South Africa VS India Sixth ODI: India Win Series 5-1
DayHighlights:
- India won by 8 wickets
- Kohli scored 129
- They won the series 5-1
- Kohli was the MOM and MOS
UnstoppableVirat Kohli scored his third century of the series to help guide India to a 5-1 series win against South Africa. For the umpteenth time in the series, The South African batting unit faltered in front of the Indian spinners. Despite changing their line-up and looking for a consolation win in the series, the hosts put in another timid performance and let India walk all over them and win the match with ease by 8 wickets.
Looking to save the blushes by finally putting in a solid performance at the Centurion, South Africa batted first in the final ODI of the series. They looked to put on a big score in their quest to win their second match of the series after earlier having already surrendered the series to India. And they got off to just the right start with AB de Villiers and Zondo putting on a good partnership after the earlier departure of their openers. De Villiers (30) looked in good touch before he was unable to read a googly by Chahal. Making room for himself, he failed to get any contact on a quicker one to find himself bowled. That spelled the demise of the African innings with the final 7 wickets collapsing for 99 runs to end the Protean innings at 204. Drafted in for the final match, Thakur lived up to the trust shown in him by picking up 4-54 to spearhead the Indian bowling attack.
Last match centurion Sharma failed to get going this time around after he was dismissed early after hitting a few boundaries. Virat Kohli (129) stamped his class all over the match as he hit superb innings to ensure India chased the total down comfortably. It was another master class from the skipper who is fast approaching legend status in the world of cricket. He became the first Indian batsman to score three centuries in a bilateral series and also the first player to score more than 500 runs in an ODI series. The records kept tumbling for him after his innings which saw him hit 17 boundaries, more than the South African side managed in total.
A world-class and all-round performance by the Indian team proved why they are the best side currently in world cricket. The focus now shifts to the shortest format of the game with the two teams playing a three-match T20 series.
For more updates, do Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+