CAPE TOWN: India captain Virat Kohli continued his excellent recent form to smash a sparkling unbeaten century and lead his side to a comprehensive 124-run victory over South Africa in their third One-day International (ODI) at Newlands on Wednesday.
Kohli made 160 not out from 159 balls as India, who had been put into bat, posted 303 for six in their 50 overs, before restricting their hosts to 179 all out to take a 3-0 lead in the series.South Africa’s brittle batting lineup, without injured stalwarts Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock, were stifled once more by the Indian spinners as Kuldeep Yadav, who took career-best figures (4-23 in 9 overs), and Yuzvendra Chahal (4-46 in 9 overs) strangled their innings.
Kohli ensured India will have some share of the silverware as he took them to unassailable 3-0 lead in the ODI series.He scored his second century in three matches, his third on India’s tour of South Africa and more than half India’s total of 303 before his bowlers did the rest.
South Africa’s line-up, riddled with inexperience, was again spun out by Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. With eight wickets between them, the pair took their series tally to 21. They have claimed but all but seven of the South African wickets across three matches. Their wickets at Newlands came at a cost just 69 runs, and through the series, they have conceded 190 runs and taken their wickets at an average of 9.05.
The hosts had serious problems, which started when they decided to bowl first on a surface where everything screams bat.Perhaps, it was the knowledge that India fancy themselves to chase just about anything and the ghosts of their previous two batting performances still swirling. But South Africa decided to save their weaker suit upfront and were witness to a Kohli masterclass instead, but not before they had an opportunity to dismiss him for a duck.
After Kagiso Rabada removed Rohit Sharma in the opening over, he had Kohli given out lbw off the third ball of his second over but the India captain reviewed. Replays showed Kohli had hit the ball as he attempted a flick. The on-field decision was overturned and so were South Africa’s fortunes.The fourth match will be played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday.
South Africa won toss
India
R G Sharma c Klaasen b Rabada 0
S Dhawan c Markram b Duminy 76
*V Kohli not out 160
A M Rahane c Phehlukwayo b Duminy 11
H H Pandya c Klaasen b Morris 14
†M S Dhoni c Ngidi b Imran 10
K M Jadhav c Klaasen b Phehlukwayo 1
B Kumar not out 16
Extras (lb 3, w 12) 15
Total (6 wickets; 50 Overs) 303
Did not bat: K Yadav, J J Bumrah, Y S Chahal
Fall: 1-0, 2-140, 3-160, 4-188, 5-228, 6-236
Bowling: Rabada 10-1-54-1; Ngidi 6-0-47-0; Morris 9-0-45-1; Phehlukwayo 6-0-42-1; Imran 9-0-52-1; Duminy 10-0-60-2
South Africa
H M Amla lbw b Bumrah 1
*A K Markram st Dhoni b Kuldeep 32
J P Duminy lbw b Chahal 51
†H Klaasen lbw b Chahal 6
D A Miller c Dhoni b Bumrah 25
K Zondo c sub (Pandey) b Chahal 17
C H Morris lbw b Kuldeep 14
A L Phehlukwayo c Kohli b Kuldeep 3
K Rabada not out 12
Imran Tahir c Kohli b Chahal 8
L Ngidi lbw b Kuldeep 6
Extras (lb 2, w 2) 4
Total (all-out; 40 Overs) 179
Fall: 1-1, 2-79, 3-88, 4-95, 5-129, 6-150, 7-150, 8-158, 9-167, 10-179
Bowling: Kumar 7-0-41-0; Bumrah 7-0-32-2; Pandya 8-0-35-0; Chahal 9-0-46-4; Kuldeep 9-1-23-4
Result: India won by 124 runs
Series: India lead the 6-match series by 3-0
Man of the Match: V Kohli (India)
ODI debut: H Klaasen and L Ngidi (SA)
Umpires: I Gould (England) and A Holdstock (South Africa). TV Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan). Match Referee: A Pycroft (South Africa)
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