END OF OVER:50 | 17 Runs | IND: 326/5 | RR: 6.52
- Virat Kohli101 (121b)
- Ravindra Jadeja29 (15b)
- Marco Jansen9.4-0-94-1
- Kagiso Rabada10-1-48-1
Deiva will be in at the other side for the chase. Stay tuned.
Virat Kohli: It was a wicket that was tricky to bat on. We got a great start. My job was to keep the momentum going when I got in. But after ten overs, the ball started gripping and the wicket started slowing down. My role was to bat deep and till the end after the openers fell because that's what I've done, that was the communication as well - to have guys bat around me. Shreyas starting hitting well as well. We were not thinking we would get to 326 but that's what happens when you dig deep and take the game into the last few overs. Shreyas and I had a lot of practice sessions before the Asia Cup and invariably batted together at 3 and 4. Both of us are comfortable against spinners. Both of us are comfortable rotating strike against spinners, credit to him for putting away bad balls. When you lose two wickets and don't have Hardik, you need to bat deep and get to a stage where the opposition feels like we have to restrict them. Every opportunity to play for India is a big one, to be able to ton up on my birthday is a stuff of dreams. Grateful to God that I've blessed with such moments. It's a target well above par for me as the ball was gripping and it wasn't easy to get hold of the bowlers. We have a quality attack. Wicket will get slower, pressure will mount, so hopefully we start well with the new ball.
From South Africa's point of view, there were a few glaring issues. Jansen was off the mark and was taken to the cleaners at all stages. Ngidi, who bowled well overall, couldn't stop the runs early on. Maharaj was the pick of the bowlers. He bowled ten straight overs right after the powerplay. The seed to bowl out Gill is a tournament highlight. Shamsi wasn't as effective but went past Kohli's swing to keep him relatively down late in the second powerplay and at the death. Let's hope Ngidi's injury late in the innings isn't a big deal.
5:56pm Kohli gets handshakes from team-mates and opponents alike. AB de Villiers comes in to congratulate him as well. A 205-minute innings on a hot evening has him level with Sachin with 49 ODI hundreds. He carried the innings in tough conditions, especially with Maharaj finding turn while holding consistent lines and lengths. He tagged along with Shreyas, who started slowly and then picked up pace, in a 134-run stand that breezed India past 200. KL Rahul's struggle showed that conditions were getting much tougher. SKY came in later to put on a cameo. Kohli tried to go big but couldn't in the late stages, but he kept ticking along and had Jadeja for company to take India to 326. The foundation was set by Rohit, who blazed the new-ball bowlers. India were 61 for 0 in five overs which put South Africa on the back foot.
Kohli will face the final ball
Jansen will complete the over
Ngidi gets some medical attention as the crowd sings Chak de India. Ngidi is walking back with ginger steps while shaking his head.
Shashank: "Just saw Kohli looking 90 degree up while chatting with Jansen."
Azweer : "Sailed a loooooooonnnnggggg way...."
Final over. Ngidi to bowl. Around. Can India push 325?
END OF OVER:49 | 9 Runs | IND: 309/5 | RR: 6.30
- Virat Kohli100 (120b)
- Ravindra Jadeja14 (10b)
- Kagiso Rabada10-1-48-1
- Tabraiz Shamsi10-0-72-1
Rajib : "What a way to celebrate birthday, King Kohli you beauty!!"
Flashlights back out.
END OF OVER:48 | 7 Runs | IND: 300/5 | RR: 6.25
- Ravindra Jadeja6 (6b)
- Virat Kohli99 (118b)
- Tabraiz Shamsi10-0-72-1
- Kagiso Rabada9-1-39-1
Pradeep : "Is pitch getting slower ??" Yup
Crowd out with flashlights as Kohli is on 97
END OF OVER:47 | 8 Runs | IND: 293/5 | RR: 6.23
- Virat Kohli97 (116b)
- Ravindra Jadeja1 (2b)
- Kagiso Rabada9-1-39-1
- Tabraiz Shamsi9-0-65-1