"No balls are something that hurts you as a team": Virat Kohli": Virat Kohli

South Africa kept their hopes alive in the 6 match series against as they finally registered a victory at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg to make the scoreline 3-1 in favour of the visitors. It was some sensational hitting by wicket-keeper batsman Heinrich Klassen and David Miller which eventually helped the hosts keep the series alive.

Earlier on in the day, it was again the duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli who helped India build a solid base for their middle order batters to take advantage. They shared a big stand of 158 runs for the 2^nd wicket but in a bid for quick runs, Virat Kohli sacrificed his wicket. Shikhar Dhawan completed his 13th ODI century but after that, there was a little lighting break which broke India’s flow.

They managed to score just 116 runs in the last 20 overs as India eventually finished their allotted 50 overs on 289/7. It was Jasprit Bumrah who provided India with the first breakthrough of the rival skipper Aiden Markram. Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav came into the play pretty soon dismissing Hashim Amla and JP Duminy in quick succession.

It was a terrific catch from Bhuvneshwar Kumar near the boundary ropes which sent back Amla to the pavilion while it was Hardik Pandya who got the most prized scalp of AB de Villiers. However from there on it was Heinrich Klassen and David Miler who started taking the spinners on and they succeeded on their venture.  Klassen struck 5 fours and a six during his knock of 43 while Miller struck 4 fours and a couple of big sixes.

However, the late flow was given by Andile Phehlukwayo who struck 3 sixes and a four during his breezy knock of 23 runs of a mere 5 deliveries. Virat Kohli in the post-match presentation ceremony said that they have to play some really good cricket to win the last couple of matches.

Here is what he said in the post-match presentation ceremony

“In the second innings when the game was placed after the interval, we got a difference of 35 between runs and balls, it was almost a T20 game. We had to take our chances, no balls aren’t easy. In hindsight you have to give credit to South Africa, we didn’t grab our chances and they deserved to win. After the first lightning break when Shikhar and Jinks (Rahane) came off, the guys felt that the wicket got faster and the weather got cooler and they felt that the ball wasn’t coming on nicely. The ball was getting a little wet, our spinners got a bit of turn but the South African batsmen took their chances and they came off. They improvised well and they deserved to win. The game getting shorter worked in their favour; had it been a full game you never know.”

“It was more like a T20 game and you have to go after the bowlers. If a side has momentum in their favour, it is very difficult to stop them. Especially guys like Miller and their keeper batted brilliantly as well. When AB got out we felt we were in the game but these two took it away from us. No balls are something that hurts you as a team and it is something we hope to rectify and not repeat them in the next games. They are a quality side and we know that. We also know that we have to be at the top of our game to get a win and that’s what we’ll do for the next game.”

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