Kohli-led India’s lead is unasSAilable

India made no changes to their playing eleven.

South Africa made just one change to the eleven that last played the Indians – Chris Morris made way for Tabraiz Shamsi.

On winning the toss, Aiden Markram, South Africa’s skipper, inserted the visitors.

The first Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 61, and lost a wicket.

Shikhar Dhawan, whose 23-ball innings included eight boundaries, scored 34. Forty-four balls into the match, he was caught by Andile Phehlukwayo. Kagiso Rabada broke the 48-run stand.

India scored 50 off 7.4 overs (46 balls). South Africa had conceded five extras at that point.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 11^th and the 40^th over. They scored 158, and lost a couple of wickets.

The second-wicket pair put on 50 off 53 balls. While the contribution of Rohit, the player of the (Shar)match, to the partnership was 25, the contribution of Virat Kohli, India’s skipper, to it was 20. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was five.

Seventeen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 99 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Sharma was batting on 39, Kohli was batting on 20.

India scored 100 off 17.1 overs (103 balls). South Africa had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point.

Sharma’s run-a-ball half-century included half-a-dozen boundaries and a couple of sixes.

The second-wicket pair put on 100 off 104 balls. While Sharma’s contribution to the partnership was 62, Kohli’s contribution to it was 31. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was seven.

India scored 150 off 25.1 overs (151 balls). South Africa had conceded eight extras at that point.

The second-wicket pair put on 105. Kohli, whose 54-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, eventually scored 36. A hundred and nine balls after Dhawan’s dismissal, Jean-Paul Duminy ran him out.

The third-wicket pair put on 23. Ajinkya Rahane, who faced 18 balls, scored just eight. Thirty-eight balls later, Morne Morkel and Heinrich Klaasen ran him out.

Thirty-three overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 99 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Sharma was batting on 92, Shreyas Iyer had scored a couple.

It was at that point that South Africa sought a bowling review. Sharma was the batsman. It was struck down by South African umpire Shaun George.

India scored 200 off 35.2 overs (212 balls). South Africa had conceded a dozen extras at that point.

Sharma’s ton – which included 10 boundaries and four sixes – came off 107 balls.

The third Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 41^st and the 50^th over. They scored 55, and lost four wickets.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 54 balls. While Sharma’s contribution to the partnership was 22, Iyer’s contribution to it was 25. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was half-a-dozen.

Sharma, whose 126-ball innings included 11 boundaries, in addition to the aforementioned number of sixes, eventually scored 115. Sixty-three balls after Rahane’s (Ngi)dismissal, he was caught by Heinrich Klaasen. Lungi broke the 60-run stand.

The fifth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Hardik Pandya, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was caught by Klaasen off the bowling of Ngidi.

Iyer, whose 37-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, eventually scored 30. Eleven balls later, he was caught by Klaasen. Ngidi broke the two-run stand.

India scored 250 off 46.3 overs (279 balls). South Africa had conceded 15 extras at that point.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose 17-ball innings included a boundary, scored 13. Twenty-four overs after Iyer’s dismissal, he was caught by Markram. Ngidi broke the 37-run stand.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose 20-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 19. He was unbeaten, as was Kuldeep Yadav, who faced four balls, scoring a couple.

South Africa eventually conceded 17 extras. India scored 274 for the loss of seven wickets off 50 overs.

Duminy, who bowled four wicketless overs, conceded 29.

Phehlukwayo, who bowled eight wicketless overs, conceded 34.

Shamsi and Morkel bowled 10 wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 48, the latter, whose spell included a couple of maidens, conceded 44.

Rabada, who bowled nine overs, conceded 58. He picked up a wicket.

Ngidi bowled nine overs, including a maiden. He conceded 51, picking up four scalps.

The first Powerplay of South Africa’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 52, and lost a wicket.

South Africa’s openers put on 50 off 8.5 overs (53 balls). India had conceded three extras at that point. While Hashim Amla was batting on 15, Markram was batting on 32.

Markram, whose run-a-ball innings included four boundaries and a six, didn’t add to the aforementioned score. Fifty-eight balls into the chase, he was caught by Kohli. Jasprit Bumrah broke the 52-run partnership.

The second Powerplay of South Africa’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 11^th and the 40^th over. They scored 140, and lost five wickets.

Duminy, who faced five balls, scored a run. Seven balls after Markram’s dismissal, he was caught by Sharma. Pandya broke the three-run stand.

A B de Villiers had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored half-a-dozen. A dozen balls later, he was caught by Dhoni. Pandya broke the 10-run stand.

Sixteen overs into the chase, the first drinks break was taken. South Africa had scored 83 for the loss of three wickets at that point. While Amla was batting on 26, David Miller was batting on 14.

A hundred balls into the chase, India sought a bowling review. Miller was the batsman. It was struck down by George.

South Africa scored 100 off 20.2 overs (122 balls). India had conceded four extras at that point.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 68 balls. While Amla’s contribution to the partnership was a dozen, Miller’s contribution to it was 35. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was three.

Miller, whose 51-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, eventually scored 36. Eighty-three balls after de Villiers’ dismissal, Yuzvendra Chahal broke the 62-run partnership.

Amla’s half-century – which included three boundaries – came off 72 balls.

South Africa scored 150 off 31.3 overs (189 balls). The number of extras they had conceded at that point gave India no reason to be in seventh heaven.

The fifth-wicket pair put on 39. Amla, whose 92-ball innings included five boundaries, eventually scored 71. Forty-seven balls after Miller’s dismissal, Pandya ran him out.

Phehlukwayo, who faced three balls, didn’t get off the mark. Half-a-dozen balls later, Yadav broke the two-run stand.

The third Powerplay of South Africa’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 41^st and the 50^th over. They scored nine, and lost four wickets.

Rabada, who faced 17 balls, scored just three. Thirty-five balls after Phehlukwayo’s dismissal, he was caught by Chahal. Yadav broke the 28-run stand.

Klaasen, whose 42-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and as many sixes, scored 39. A couple of balls later, he was stumped by Dhoni. Yadav broke the one-run stand.

The ninth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Shamsi, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was caught by Pandya off the bowling of Yadav.

South Africa scored 200 off 42 overs (252 balls). India had conceded eight extras at that point. That was, incidentally, the number of extras they eventually conceded.

Morkel, who faced three balls, scored a run. Three balls after Shamsi’s dismissal, he was trapped leg be‘four’ wicket by Chahal.

Ngidi, who faced a ball, scored a boundary. He was unbeaten.

South Africa, who were dismissed for 201 off 42.2 overs, lost by 73 runs.

Kumar, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 43.

Bumrah, who bowled seven overs, conceded 22. He picked up a wicket.

Pandya, who bowled nine overs, conceded 30. He picked up two wickets, as did Chahal, who bowled 9.2 overs, conceding 43.

Yadav, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 57. He picked up four scalps.

India led the six-match series 4-1.