6th ODI: 'Chase Master' Kohli propels India to a massive 8-wicket win over South Africa - See pics

Centurion, Feb 16: Riding on a disciplined bowling effort before an imperious century from their skipper Virat Kohli, Team India defeated South Africa by 8 wickets in the 6th ODI in Centurion on Friday (February 16).

Coming out of chase the target of 205 runs, India overhauled it without much trouble as they lost the wickets of their openers Rohit Sharma (15) and Shikhar Dhawan (18) in the course.

Living up to his reputation of being a chase master, Kohli remained unbeaten on 129 off 96 deliveries and took his team home along with his batting partner at the other end, Ajinkya Rahane.

Rahane remained unbeaten on 34 as he stitched a partnership of 126 runs for the third wicket with his skipper.

Lungi Ngidi (2/54) was the only Protea bowler who could take some positive out of the lost match in the inconsequential tie.

None of the South African bowlers could trouble Kohli as he was in the mood to attack from the word go.

With this win, India ended the six-match series with a win margin of 5-1, their biggest ever overseas' ODI series win.

India's batting mainstay became the first-ever player to aggregate 500 ODI runs in a bilateral series as he surpassed the previous record owned by his deputy and teammate Rohit Sharma (491 runs).

Kohli was awarded the man of the match and man of the series for putting up an impressive display with the bat all round the series.

Earlier, young paceman Shardul Thakur made his first appearance in the series count with a four-wicket haul as India yet again choked the South African batsmen, dismissing them for a below-par 204 in the sixth and final One-Day International, here on Friday.

Match Scorecard; Twitter reaction; Schedule

Thakur (4/52), playing in place of rested Bhuvneshwar Kumar, picked his best figures in ODI cricket in this third match. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav (1/51) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/38) finished with 33 wickets together in this six-match series.

Aiden Markram (24) and Hashim Amla (10) made another sedate start. Thakur was impressive in his first spell, even though Markram took him for two boundaries to start off proceedings. Thakur got the early breakthroughs for his side as he got the wickets of both the openers within the first powerplay and gave his team a solid start.

Justifying his skipper's decision to bowl after winning the toss, Jasprit Bumrah (2/24) kept a check on the scoring with his guile at the other end.

AB de Villiers (30) and Khaya Zondo (54 runs) came to the crease after the dismissal of the openers, and they rebuilt the innings with a 62-run partnership for the third wicket. They rotated the strike well and looked to be positive even against the spinners.

But the run flow was slower as the wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were operating one after the other. But the two batsmen played them cautiously and even penalised the loose deliveries.

Zondo was harsh on Chahal and smacked him for two sixes in an over. It was perhaps the liveliest session of batting from South Africa in this series, barring their late assault during the Pink ODI. De Villiers and Zondo brought up their 50-partnership off 52 balls as the Proteas crossed 100 in the 19th over.

This is when things turned downwards again. Chahal bowled de Villiers in the 21st over as the batsman backed away and looked to make room. The breakthrough almost squeezed the scoring rate as the batsmen started eating up deliveries. Zondo and Heinrich Klaasen (22) added only 30 runs off 58 balls. Klaasen tried taking more risks but only managed to hit straight to Virat Kohli at short cover off Bumrah.

It became a quick double blow as Ferhaan Behardien (1) wasted his first outing in the series and holed out to third man off Thakur where Bumrah held a stunning catch. South Africa had lost two wickets in the space of six balls and were reduced to 136 for five in the 32nd over.

Chris Morris (4) further exasperated his dressing room as he holed out off Yadav in the deep two overs later. Zondo and Andile Phehlukwayo (34) tried to bring some stability to the innings.

In doing so, Zondo scored his maiden ODI half-century off 67 balls. He was out shortly afterwards, caught in the deep in a bid to slog Chahal. Chris Morris threw his bat around and scored 20 off 19 balls, inclusive of two sixes before he was out caught off Hardik Pandya (1-39).

Morne Morkel (20) and Andile Phehlukwayo (34) played a little cameo and helped their side go past 200. But the target set by the hosts was too low for them to defend or even offer any challenge to an upbeat Indian batting attack.

Here are the images from the first innings of the match:

Shardul draws the first blood for India

Thakur was impressive in his first spell, even though Markram took him for two boundaries to start off proceedings. Jasprit Bumrah (2/24) kept a check on the scoring with his guile at the other end.

The duo added 23 runs for the opening wicket before Amla was caught behind, pulling down leg side off a short ball from Thakur.

The pacer struck for a second time within the first power-play as a clever change of pace foxed Markram completely and he simply chipped a catch to Shreyas Iyer at cover, who caught well for a change.

Jasprit Bumrah plays his part well

India's strike pacer once again lived up to the resputation as he kept a check on the scoring with his guile at the other end along with his new partner Shardul Thakur.

Bumrah was also very good in the field as he took brilliant catch in the deep.

Chahal cleans up AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers and Khaya Zondo brought up their 50-partnership off 52 balls as the Proteas crossed 100 in the 19th over. This is when things turned downwards again.

Chahal bowled de Villiers in the 21st over as the batsman backed away and looked to make room. The breakthrough almost squeezed the scoring rate as the batsmen started eating up deliveries.

Khaya Zondo slams maiden fifty

Young Khaya Zondo was the only positive in batting for South Africa as he notched up his maiden ODI fifty. He was even harsh on Chahal and smacked him for two sixes in an over.

His partnership with de Villiers was perhaps the liveliest session of batting from South Africa in this series, barring their late assault during the Pink ODI.

De Villiers and Zondo brought up their 50-partnership off 52 balls as the Proteas crossed 100 in the 19th over. This is when things turned downwards again.

Kohli-Dhoni discussing

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli had a slight discussion in the middle when the partnership between AB de Villiers and Khaya Zondo was building.

Rohit departed cheaply

The centurion of the previous ODI, Rohit Sharma couldn't do much this time as he was dismissed by Lungi Ngidi for 15.

Rohit was caught behind the stumps by Heinrich Klaasen when he attempted to play a pull shot against the bowler but the ball brushed his gloves and went directly into the hands of the wicketkeeper.

Dhawan too fails to bat

The left-handed batsman was dismissed for 18 when he was caught by Khaya Zodo at point region off Ngidi.

Dhawan was playing as a second fiddle to Kohli and was dismissed while trying to accelarate his innings. Dhawan has been in sublime form so far and would be hoping to continue the same form in T20Is.

Kohli brings up his 35th ton

Leading from the front, Kohli scored 129 off 96 deliveries. His breezy knock en route his 35th century was studded with 19 fours and two sixes.

The right-handed batsman became the first-ever player to aggregate 500 ODI runs in a bilateral series. The 29-year-old swashbuckler has made it a habit of scoring tons, smashed three centuries in the series.