South Africa vs India 2018, 5th ODI: Things which went right for the visitors

India proved too strong for South Africa as Virat Kohli's men won the 5th ODI by 73 runs to record their first-ever series win in South Africa on Tuesday.

Put in to bat by Aiden Markram, Rohit Sharma finally came good and scored his 17th century to help India cross the 200-run mark for the first time at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.

In reply to India's 274/7, South Africa were all out for 201 in 42.2 overs. The visitors now lead the series 4-1 with the 6th and final ODI at SuperSport Park, Centurion on Friday, February 16.

Despite the result of Friday's match, India will finish the 6-match ODI series as number one side in the ICC ODI Rankings.

BREAKING: India will finish the #SAvIND ODI series as the number one side in the @MRFWorldwide ICC ODI Rankings after taking a 4-1 series lead with victory in Port Elizabeth!https://t.co/1oA76LNlyI pic.twitter.com/xNpiqW6kFC

— ICC (@ICC) February 13, 2018

Now, let us have a look at things which went right for India.

#5 Hardik Pandya and wrist spinners' tight spells

Put in to bat, India were 180/3 in 32 overs and were looking well-set for a score in addition of 300, but suddenly they suffered a mini-collapse and lost 4 wickets for only 29 runs.

Lungi Ngidi came back stronger in his second spell, picking up a career-best 4 for 51 as India scored just 78 runs in last 15 overs and posted a target of 275 for South Africa.

The onus was then on the Indian bowlers to restrict the hosts and win the match for their team.

Jasprit Bumrah dismissed South Africa's stand-in skipper Aiden Markram (32) and gave the first breakthrough to India.

Soon after, JP Duminy and AB de Villiers were removed by Hardik Pandya putting the hosts in a spot of bother.

David Miller and Hashim Amla then stitched together a partnership of 62 runs and seemed to be walking away with the match when Yuzvendra Chahal's slower one forced Miller to race down the pitch.

Miller was left dumbfounded by Chahal's change of pace and the stumps were rattled.

In addition to taking crucial wickets, Chahal and Pandya kept South Africa's scoring under check as well. Pandya, in particular, gave away just 30 runs in his 9 overs and claimed two wickets.

Kuldeep Yadav, who was wicketless until the 35th over of South Africa's innings cleaned up their tail and finished the match with 4 wickets for 57 runs.

#4 Virat Kohli's captaincy

While South Africa floundered in the absence of their regular skipper Faf du Plessis, India flourished in the ODI series under the leadership of Virat Kohli.

The 29-year-old, who possesses excellent mental strength, orchestrated a turn-around for his team after they were beaten 2-1 in the three-match Test series.

After being put in to bat on Tuesday, Kohli brought up a 105-run partnership with Rohit Sharma and led India to 274/7 in 50 overs.

While defending, he deployed his bowlers at the right times and continued to pile on the pressure on the South African batsmen by keeping their scoring rate under check and claiming wickets at regular intervals, eventually dismissing them for 201 in 42.2 overs.

Kohli, who became the first Indian skipper to win an ODI series in South Africa, led by an example and with a series tally of 429 runs so far, has been India's most successful batsman.

#3 Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma partnership

South Africa's stand-in skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bowl first as India got off to a good start by going past fifty-run mark in the 8th over. Shikhar Dhawan continued his dream run in the series hammering 8 fours in his 34 off just 23 balls before Kagiso Rabada removed him.

From there on, Rohit Sharma (115) and Virat Kohli (36) stitched together a 105-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to lay a solid foundation for a total in addition of 300.

In the 26th over Rohit flicked the ball towards the point region and failed to take off immediately while Kohli was quick on his feet. There was chaos in the middle, JP Duminy took advantage of the hesitation and hit the stumps as the partnership ended by a run out for the 7th time in ODI history.

Throughout the series, Kohli has been involved in some crucial partnerships that have led to India's domination.

In the 1st ODI, Ajinkya Rahane and Kohli brought up a stand of 189 runs, 2nd highest by an Indian pair in South Africa against South Africa in ODIs, to orchestrate the visitors' fightback.

Chasing a modest total of 118 in the 2nd ODI, Dhawan (51*) and Kohli (46*) went on to stitch an unbeaten partnership worth 93 runs to take the visitors to the finish line.

In the 3rd ODI, Dhawan (76) and Kohli (160*) were involved in a 140-run partnership for the second wicket to lay a solid foundation for a huge target.

#2 Rohit Sharma returns to form

Rohit Sharma was going through a barren run in South Africa but he roared back to form with a 126-ball 115 in the fifth ODI of the six-match series at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

After being involved in two run-outs at the other end, surviving a review, being dropped on 96, Rohit slammed his 17th ODI hundred to help India post 274/7 after being put into bat.

He smashed 10 fours and four sixes during the course of his 2nd ODI ton against the Proteas.

Together with Sharma, Kohli, put on 105 for the 2nd wicket, with the Indian captain only contributing 36 off 54 balls before he was run-out by JP Duminy.

"A long time coming, had a good time in the middle. As the game went on the wicket got slower. It's always a good feeling when you score a hundred and your teams wins. Gotta keep yourself in a good frame of mind - that's what I've been doing. I knew I don't have to change a lot and the runs will come. We were in a bit of bother and it was important for me to bat long. I'm glad we could put up the runs on the board and come out and defend it. It's been the hallmark of our team that once you get in, you make it count at the top 3. We face the most deliveries. It was my day today", Man of the Match Rohit Sharma said at the post-match ceremony.

#1 Breaking South Africa's partnerships at crucial junctures

After being put into bat, India got off to a rollicking start and were comfortably placed at 180/3 with 18 overs remaining.

Well-set Rohit Sharma was removed by Lungi Ngidi and soon after his dismissal, India lost the plot and suffered a lower-order collapse finishing at 274/7 in 50 overs.

When South Africa came out to bat, they were off to a good start as well but, Hardik Pandya got rid of JP Duminy and AB de Villiers in quick succession to put the hosts on the back foot.

David Miller and Hashim Amla were then involved in a crucial partnership which could have changed the complexion of the game had it not been broken by Yuzvendra Chahal in time.

Later on, Amla and Heinrich Klaasen also got a partnership going that could have done the trick for South Africa but Hardik Pandya's direct hit at the non-striker's end sent the former packing and ending the hosts' hopes to keep the series alive.