Agency :
Virat Kohli led from the front with a brilliant century as a dominant Team India thrashed South Africa by 35 runs on Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to level the five match series at 2-2. Kohli’s 138 off 140 balls trumped AB de Villiers’ stunning knock of 112 off 107 balls to set up a mouthwatering finale in Mumbai on Sunday.
Batting first, India scored 299/8 thanks to splendid batting from Kohli along with Suresh Raina (53) and Ajinkya Rahane (45) on a slow Chepauk track. South Africa after losing quick wickets made a brilliant comeback and but things could have been different had De Villiers batted for few more overs. Indian bowlers did well to restrict South Africa to 264/9 in 50 overs and keep the the hosts alive in the series.
South Africa’s chase did not go according to the plan as opener Hashim Amla (7) fell to Mohit Sharma early in the innings. Other opener, Quinton de Kock (43 off 35 balls), was looking good but he perished soon after the introduction of Harbhajan Singh. Faf du Plessis (17) too didn’t last long as he edged Axar Patel to Dhoni.
David Miller (6) once again failed to impress and AB was running out of partners. Farhaan Behardien (22) was looking good and gave De Villiers support from the other end for some time but failed to convert the start into a big one. Proteas kept on losing wickets at the other end but De Villiers was growing strong and at one stage it appeared as if he would single-handedly take the visitors home.
Virat Kohli led from the front with a brilliant century as a dominant Team India thrashed South Africa by 35 runs on Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to level the five match series at 2-2. Kohli’s 138 off 140 balls trumped AB de Villiers’ stunning knock of 112 off 107 balls to set up a mouthwatering finale in Mumbai on Sunday.
Batting first, India scored 299/8 thanks to splendid batting from Kohli along with Suresh Raina (53) and Ajinkya Rahane (45) on a slow Chepauk track. South Africa after losing quick wickets made a brilliant comeback and but things could have been different had De Villiers batted for few more overs. Indian bowlers did well to restrict South Africa to 264/9 in 50 overs and keep the the hosts alive in the series.
South Africa’s chase did not go according to the plan as opener Hashim Amla (7) fell to Mohit Sharma early in the innings. Other opener, Quinton de Kock (43 off 35 balls), was looking good but he perished soon after the introduction of Harbhajan Singh. Faf du Plessis (17) too didn’t last long as he edged Axar Patel to Dhoni.
David Miller (6) once again failed to impress and AB was running out of partners. Farhaan Behardien (22) was looking good and gave De Villiers support from the other end for some time but failed to convert the start into a big one. Proteas kept on losing wickets at the other end but De Villiers was growing strong and at one stage it appeared as if he would single-handedly take the visitors home.
