Virat Kohli’s achievement in joining Sachin Tendulkar at the top of the ODI centurions list is undoubtedly a remarkable feat in cricket history. This record underscores his exceptional batting skills and consistency in one-day international cricket.
In the mentioned game, India’s performance was impressive, posting a substantial total of 326 runs and then securing a convincing victory with their well-rounded bowling attack. The mention of “another head from their five-fanged bowling attack” likely refers to the effectiveness of India’s five-pronged bowling strategy in dismantling the opposition.
The mention of India assuring themselves of a top spot in the league standings finish for a second consecutive World Cup underscores their dominance in the tournament, and it reflects their strong performance and consistency on the global stage. This win is undoubtedly a significant achievement for the Indian cricket team.
The description of India’s campaign and the atmosphere at the Eden Gardens is vivid and captures the celebratory mood surrounding the team. Rohit Sharma’s explosive start and the overall performance in the first innings are highlighted.
The Hitman Show
Rohit Sharma’s aggressive batting style and the rapid start to the innings are portrayed, with a mention of how he set the tempo with a 24-ball 40, taking on the South African bowlers. The mention of him hitting six fours and two sixes in the opening partnership with Shubman Gill shows his dominance during the PowerPlay.
The introduction of spin in the 11th over had a significant impact on the game, altering its dynamics. Keshav Maharaj, with his third ball, bowled a delivery that produced magic. It dipped sharply on Shubman Gill, pitching on leg stump and spinning past his forward defensive stroke to hit the top of off stump. This wicket showcased the substantial turn the pitch was offering.
Virat Kohli 49th Century
As a result of the turning conditions, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer were compelled to focus on accumulating singles. The period between the 11th and 20th overs saw only one boundary, a stark contrast to the more boundary-rich phase in the first 10 overs of the innings.
The key focus of this contest revolved around how South Africa’s strong batting lineup would handle India’s formidable bowling attack. South Africa had promised to respond with a potent batting lineup, beginning with Quinton de Kock, who had more hundreds in the tournament than any other player. However, his innings was short-lived, lasting only 10 balls before he dragged Mohammed Siraj’s delivery back onto his stumps.
Mohammed Siraj and his new-ball bowling partner, Jasprit Bumrah, continued to be exceptionally accurate and maintained their lengths effectively. South Africa’s batsmen did little to disrupt their rhythm and lengths, making it challenging for them to score freely.
In the pursuit of a target of 326, South Africa found themselves struggling, managing only 21 runs after seven overs before Ravindra Jadeja was brought into the attack. The pitch was conducive to his style of spin bowling. It took just three balls for Jadeja to deceive Temba Bavuma, who attempted a forward defense but had the ball spin past him and hit the top of off stump. This wicket marked the beginning of a batting collapse for South Africa.
Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket haul
Ravindra Jadeja’s outstanding performance with 5 wickets for 33 runs indicates his pivotal role as a spinner in the match, showing that spin bowlers can be equally influential in limited-overs cricket as fast bowlers.
Mohammed Shami, operating from the other end, made an immediate impact, getting Aiden Markram caught behind in his very first over. In his third over, Shami managed to get the better of Rassie van der Dussen, with the assistance of the Decision Review System (DRS), by nipping one back into him. This sequence of dismissals set the stage for a challenging situation for South Africa as they lost wickets quickly, with India’s bowlers making a significant impact.
During this phase of the match, Mohammed Shami’s strikes were complemented by Ravindra Jadeja’s impressive performance as he wreaked havoc on South Africa’s batting lineup. Heinrich Klaasen, known for his ability to play spin well, misjudged a very full delivery and attempted a sweep, only to see the ball sneak under his bat. The Decision Review System (DRS) confirmed his dismissal with all three reds, and Klaasen was clearly dismayed by the outcome.
David Miller also tried to employ the sweep shot but failed in his attempt, resulting in his stumps being disturbed. Keshav Maharaj was another victim as his stumps were dismantled by Jadeja’s bowling. Kagiso Rabada tried to hit back but ended up offering a return catch to Jadeja, which marked the spinner’s second five-wicket haul in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
The final wickets that sealed the victory came from the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav, and this passage illustrates the impressive collapse of South Africa’s batting order in the face of India’s spin and pace attack.
Match Summary: India 326/5 in 50 overs (Virat Kohli 101*, Shreyas Iyer 77; Keshav Maharaj 1-30) beat South Africa 83 in 27.1 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 5-33, Mohammed Shami 2-18, Kuldeep Yadav 2-7) by 243 runs.
