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Journalism of Courage
Virat Kohli continued his rich vein of form in the ongoing World Cup when he brought up his second century of the tournament against South Africa on his 35th birthday at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. It was his 49th ODI century which helped him equal the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of ODI centuries.
This was also Kohli’s 79th ton and his 4th in the 50-over showpiece’s history and he got to the milestone in 119 balls, peppered with 10 fours.
Tendulkar also reacted to Kohli’s feat, tweeting, “Well played Virat. It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50 earlier this year. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days.
Congratulations!!”
The batter who is fondly termed ‘chase master’ had earlier recorded a ton in this World Cup when he smacked a last ball six against Bangladesh and had just missed out on two other occasions when he scored 95 against New Zealand and 88 against Sri Lanka.
In Sunday’s match, continuing with his high-risk game, Rohit Sharma gave India a flourishing start but South Africa pegged the hosts back by removing the captain and his opening partner Shubhman Gill in their World Cup match.
Rohit hit a 24-ball 40 and shared a 62-run opening partnership with Shubman Gill (23) but the Proteas left them fighting at 105 for two after 15 overs. The flurry of shots from Rohit’s bat saw India complete 50 runs in just 4.3 overs as the skipper smashed two sixes and six boundaries during his entertaining innings.
However, Rohit could not build on the solid start with pacer Kagiso Rabada taking his wicket. Temba Bavuma hung on to a fast-travelling shot after Rohit could not get enough elevation to clear the fielder at mid-off.
The Proteas skipper swooped to his right to take a great catch. Gill departed soon, flummoxed by a superb delivery from spinner Keshav Maharaj in the 11th over, which landed just outside leg, turned slightly to beat the young batting sensation and clip the bails.
For a moment Gill was in disbelief, not knowing if it was a stumping or he had been clean-bowled, However, TV referral showed the ball had indeed clipped the bails.
