South Africa chased down a mammoth 359-run target in Raipur on Wednesday. Following the heroics of Virat Kohli (102), Ruturaj Gaikwad (105) and KL Rahul’s 66, India posted a daunting target of 359 runs for the Proteas. With the visitors coming very close to the target in Ranchi, the home-side bowlers were expected to tighten the noose today. Unfortunately, the bowlers failed to capitalise on the two-paced wicket. Numerous records were broken. Ankit Pattnaik breaks down some of the mind-boggling numbers:
The game in numbers: SA’s victory ends a historic match
5 — Five of the 13 successful 350-plus chases in ODIs have come in India. No other country has more than two.
359 — Wednesday’s was the third-highest successful run-chase in Indian soil.
3 — South Africa have now recorded three successful run-chases of 350+, which is the joint-most in ODI cricket alongside India and England.
720 — Today’s match showcased the highest run total put up by both teams in an ODI against each other, surpassing the previous highest posted in Ranchi (681 runs).
Kohli shatters multiple records
26 — Virat Kohli surpasses the most 50+ scores for India vs South Africa across all formats. Sachin Tendulkar (25) and Rahul Dravid (21) complete the top three.
15 — Kohli joins the elite list of Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara for the most 50+ scores vs South Africa in ODIs.
195 — Kohli and Gaikwad sitiched together the highest partnership for any wicket (195) for India vs South Africa in ODIs.
11 — Kohli also holds the record for most streaks of hundreds in two or more consecutive ODI innings. Next on the list is AB de Villiers with six streaks.
26 — King Kohli now also has the most 100s at home in ODIs. Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar with 20 centuries follows next.
10 — Record-breaker and trend-setter Virat joins the famed club of most 100s vs South Africa across formats. He joins Australian greats Ricky Ponting and David Warner and his U-19 friend and former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.