Twitter Reactions: Middle-order failure restricts India to 289 in the Pink ODI

Team India absolutely massacred the hosts, South Africa, in Cape Town recently. With the big win in the Cape Town ODI, the Indian team managed to get an unassailable lead of 3-0 in the six-match ODI series. The action moved to the Wanderers, Johannesburg for the fourth ODI of the series. A win for the visitors would mean a piece of history written in the game.

On the contrary, the hosts would want to stay afloat in the series by registering a win in this Pink ODI. Much to the delight of the home fans, their star player AB de Villiers made a comeback to the playing eleven for the match. And now, as the match stands at the half way stage, the hosts would fancy their chances to register their first win in the ODI series.

After having won the toss, the Indian captain Virat Kohli had no hesitation in batting first. As had been the story of the series, India lost Rohit Sharma cheaply in the match. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli proved to be the thorn in the flesh for the Proteas. The duo added yet another marathon stand in the series. Kohli and Dhawan added 158 runs for the second wicket in the match before Kohli perished on 75.

It was a good shot, yet ill-timed shot from Kohli that brought an end to a very fluent innings from him. Soon, a rain interruption followed. Following the rain interruption, the batting seemed to have become very difficult on the track. Shikhar Dhawan notched his century but could not go on after the rain break. He perished with a score of 109 to his name that came off 105 deliveries with 11 fours and 2 sixes.

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer (18) and Ajinkya Rahane (8) perished in quick successiontoo. Hardik Pandya’s poor run with the bat continued as he could only manage 9 runs. MS Dhoni stayed till the very end but could not get going either. He finished with an unbeaten 42 off 43 balls as team India finished with 289/7 in their 50 overs.

Here is how the fans reacted to India’s innings in the Pink ODI:

First Indian to score Century in his 100th ODI, Congratulations @SDhawan25 for this wonderful achievement. Time to make it bigger now. #INDvSA

— R P Singh (@RpSingh99) February 10, 2018

Balle jatta @SDhawan25 Bhut badiya 100 ..????⭐️?.. God bless you #INDvSA

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 10, 2018

Brilliant 100 from @SDhawan25 in his 100th one day match. India looking good for 330+ . #INDvSA

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 10, 2018

Well played @SDhawan25 .Awesome stuff. Make it a big one buddy. #SAvIND

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 10, 2018

Gao waalon give it up for Gabbar ??? Congratulations on a superb hundred, @Sdhawan25. #PinkODI #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/YSoZIEL6Cd

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) February 10, 2018

Surely @imVkohli doesn’t get No35 today !!!!!! #Freak #SAvIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 10, 2018

This lightning is the Gods showing their disappointment at Virat getting out #SAvIND

— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) February 10, 2018

Kohli is playing against Kohli. And only Kohli can dismiss Kohli now. Deepest shade of Purple Form. #SAvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 10, 2018

south africa had taken three flights since they last dismissed virat kohli #SAvIND

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) February 10, 2018

Rohit Sharma on this tour:

Tests – 11, 10, 10, 47
ODIs – 20, 15, 0, 5#SAvInd

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) February 10, 2018

Rabada has Rohit’s Number on this tour…. #SAvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 10, 2018

Virat Kohli's Daily Schedule:
?Wake Up
?Eat
?Hit Half-Century/Century
?Force Me To Post This Tweet
?Get Man Of The Match
?Sleep
?Repeat#INDvSA #INDvsSA #SAvIND #SAvsIND #ViratKohli #KingKohli

— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) February 10, 2018

Aiden Markram just pulled off one hand stunning catch to dismiss Hardik Pandya..

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) February 10, 2018

Is it only me who feels @hardikpandya7 is a highly over rated cricketer ? #INDvsSA

— Vicky (@EkHaiVICKY) February 10, 2018

When someone says ‘Hardik Pandya is next Kapil Dev.’#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/oSlMZNf1tt

— HarsH Deep. (@ImHarsh_Y) February 10, 2018

Hardik Pandya must be the face of desperately trying to look cool only to end up looking extremely uncool.

— Siviwe Breakfast (@AssVegas) February 10, 2018

Catch of the Year ?#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/EeEvakm70f

— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) February 10, 2018

And just how good is Dhawan in ODI…rarely looks in trouble in this format. Home-Away alike. #SAvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 10, 2018

Next odi series…. Try KRUNAL PANDYA instead of shit #HardikPandya ????????? #SAvIND

— Salman KHAN. (@iBeing_adi22) February 10, 2018

What an inngs by dhoni. Just what team needed. Imagine if he too got out earlier with team score 240. India already hv 150 runs more than needed to defeat saffers.

— Bond (@YogeshBond) February 10, 2018

Middle Order failed to capitalise on the Start by Dhawan and Virat. A decent knock by Dhoni took us here. And oh Yes, don't tell me MS must have scored another 30 more, can't depend on him till 2030. We need the rest to step up. #SAvIND

— Prabhu ? ‏ (@Cricprabhu) February 10, 2018

May be we should send Hardik pandya before shreyas and i think team can score more runs lost concentration after break

— Pankaj Bansod (@PankajBansod15) February 10, 2018

The under par last 10 overs has given SAF a chance. Can the bowlers step up again? @ABdeVilliers17 can be the diff. #INDvsSA #PinkODI

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) February 10, 2018

Only once in the last 11 ODI matches at Johannesburg, a team WON while defending a total less than 340.

India defeated South Africa by one run while defending 190 in 2011. #SAvIND

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) February 10, 2018

For the latest cricket news, follow CricTracker.