3rd ODI: Unstoppable Virat Kohli guides India to unassailable 3-0 lead over SA - See pics

Cape Town, Feb 7: Run machine Virat Kohli carved out his 34th ODI hundred and spinners spun another web with their spin as India defeated South Africa by 124 runs in the third ODI here on Wednesday (February 7).

Match Scorecard; Match report

Chasing a daunting target of 304 from 50 overs, the Proteas were restricted to a paltry 179 as they once again succumbed in front of a quality spin attack.

Yuzvendra Chahal (4/46) and his spin-twin Kuldeep Yadav (4/23) grabbed four wickets apiece as Indian bowlers bundled the hosts out again.

Barring JP Duminy (51) no other Protea batsmen could resist Indian bowlers as the tourists kept things tight for the hosts. The visitors once again started well in the first powerplay when Jasprit Bumrah trapped Hashim Amla in front on the very first delivery of the match he bowled.

If Proteas struggled with the bat, Indian batting mainstay Virat Kohli showed his brilliance with the bat and slammed his career's 34th ODI century. Kohli scored an unbeaten 160 off 159 balls for the highest individual score by an Indian batsman against South Africa in South Africa, going past Sourav Ganguly's 127 at Johannesburg in 2001.

It was also Kohli's second-highest ODI score after 183 against Pakistan in 2012. It was not an easy wicket to bat on but Kohli made run-scoring look easy as some of the other batsmen struggled to get going.

Such was the nature of his innings that he scored only 60 runs through boundaries while he had to run hard for the remaining 100. In total, he collected 12 fours and two sixes. He also became the first Indian batsman to score a hundred against South Africa at Newlands.

Only Ganguly previously had an ODI century at this ground, but that came against Kenya in March 2003. Records kept tumbling as his innings progressed. He also became the Indian ODI captain with most hundreds to his name. He went past Ganguly again, who has 11 centuries in 142 innings.

Kohli now boasts of 12 hundreds as skipper but in only 43 innings. Kohli, with 318 runs in this series so far, now also has the most runs for a visiting batsman in a bilateral ODI series against South Africa in South Africa. Ricky Ponting, with 283 runs in 2001-02, was the previous best.

In terms of balls faced, it was the joint-slowest hundred for Kohli, after he faced 119 balls against Pakistan at Adelaide in 2015. But in doing so, Kohli put on 140 runs with Shikar Dhawan for the second wicket.

The left-handed opener scored 76 runs off 63 balls (12 fours) to rescue India from a poor start after South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl. The Proteas made three changes to their playing eleven after the Centurion defeat.

Lungi Ngidi and Heinrich Klaasen were handed their ODI debuts and came in for Morne Morkel and injured Quinton de Kock, respectively.

Here are the images from the match between India and South Africa:

Rohit disappoints again

Rohit Sharma (0) continued his poor run in this ODI series and was caught behind off the sixth ball he faced.

The three-time ODI double-centurion now averages 12.10 in 10 innings on South African soil and has an ODI high score of only 23.

Shikhar Dhawan scores breezy 76

The left-handed batsman continued his good form in the limited-overs series as he scored his 25th ODI half-century off 42 balls and took his team past 100 in the 18th over.

Dhawan accelerated after reaching his mark, and scored 26 runs off next 21 balls he faced. He was dismissed for 76 off part time bowler JP Duminy.

Kohli survives on 0

Virat Kohli (on 0*) survived an early lbw shout off Kagiso Rabada (1-54) in the third over. He immediately asked for DRS review, which showed an inside edge and the decision was overturned.

The Indian skipper then came together with his partner Dhawan, and piled on the runs, almost continuing from where they had left off in the previous match.

Kohli surpasses Sourav Ganguly's record

Kohli scored an unbeaten 160 off 159 balls for the highest individual score by an Indian batsman against South Africa in South Africa, going past Sourav Ganguly's 127 at Johannesburg in 2001.

With 12 ODI centuries, Kohli also surpassed former India captain Ganguly's record of 11 tons as skipper.

It was also Kohli's second-highest ODI score after 183 against Pakistan in 2012.

Miller attempts a failed catch

Kohli hit a fabulous shot which David Miller tried to catch near the boundary line but the fielder's effort was in vain as he touched the rope.

Kohli also became the first Indian batsman to score a hundred against South Africa at Newlands.

Phehlukwayo takes a brilliant catch

Andile Phehlukwayo took a brilliant catch in the deep to end Ajinkya Rahane's innings for 11. Rahane (11) tried to needlessly attack Duminy and only skied a catch to Phehlukwayo.

Hardik Pandya (14) was sent out to target the spinners, who were creating a bit of pressure backed up by some energised Proteas’ fielding. He did hit one six in his 15-ball stay, but otherwise looked pretty unconvincing before edging behind off Morris.

Markram congratulates Kohli

Kohli's fine knock was applauded by all and even the opposition congratulated the Indian skipper for his superb batting effort.

Jasprit Bumrah traps Amla in front

Speedster Jasprit Bumrah struck Hashim Amla's wicket as he trapped the South Africa opener on the very first delivery he bowled. Amla had scored just 1 in his stay at the crease.

Kuldeep remains effective as usual

The chinaman was once again the most effective Indian bowler as he grabbed 4 wickets and conceded just 23 runs from his 9 overs.

400 ODI dismissals for Dhoni

MS Dhoni became first Indian wicketkeeper to effect 400 ODI dismissals. Aiden Markram became his 400th dismissal and 106th stumping. Dhoni is fourth wicketkeeper to enter this elite list.