SA vs IND 2018, 3rd ODI: Twitter Explodes as Virat Kohli's 34th ODI Ton Guides India to Big Total
In-form Virat Kohli scored his third century of the tour and the second in the ongoing series as India posted a massive 303 for 6 in the ongoing third One-Day International against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town.
Sent in to bat first, India were off to a start which did not surprise many. The openers failed to stitch together a good stand as out-of-form Rohit Sharma departed for a duck in the very first over. The right-handed batsman, who has failed to get going, perished after edging a Kagiso Rabada delivery behind the stumps. India, however, quickly recovered from the setback and soon took command of the proceedings courtesy of a big 140-run stand between Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli.
The partnership was looking unbreakable before Dhawan was dismissed by part-timer JP Duminy against the run of play. The southpaw miscued a shot while trying to clear the infield by stepping out, thus missing a deserved century by 24 runs.
Dhawan’s departure helped the Proteas claw their way back in the game as they dismissed Ajinkya Rahane and Hardik Pandya cheaply to reduce the visitors to 188 for 4 from 140 for 1. But while the wickets were falling from one end, Kohli held firm from anther and reached his 34th century off 119 balls.
Wickets, meanwhile, kept on falling from the other end. The reliable MS Dhoni also failed to complement his skipper from the other, falling while trying to up the ante after managing just 10 off 21 balls while Kedar Jadhav also departed without bothering the scorer much as India found themselves reduced to 236 for 6.
Kohli kept on going strong from one end and was well supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The India skipper reached his 150 in the last over of the innings and finished on 160 to guide the team to a mammoth total.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
Yet another ? for @<!---->i<!---->m<!---->V<!---->k<!---->o<!---->h<!---->l<!---->i … the hunger & consistency is remarkable … the Greatest ever ODI player ??? #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
India’s run machine has done it again! 34th ODI 100. What a player!@<!---->I<!---->m<!---->V<!---->K<!---->o<!---->h<!---->l<!---->i May this form of yours go on and on! SAvsIND
— Suresh Raina?? (@ImRaina) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Another masterclass from the modern-day master. What a knock @<!---->i<!---->m<!---->V<!---->k<!---->o<!---->h<!---->l<!---->i. Amazes me every time I watch him bat. #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Unstoppable. Kohli is scoring centuries like he's turning pages in a book.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Virat Kohli is perhaps going to go down as greatest ODI player of all time.
— Anuj Singhal अनुज सिंघल (@_anujsinghal) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Amidst the runs that Virat Kohli scores, don't lose sight of his incredible fitness. His boundary percentage is quite low which means he runs a lot between wickets. And still has an excellent strike rate.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
As Indian Captain:
Most ODI 100s: Kohli
Most Test 100s: Kohli
Most Test 200s: KohliWhaddey Player!
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
This batting order arrangement looks silly. We should leave batting to Kohli and logic to someone else
— ? (@LogicalBakwaas) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
When someone ask #<!---->K<!---->o<!---->h<!---->l<!---->i "Why you score century everytime?"
— Ye Koi ***** Hai Kya? (@intolerant_monk) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
When Virat goes to fill petrol, the attendant says 'Sahab 100 dekhna'#<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— Akash (@vaderakash) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
https://twitter.com/chinmaybhogle/status/961238326903824384
Even if he retires today, Virat Kohli will be one of the greatest batsmen of all time. #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->S<!---->A
— Gautam (@gautammahajan11) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Hardik Pandya is going Irfan Pathan, Robin Uthappa way.
— Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
That spike on UltraEdge was Kohli's intent. #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->S<!---->A
— Varun Shetty (@varunshetty) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Routine of Indian players:
Rohit Sharma:
* gets up *
* goes to pitch *
* comes back in 10 minutes *Dhoni:
* gets up *
* goes to pitch *
* finishes off in style *Virat Kohli:
* gets up *
* goes to pitch *
* scored a hundred *#<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->S<!---->A— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
India's ODI team has quite a few vacancies. Young players in this IPL should be ready with their applications. #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Put Rabada and Virat in a ring, with their gloves off. And Holding in the bowler's corner.#<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->s<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
https://twitter.com/FarziCricketer/status/961197552631627777?
https://twitter.com/Th_RobOt/status/961207803678400512
What's Rohit Sharma's favourite seafood?
Bombay DUCK!#<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->A— India Food Network (@ifn) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
