Virender Sehwag, Team India, Virat Kohli, 5th ODI, Port Elizabeth,
Virender Sehwag has recently criticized Virat Kohli. Photo Credit: Express Photo

Former explosive opener Virender Sehwag congratulated Team India after an emphatic series win following the 73-run win over South Africa in the fifth One-day international in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday (February 13).

The win helped India to register their first-ever bilateral series win in the Rainbow Nation. On the previous tours, India had lost 5-2 in 1992-93, 4-0 in 2006-07, 3-2 in 2010-11, and 2-0 in 2013-14 respectively.

Barring the customary middle-order collapse, the Men in Blue came up with another clinical performance to dismantle the hosts.

Sent in to bat first, India rode on Rohit Sharma’s fine century to post 274 for 7 in the allotted 50 overs.

Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit gave the visitors a good start by adding 48 runs. The first-wicket stand came to an end when speedster Kagiso Rabada dismissed Dhawan for 48.

Rohit and skipper Virat Kohli then added 105 runs for the second wicket – to lay the foundation for a good total.

Virender Sehwag, Team India, Virat Kohli, 5th ODI, Port Elizabeth,
Rohit scored 115 (Credits: BCCI)

India, however, were jolted with two run-outs in quick succession. Rohit and Shreyas then steadied the ship with a 60-run stand. But just when it looked the team would go all out, Lungi Ngidi rocked India with a 4-wicket haul.

The right-arm pacer dismissed Rohit (115) and Hardik Pandya on successive deliveries to reduce India from 236 for 3 to 236 for 5. Indian team could not recover from those early setbacks and was eventually restricted for 274 for 7.

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But in the end, the score turned out to be more than enough as the visitors completed an easy win. South Africa rarely looked in contention to chase down the target and were bowled out for 201. Hashim Amla top-scored for the hosts with 71.

Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball by picking up 4 for 57. Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik Pandya picked up two wickets apiece.

Virender Sehwag, Team India, Virat Kohli, 5th ODI, Port Elizabeth,
Kuldeep picked up four wickets (Credits: BCCI)

Post the historic win, Sehwag took to Twitter to hail the team.

“Many Congratulations to the Indian Cricket team on their first bilateral series win in South Africa. Brilliant consistency and hunger throughout and winning this series overseas is just a sign of things to come. Special team #SAvIND,” he wrote.

Here’s the newsfeed:

SA vs IND, 2018: Sachin Tendulkar hails Team India for historic series win

SA vs IND, 2018: 5th ODI, Port Elizabeth – Team India Player Ratings

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