1st ODI: Clinical India, sublime Virat Kohli end South Africa's unbeaten run at home - See Pics

1st ODI: Clinical India, sublime Kohli end South Africa's unbeaten run at home - See Pics — Image Courtesy: BCCI

Durban, Feb 1: Skipper Virat Kohli led from the front as he notched up another fine ton chasing as India defeated South Africa by 6 wickets in the first ODI and took 1-0 lead in the six-match series here on Thursday (February 1).

Match Scorecard; Match Report

Chasing a target of 270, India rode upon a quality knock from chase master Kohli as he completed his 20th century while chasing and his 33rd overall in the 50-over format. The 29-year-old rightly deserves the name of 'chase master' as no other batsman has slammed as many hundreds chasing like him.

The quality of his innings could be understood with the fact that he didn't hit any sixes in his 119-ball stay at the crease. The stylish right-handed batsman struck 10 boundaries and the remaining 72 runs came in singles and doubles. He played aerial shots once India were on the cusp of victory and eventually ended up throwing his wicket away.

This is India's first ODI win over South Africa in Durban and with this win, the Men In Blue have reached the top of the ICC rankings in the ODIs.

He along with Ajinkya Rahane put up a record 189 run partnership for the third wicket and ensured their side register comfortable win. Comeback man Rahane played a quality knock of 79 runs and brought the hosts closer towards win before he was dismissed.

The other two wickets that India lost in their run chase were of Rohit Sharma (20) and Shikhar Dhawan (35) but the openers gave the visitors a steady start.

India have also ended South Africa's 17-match unbeaten win at home and took an all-important 1-0 lead in the series.

Earlier, South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis too slammed a belligerent century and helped the Proteas reach a competitive 269/8 against India.

At 134/5, South Africa made a great recovery and took the hosts to a decent total at the end of the innings. Though many felt that the Proteas fell 20-25 runs short of what could have been a decent total.

Du Plessis put up two crucial fifty-plus partnerships, first with Chris Morris (37) and later with Andile Phehlukwayo (27*) and helped the hosts reach a competitive total.

No other batsman really stood up to the occasion and they struggled no sooner than India skipper Virat Kohli brought Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav into the attack.

Kuldeep emerged as the pick of the bowlers for India as he returned with brilliant figures of 3/34 from his quota of 10 overs. Chahal, on the other hand, was lethal as he too picked up two important South African wickets and conceded 45 runs from his stipulated 10 overs. The hosts, however, would be pretty satisfied with how Du Plessis showed his brilliance and constructed his innings against India. In a matter of three games, Du Plessis notched up his second ODI ton against the Men In Blue.

His run-a-ball century kept the hosts in the game and his exploits in the death overs took the hosts to a respectable total. Earlier, after winning the toss, the South African captain elected to bat first against India in the first ODI of the six-match series.

Here are the images from the 1st ODI:

Bumrah draws first blood

Jasprit Bumrah got the first breakthrough as he trapped Hashim Amla in front for 16. It was the eighth over when India found their first success in the game. The umpire had no qualms in raising his finger immediately after the ball hit Amla's pad.

Yuzvendra Chahal introduced in 11th over

Wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was introduced in the 11th over and immediately put pressure on South Africa bowlers and made an immediate impact.

Chahal was lethal as he too picked up two important South African wickets and conceded 45 runs from his stipulated 10 overs. He dismissed Quinton de Kock for 34.

Team India celebrate the wicket of Amla

Team India celebrated the fall of Hashim Amla's wicket. Quinton de Kock too fell early after Amla's dismissal and the spinners then kept things tight for the hosts. Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav were very economical as they shared 5 wickets amongst them and conceded just 79 runs from their 20 overs.

Kuldeep was pick of the bowlers

Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers for India as he returned with 3/34 from his quota of 10 overs. Kuldeep gave away runs very miserly and kept things tight for the batsmen.

Faf du Plessis plays captain's knock

Faf du Plessis played brilliant innings of 112-ball 120. This is his 9th ODI century and 2nd against India from 13 games he has played against them. The skipper would be pretty satisfied with his effort as he once again showed his brilliance with the bat. However, the team would have to raise its standard with the bat.

Chris Morris plays a brilliant cameo

All-rounder Chris Morris played a fine innings of 37 off 43-balls and helped the hosts go past 200. He stitched a crucial 50+ partnership with the skipper. The all-rounder looked composed and also played good strokes. His knock was studded with 4 boundaries.

Rohit departs for 20

Rohit Sharma got off to a good start before he threw his wicket away while attempting a pull shot that took a top-edge. Morne Morkel got his wicket as Quinton de Kock took the catch.

The right-handed batsman played 30 deliveries before he was dismissed. Rohit hit two fours and a six in his innings.

'Unlucky' Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed in an unlucky fashion as he was run out while responding to skipper Kohli's call for a single. Dhawan was batting brilliantly at 35 before he paid the price of not saying 'No' to the captain.

Chris Morris appealed for an LBW and the shout sparked panic in the running between the wickets. A little nick off the inside edge caused the umpire to shake his head to the appeal, but Dhawan was late to respond to Kohli's call of a single. The ball dropped into the offside, where Aiden Markram picked it in and fired the throw to the non-striker's end and the ball nailed the stumps. Dhawan wasn't in the frame when the ball hit the stumps and the opener left the ground fuming as there was no run.

Kohli-Rahane record stand

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane together put up a record 189-run stand for the third wicket. This is the highest by an Indian pair against South Africa for this wicket. They surpassed the previous best partnership of 158 between Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in 2007.

Ajinkya Rahane was the new man in at number three and he didn't let the opportunity slip through his hands. The right-handed batsman crafted his innings brilliantly and kept being a second fiddle and rotated the strike brilliantly. The Mumbaikar, who was dropped in the ODI series against Australia and New Zealand, slammed his fifth consecutive ODI fifty and once again presented his contention with his knock of 79.

Run Machine, Chase Master Kohli

Virat Kohli once again proved why he's such a dangerous batsman while chasing as he notched up yet another century batting second. It is his 33rd ODI century overall.

Kohli showed his class with the bat and produced yet another quality century which is his 20th while chasing.

The skipper led from the front and has made it a habit of slamming a ton while chasing. His fine knock finally came to an end at 112 but he had done the damage for the hosts and brought his side closer to the win.

Dhoni-Pandya remain unbeaten

MS Dhoni hit the winning runs for India as they registered their first win in South Africa after a gap of 7 years. Hardik Pandya was unbeaten at the other end.

This is the first time Team India have beaten South Africa in Durban. The Men In Blue have reached the top of ICC ODI rankings with this win.

India have, thus, taken a significant 1-0 lead in the six-match series. The two teams would now face each other in Pretoria on Sunday, February 4.