SA vs IND, 6th ODI: Twitter Goes Berserk As Virat Kohli's Century Powers India To Thumping Win

Red-hot Virat Kohli continued making merry with the bat to lead India to a crushing eight-wicket win over South Africa in the sixth One-Day International. The India skipper scored 129 as the Men in Blue clinched the six-match series 5-1.

Chasing a modest 205, India were off to a shaky start. Last match’s centurion Rohit Sharma was dismissed by Lungi Ngidi for just 15. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli then steadied the nerves with a 61-run stand. The stand was broken when Dhawan was sent back by Ngidi for 18.

The dismissal, however, did not affect India’s momentum at all. Kohli never looked at discomfort and scored runs at will. The India skipper reached his fifty off just 36 balls while Ajinkya Rahane looked more than happy to play the second fiddle.

It was a one-man show as Kohli enthralled the cricketing world once again with a gem of an innings. The 29-year old went on to score his 35th ODI century in just 82 balls. It was also Kohli’s third century in the series. The win was a mere formality from there on and the tourists eventually reached the target in the 33rd over.

Earlier in the day, the hosts failed to deliver with the bat in the series once again. Openers Hashim Amla and Aiden Markram were back in the hut with only 43 runs on the board.

AB de Villiers and Khaya Zondo then steadied the ship with a good partnership. But before they could lay the platform for a good total, Yuzvendra Chahal broke the 62-run stand by castling de Villiers.

De Villiers’ dismissal derailed the hosts’ innings as they kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. Zondo (54) was holding firm from one end but lack of support from the other did not let the hosts challenge the tourists. Heinrich Klaasen (22), Farhaan Behardien (1) and Chris Morris failed to contribute much as India kept the hosts under check throughout the innings. The Proteas were eventually all out for 204.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:

Parampara ,Pratishtha ,Anushaasan. Congratulations India on the 5-1 series victory. Brilliant effort from the spinners and wonderfully led from the front by Kohli. pic.twitter.com/jYQhLTIqI8

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 16, 2018

And he does what he does best, score centuries. The stellar run for the champion continues, 35 th ODI hundred , 3rd in the series. Take a bow, Virat Kohli pic.twitter.com/ypkc53urI6

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 16, 2018

No one is @imVkohli peer at the moment im afraid . Best in the world ?

— Robin John Peterson (@robbie13flair) February 16, 2018

35th …. Greatest Ever ODI player … #Fact … @imVkohli #SAvIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 16, 2018

He is off again … @imVkohli … Grestest ever chaser … #SAvIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 16, 2018

All there is for @imVkohli to do is to get runs in England in Test to confirm what so many now know that he is the greatest all round player in all forms #fact

— Alex Tudor (@alextudorcoach) February 16, 2018

Why are people so surprised at @imVkohli 's hunger?
He is the only Punjabi from New Delhi who's given up butter chicken.
Bhookh to lagegi tere bhai ko .. ?#JustSaying #KingKohli #SAvIND

— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) February 16, 2018

https://twitter.com/rashi_kakkar/status/964548285158404096

After this knock, what more would Virat Kohli want?

A nice quiet dinner with ABde, what else

"You're the best"

"No, you're the best"#SAvsIND

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) February 16, 2018

Virat Kohli in this series:

1st ODI: He scored a hundred when Rohit Sharma got out before Shikhar Dhawan.

3rd ODI: He scored a hundred when Rohit Sharma got out before Shikhar Dhawan.

6th ODI: He scored a hundred when Rohit Sharma got out before Shikhar Dhawan.#INDvSA

— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) February 16, 2018

Virat Kohli is a scam.

— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) February 16, 2018

https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/964547975824338945

Virat Kohli should be sent to find Nirav Modi. He's too good at chasing.

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) February 16, 2018

Rohit Sharma got out early to make this match interesting.#Legend

— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) February 16, 2018

Mr Sharma – Out
Sharma's Mr – In#SAvIND

— cricBC (@cricBC) February 16, 2018

Rohit not wasting runs in a meaningless ODI.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) February 16, 2018

Best bowling by Indian pacers against the home side in South Africa in ODIs
4/29 Munaf Patel 2011
4/40 Ishant Sharma 2013
4/52 Shardul Thakur 2018#SAvInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 16, 2018

The fact that Sri Lanka were more competitive vs India than South Africa speaks volumes.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) February 16, 2018

https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/964476873890762752

I'm sorry you have to hear that.

Me to my ears, on that AB CD for de Villiers by Sunny

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) February 16, 2018

Shreyas Iyer takes a catch. Sorry Kedar Jadhav you don't have any partner left. #SAvIND

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) February 16, 2018

Happy Birthday Michael Holding. Both the teams wishing him happy birthday as well by playing this ODI as if 1987. #SAvIND

— cricBC (@cricBC) February 16, 2018

Wonder whether there are stats for this but Markram looks like a guy who hits good shots to fielders much more often than guys like de Villiers and Kohli.#SAvInd #SAvsInd

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) February 16, 2018

Caught MS, bowled Shardul. Hey @ChennaiIPL, we would like this to be the first of many, eh?

— Aaditya Narayan (@AadityaN_28) February 16, 2018

https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/964465768044859393