IND vs SA 1st Test: India breach fortress Centurion, win by 113 runs
Thursday, 30 December 2021 (17:05 IST)
Centurion: India secured their first-ever Test win at Centurion on Thursday after defeating South Africa by 113 runs in the first of the three-match series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship.
India started 2021 with history being scripted at Gabba and Brisbane, and ended it with a historic victory at Centurion.
A ground on which South Africa usually win and on which they have beaten India on previous two occasions, the hosts folded on 191. While Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami took three wickets each, Mohammed Siraj and Ravichandran Ashwin returned with two wickets each.
South Africa, who were 182/7 at lunch, were bundled out thanks to Shami and Ashwin.
Shami removed Marco Jansen but not before conceding two back-to-back boundaries. And in the next over, Ashwin completed the formalities as he dismissed Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, leaving the lone warrior Temba Bavuma stranded on 35 not out.
Earlier, India were just three wickets away going into lunch break. South Africa, who were 94/4 on Day 4, added 88 runs in the first session while chasing 305.
Dean Elgar and Bavuma kept frustrating Indian attack with their regular boundaries as the ball was old and the cracks had already open in the first hour of the play in the morning session.
The duo added 36 runs before Jasprit Bumrah trapped Elgar. A Bumrah length ball nipped in from outside off to dismiss the left-hander for a well-made 77.
Bavuma soon found support from the other end in Quinton de Kock. The pair dodged as many balls as possible and punched a few for boundaries. However, after a 31-run stand, Mohammed Siraj struck for India.
De Kock looked to play a cut shot but found inside edge and got castled for 21. Mohammed Shami joined the party and removed Wiaan Mulder cheaply for one. (UNI)
