Virat Kohli slammed an unbeaten half century and took a stunning catch to lead from the front as India eased to a seven-wicket win over South Africa in the second T20 international on Wednesday.
Skipper Kohli first took a brilliant catch running to his left from mid-off off Navdeep Saini's bowling in the 12th over to send counterpart Quinton de Kock (52 off 37 balls; 8x4) back in the hut and stymie South Africa's run-flow as they ended up with 149/5 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first.
Chasing a modest 150 for victory, Kohli smashed an unbeaten 72 from 52 deliveries as India won with an over to spare.
Kohli's superlative knock got him past vice-captain Rohit Sharma as the leading run-getter in T20 internationals. Here are some of the other records broken and created in the second T20.
India’s First Home Win vs SA
- Following the victory in Mohali, India now enjoy a winning percentage of 64.28 against South Africa in T20Is, winning nine and losing five out of 14 contested.
- With a magnificent seven-wicket win, India have posted their first victory in three T20Is contested against South Africa in India. South Africa had won the first two games - by 7 wickets at Dharamsala on October 2, 2015 and by 6 wickets at Cuttack on October 5, 2015.
Virat’s Captain’s Knock
- Virat Kohli, with an unbeaten 72 off 52 balls, has equalled his highest score against South Africa in T20Is. He had played an unbeaten innings of 72 off 44 in the semi-final of World T20 at Dhaka on April 4, 2014.
- During the course of his match-winning knock, Kohli took his personal tally to 2441 runs that have been scored at an average of 50.85 in 71 matches. He has overtaken Rohit Sharma as India’s highest T20 run-scorer. Rohit has scored 2434 runs (ave 32.45) in 97 matches.
- Kohli has now scored 22 fifty-plus innings (all half centuries), establishing a record in T20Is, obliterating Rohit Sharma's 21 knocks of fifty-plus (four centuries and 17 fifties).
- Kohli has been adjudged the Man of the Match for the eleventh time in T20s, emulating Shahid Afridi's feat. Only one player has managed more awards - 12 by Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi.
- Kohli has once again maintained 50-plus average in all three formats of international cricket - Tests (53.14), ODIs (60.31) and T20Is (50.85). He is the only one to accomplish the feat.
- Kohli is averaging 111.50 in successful chases in T20Is - his tally being 111 including twelve fifties, in 23 innings - an unparalleled feat.
South African Stats
- Quinton de Kock's 52 is his first fifty vs India - his third in T20Is. He had scored 52 vs England in a World T20 encounter at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on March 18, 2016 and 59 vs Bangladesh at Bloemfontein on October 26, 2017.
- de Kock became the third South African skipper to post a fifty vs India in T20Is. Jean-Paul Duminy had scored two - 64 not out at Centurion on February 21, 2018 & 55 at Cape Town on February 24, 2018 and Faf du Plessis - 58 at Dhaka on April 4, 2014.
- de Kock is the third South African captain to record fifties on captaincy debut in T20Is. David Miller had posted 65 not out off 29 balls vs Pakistan at Johannesburg on February 3, 2019; Graeme Smith - 61 off 43 balls vs New Zealand at Johannesburg on October 21, 2005 and de Kock.
- Temba Bavuma (49) has equalled the highest individual innings by a South African batsman on T20I debut against India. Christiaan Jonker had posted 49 off 24 balls at Cape Town on February 24, 2018.
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