Brilliant Kohli hits 52nd ODI century and India beats South Africa by 17 runs

RANCHI, India (AP) — Virat Kohli smashed his 52nd ODI century and India went on to beat South Africa by 17 runs in their series opener on Sunday.

Kohli ’s 135 off 120 balls powered India to 349-8 in 50 overs after the home team lost its 19th consecutive toss and South Africa opted to field first.

South Africa made an impressive recovery after losing three early wickets as Matthew Breetzke (72), Marco Jansen (70) and Corbin Bosch (67) struck aggressive half centuries before the Proteas were bowled out for 332 in 49.2 overs.

“I just wanted to play the ball and enjoy the game of cricket,” Kohli said. “I’ve never been a believer of a lot of prep, all my cricket has been mental. I work physically very hard, as long as my fitness levels are up and then you visualize batting and feeling well, it’s good.”

The teams will play two more ODIs on Wednesday and Saturday, followed by five T20 internationals. South Africa swept the two-match test series last week.

South Africa comeback

South Africa stumbled to 11-3 inside the powerplay. Fast bowler Harshit Rana (3-65) dismissed Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock for ducks in the second over of the innings and Arshdeep Singh (2-64) removed skipper Aiden Markram.

But South Africa rallied with Tony de Zorzi (39) and Dewald Brevis (37) scoring better than a run-a-ball to keep their team in contention.

Jansen went in to bat in the 22nd and the bowlers found it difficult to hit the right lengths with the damp ball because of dew.

Jansen smashed eight fours and three sixes in his 39-ball knock, raising his half century off 26 balls. Breetzke took a backseat in a whirlwind stand of 97 runs. But wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav (4-68) claimed both wickets when the batters went for big shots in the 34th over as South Africa slipped to 228-7.

Bosch’s 51-ball knock took the game deep in the company of tailenders, and he hit five fours and four sixes. He had reduced the target to 18 off the final over before he got caught in the covers as the last man out.

Kohli in charge

Kohli demonstrated his ODI dominance, along with another Indian white-ball stalwart Rohit Sharma (57).

The pair, who have retired from T20s and test cricket, shared a 136-run, second-wicket stand after Nandre Burger had Yashasvi Jaiswal (18) caught behind in the fourth over.

Kohli and Sharma thrilled the as they took on the four pacers and spin of Prenelan Subrayen (0-73).

Sharma, who was dropped on 1, overtook Shahid Afridi’s record of 351 sixes in ODIs when he hooked Jansen over long leg. Sharma hit five fours and three sixes in his 51-ball innings before he was finally trapped lbw by Jansen.

South Africa stemmed the flow of runs in the middle overs and Brevis took a superb catch at point to dismiss Ruturaj Gaikwad (8) while Washington Sundar (13) holed out at mid-off as India reached 200-4 in the 31st over.

Kohli accelerated the scoring tempo, and soon after completing his century he struck Subrayen for two fours and two sixes in a 21-run over. Kohli’s innings — with seven sixes and 11 fours — ended in the 43rd over when he was caught by Rickelton.

KL Rahul then switched gears with a breezy 60 and Ravindra Jadeja struck 32 off 20 balls to give India a strong total to defend.

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