiswal cracked a boundary, cutting a Marco Jansen delivery past point on the first ball of the innings, while the left-armer gave India some freebies on the next ball as his extra bounce went through above everyone’s heads for a four and a bye signal was given. Just when it seemed that Jaiswal was looking completely at home against left-arm pacers, he nicked one to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, scoring just 18 in 16 balls, with two fours and a six. India was 25/1 in 3.1 overs. Virat Kohli found a lucky four on his first delivery, edging the ball towards the third man boundary. The right-hander looked in amazing touch, with an off-drive against Burger. At the same time, Rohit added to India’s festivities with two fantastic boundaries against Jansen in the next over, one being a delightful cut. India was 50-run mark in seven overs. Virat upped the ante against Burger in the next over, ending the over with a six over mid-off and a cover drive. It was cheers and horns ringing all over the field as Virat looked in fine touch.
The ‘Ro Ko’ Partnership
The Ro-Ko continued their sublime touch, with Rohit finding two successive fours against Bosch in the eighth over, one being his trademark pull, and in the next over, Virat crunched Ottneil Baartman for another six. India was 80/1 in 10 overs, with Rohit (20*) and Virat (30*) unbeaten. India reached their 100-run mark in 13.3 overs. Prenelan Subrayen’s spin was feasted on by Rohit with two absolutely brilliant slog-sweeps over mid-wicket region, levelling the record of Shahid Afridi for most ODI sixes. The duo brought up their 100-run stand, their second successive century stand in two matches in just 82 balls. The ‘Ro-Ko’ carnival continued for Indian fans as, in the 18th over, Virat unleashed two successive sixes against Bosch, one a flick over mid-wicket and the other an upper cut over deep point, reaching his 76th ODI fifty in 48 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes.
In the next over, Rohit brought up his 60th ODI fifty in 43 balls, with five fours and two sixes. The 20th over brought another moment to cheer for the Ranchi crowd as not only Rohit crunch d Jansen for a six over long leg region, but also went past Afridi for most sixers in ODIs. 150 runs were up for India in 19.4 overs. Jansen broke the 136-run partnership between the duo, trapping Rohit leg-before-wicket for 57 in 51 balls, with five fours and three sixes. India was 161/2 in 21.2 overs.
Baartman pushed India on the back foot, with Dewald Brevis taking a diving catch near backward point region to remove a returning Ruturaj Gaikwad for a 13-ball 8, while he also removed Washington Sundar for a 18-ball 13, caught by Bosch at mid-off. India was 200/4 in 30.3 overs. India had reached the 200-run mark in 30.2 overs. India continued to milk singles, with a short-ball pulled by Kohli for four releasing a bit of pressure, with Proteas managing to put the shackles on Indian batters, particularly KL Rahul, who needed some time to settle, getting India to hit just 60 add runs till the 37th over.
KL Rahul’s Performance In India vs South Africa 1st ODI
Virat glided a Jansen delivery through deep extra cover for four, bringing up his 52nd ODI century in 102 balls, with seven fours and five sixes. Having crossed the milestone, it was on Virat to switch gears. In the 39th over, bowled by Subrayen, Virat made a mockery out of him, scoring two sixes and fours each to bring up the 250-run mark in 38.5 overs. Also, he hammered Baartman for two fours in the next, taking the score to 264 at the end of 40 overs. Burger finally got the coveted wicket of Virat, when he went too high in the air and Ryan Rickelton, running from the covers, took a brilliant catch to remove him for 135 in 120 balls, with 11 fours and seven sixes. India was 276/5 in 42.5 overs.
In the 45th over, KL finally managed to get some rust off and hit two sixes against Burger, one over deep backward square and leg and the other an inside-out hit. India was 300-run up in 44.5 overs. In the next over, Jadeja hit another six over deep backward square leg and India looted another 12 runs. Runs were coming thick and fast for India, and the 350-run mark looked possible. With two fours and sixes apiece, Rahul reached his half-century in fifty balls.
Jansen grabbed KL’s wicket a ball after KL launched him for a reverse scoop six over third man, just as Rahul and Jadeja were about to brutalise even more. With two fours and three sixes, the right-hander scored sixty runs in fifty-six balls. In 48.5 overs, India was 341/6. With two fours and a six, Bosch got Jadeja caught by Aiden Markram close to the boundary for 32 in 20 balls. In 49.4 overs, India was 347/7. He was on a hat-trick after cleaning up Arshdeep Singh for a golden duck on the subsequent ball. Kuldeep Yadav set 350 to chase for Proteas after getting two on the last delivery.
(With Inputs From ANI)
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