India’s ‘Chase Master’ Virat Kohli has broken ‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record for most centuries in ODI cricket. Kohli reached his century from 106 balls to become the first batter to hit a half-century of centuries in ODI cricket.
Kohli struggled with cramps in the hot and humid Mumbai weather but it did not dampen his speed between the wickets. Kohli got to his century in the 42nd over with a couple of runs off Lockie Ferguson. He played a flick shot towards backward square leg and completed two runs to reach the three figures.
He celebrated his century with a fist pump. He took off his helmet and bowed down to his idol Tendulkar followed by flying kisses to wife Anushka Sharma in the stands.
Kohli broke a few other records as well. He surpassed Tendulkar on another list. The 35-year-old now holds the record for most runs in a single World Cup edition. Tendulkar had scored 673 runs in the 2003 edition of World Cup.
Kohli also broke Tendulkar and Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan’s record for most fifty-plus scores in a single World Cup edition. Tendulkar had achieved it in 2003 whereas Shakib achieved the feat in the previous edition.
This was Kohli’s first-ever fifty-plus score in an ICC ODI knockout clash. He holds the record for most consecutive fifty-plus scores (5) for an Indian in World Cups which belonged to Tendulkar and Navjot Singh Sidhu.
He walked into bat when skipper Rohit Sharma departed after scoring 47 runs from just 29 balls. He reached his half-century from 59 balls in the 27th over. He equalled former Australian captain Ricky Ponting's tally of most fifty-plus scores in international cricket. Kohli now has 217 fifty-plus scores in the international arena.
Kohli equalled another major milestone of Ponting. He now has joint-most six ODI centuries against New Zealand.
Kohli tried to accelerate after getting to his century. After hitting a six off Southee, he played a flick shot that ended in Devon Conway's hands at square leg. He scored 117 runs from 113 balls featuring nine fours and a couple of sixes.
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