CRICKET NEWS - Man of the Match, Virat Kohli, slammed a stunning century and featured in a match-winning record partnership of 189 in 188 balls with Ajinkya Rahane as India thrashed South Africa by six wickets in the first Momentum one-day international at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday night.
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It was a sobering outing for the South Africans and the expectant 16 600 crowd as the two Indian batsman lashed the Proteas’ bowlers to all corners of Kingsmead. A target of 270 for victory, which had seemed a challenging one, was achieved with ease in just 45.3 overs. Their partnership was an all-time record for the third wicket between South Africa and India, beating the 173 compiled by Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs in Ahmedabad in 2009/10.
The two men came together on 67/2 in the 13th over after Rohit Sharma had been caught by Quinton de Kock off Morne Morkel after playing a wild stroke, while Shikhar Dhawan was needlessly run out. But if there was any residual doubt about the visitors’ ability to chase down their target, it soon disappeared as the two men quickly settled down.
A feature of the partnership was their constant rotating of the strike and their ability to judge a tight single with precision. They also decided to milk legspinner Imran Tahir without taking any chances, with the Proteas’ strike bowler going for 51 in his 10 overs.
Both Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada bowled quickly but without penetration while Chris Morris was smashed for 52 in his seven overs. The two part-time bowlers, JP Duminy and Aiden Markram, were particularly harshly treated as they disappeared for a combined total of 36 in four overs.
