Virat Kohli Blasts Record Fifty, India Crush South Africa in Mohali

If Steve Smith is a freak in Test matches, then Virat Kohli is considered a limited overs freak. The PCA stadium witnessed Kohli at the peak of his limited overs skill and South Africa paid a heavy price. Kohli took a great catch to dismiss Quinton de Kock when the South African skipper was on 52 to switch the momentum towards India. With the bat, he smashed his 22nd fifty and toppled Rohit Sharma to become the leading run-getter in Twenty20 Internationals. Kohli's tally of fifties is the most in this format and it allowed India to decimate South Africa by seven wickets and take an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match series in Mohali on Wednesday, with the first match in Dharamshala being abandoned due to rain. 

For South Africa, they were subject to yet another masterclass from Kohli as he took the opposition apart. Quinton de Kock, captaining in his first game, included three debutants in Anrich Nortje, Bjorn Fortuin and Temba Bavuma as Kohli chose to bowl. Deepak Chahar, who impressed in the West Indies series with his pace and swing, struck early when he removed Reeza Hendricks. 

De Kock, who has a good record against India, was given valuable support by Bavuma. De Kock started the aggression with three consecutive fours off Navdeep Saini while Bavuma signalled his intentions with a six off Hardik Pandya. The duo kept the scoreboard ticking but the 57-run stand was broken thanks to a special effort from Kohli. De Kock, who notched up his third fifty, sliced the pull to mid off where Kohli ran and flung to his left to take a stunning one-handed catch. When Rassie van der Dussen fell to Ravindra Jadeja, South Africa were losing momentum in the death overs. 

Also Read | Virat Kohli Says MS Dhoni 'Made Me Run Like In A Fitness Test', Social Media Fuels Retirement Rumours

The pressure told on Bavuma and he missed a chance to score a fifty on debut as he holed out to long on. However, Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius ended the innings with a flourish by smashing Saini for two sixes as South Africa ended on 149/5. In response, Rohit and Dhawan took full toll. Rohit blasted two sixes off Pretorius and Dhawan smashed boundaries off Kagiso Rabada. 

Also Read | Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma Alleged Rift 'Difference Of Opinion' Not Conflict: Ravi Shastri

However, Phehlukwayo dismissed Rohit for 12 but Dhawan and Kohli stitched an aggressive stand. Both batsmen never allowed the South African bowlers to settle and the 61-run stand put India in a comfortable position. The Proteas had something to cheer when Dhawan was dismissed for 40. The left-hander blasted Tabraiz Shamsi down the ground to long on but David Miller flung to himself to his right and took a great catch. Rishabh Pant once again threw away a good chance as he pulled Bjorn Fortuin to short fine leg to hand the left-armer his first wicket.

Kohli, though, was in the zone and he was given good support by Shreyas Iyer as India coasted towards a victory. In the end, it was the same old story. Kohli dominating yet again in a chase and creating records. The only change is the opposition. The next match will take place at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore and India, having won for the first time against South Africa at home, will be determined to continue the dominance.

RELATED