Virat Kohli just can’t stop breaking records.
The Indian superstar now boasts the most runs by a touring player at Adelaide Oval, overtaking West Indies great Brian Lara during Thursday evening’s T20 World Cup semi-final against England in the South Australian capital.
Kohli, who scored his maiden Test century at Adelaide Oval in 2011, smacked 50 (40) to help India register 6/168 from its 20 overs in the must-win contest.
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The 34-year-old averages 73.61 at the iconic venue, scoring five centuries and four fifties in 11 matches across formats.
In three T20I matches at Adelaide Oval, he has scored 90*, 64* and 50.
On Thursday evening, Kohli also became the first cricketer to achieve 4000 runs in men’s T20Is, reaching the milestone in 115 matches since his debut in 2010.
Earlier, England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and elected to bowl first — of the 11 previous men’s T20Is played at Adelaide Oval, the team that lost the toss emerged victorious on 11 occasions.
Chris Woakes snared an early breakthrough for England, generating some extra bounce to remove opener KL Rahul in the second over of the Powerplay, caught behind for 5.
It didn’t take long for Kohli to assert his authority in the middle, smacking Woakes over the cover boundary for a jaw-dropping six.
Most international runs scored by touring players at Adelaide Oval
957 — Virat Kohli (IND)
940 — Brian Lara (WI)
905 — Viv Richards (WI)
674 — Gordon Greenidge (WI)
625 — Desmond Haynes (WI)
Indian captain Rohit Sharma crawled towards 27 (28) before England seamer dismissed the veteran opener in his first over of the tournament, caught by Sam Curran at deep mid-wicket.
That dismissal brought world No. 1 men’s T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav to the crease, but the swashbuckling right-hander only lasted 10 deliveries, removed by England leg-spinner Adil Rashid after the drinks break for 14.
Starved of the strike, Kohli eventually brought up his fourth fifty of the tournament in the 18th over, reaching the minor milestone in 39 deliveries.
But the champion batter was dismissed the following ball, chipping a full delivery from Jordan to short third man.
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya provided some late fireworks, taking advantage of the venue’s short square boundaries to plunder 63 (33) at the death and revive the innings.
England will chase a 169-run target to book their spot in the T20 World Cup final.
