Centurion, February 4: Virat Kohli hit two runs off Imran Tahir to guide India to a thumping victory over weakened South Africa side in the second one-day international (ODI). With this 9-wicket win, India take a 2-0 lead in the six-match ODI series. However, the main architecture of this victory was Yuzvendra Chahal who picked up his first five-wicket haul. The young spinner left a depleted Proteas unit bamboozled. Giving him company in demolishing the opponents was Kuldeep Yadav who picked up three wickets. Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan also found form as he smashed an unbeaten half-century.

Chasing a modest 119-run target, India knocked off the required run in just 20.3 overs. Shikhar Dhawan (51 not out) and skipper Virat Kohli (46 not out) stitched together an unbeaten 93-run partnership after losing Rohit Sharma (15) early. Left-handed Dhawan, dropped on 48, hit his 24th ODI half-century.

The only obstacle India faced came from an unexpected call for the lunch break by umpires adhering to the rules of cricket. The 40-min break was announced by the match official when India were at 117 needing two runs to win. It caused an uproar on the micro-blogging platform, Twitter as Indian cricket fans called out bizarre rules. Nevertheless, Kohli and Dhawan returned to hit the winning runs post.

Yuzvendra Chahal was the pick of the bowlers for India with figures of five for 22 while Kuldeep Yadav (3/20) accounted for three South African batsmen. India had won the series-opener in Durban by six wickets.The next match is scheduled for Wednesday in Cape Town.

Brief Scores: South Africa: 118 all out in 32.2 overs (Khayelihle Zondo25, JP Duminy 25; Yuzvendra Chahal 5/22, Kuldeep Yadav 3/20). India: 119 for one in 20.3 overs. (S Dhawan 51 not out, Virat Kohli 46 not out; Kagiso Rabada 1/24).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 04, 2018 06:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).