Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team created history as they won the first Test in Centurion by 113 runs against South Africa to take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
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Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team created history on Thursday against South Africa on the final day in Centurion. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s three wickets, combined with R Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj’s two wickets gave India a commanding 113-run win on Friday. This was India’s fourth win in South Africa but they became the first Asian nation to beat the Proteas in their fortress of Centurion. India currently leads the three-Test series 1-0 and has a chance to secure history in Johannesburg in 2022.
The Centurion win was yet again a testament to India’s brilliance in overseas conditions. This was the second time in the last three years that India has won four Tests outside the sub-continent. Prior to Centurion, Brisbane, Lord’s, and The Oval had seen India emerge victorious in a glorious way. The game was already blown wide open towards the closing stages of day 4 thanks to Jasprit Bumrah’s strikes. Bumrah had removed Rassie van der Dussen and Keshav Maharaj in the final over of the day to already dent South Africa’s prospects.
When day 5 came in Centurion, South Africa clung to some hope. There was rain expected in the air and their skipper, Dean Elgar stood firm. The likes of Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock had the capability to frustrate the Indian attack. At the start of day 5, Elgar and Bavuma looked in solid touch. Mohammed Shami dropped Elgar but it was a tough caught and bowled chance. Elgar grew in confidence with a couple of boundaries off Bumrah as South Africa looked comfortable.
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But, just as the drinks break was approaching, Bumrah got the massive wicket of Elgar as he trapped the South Africa skipper in front with a delivery that cut back in sharply. With Elgar’s dismissal on 77, the Indians sensed a big opening.
Quinton de Kock looked in fine shape with two boundaries off Bumrah. De Kock and Bavuma looked to be in good touch but India found a way to breakthrough. Mohammed Siraj got a full ball angled in and de Kock dragged the delivery back onto the stumps for the second time in a row in the match. With de Kock and Elgar gone, the Indian cricket team came close to a win.
Shami and Siraj made quick inroads into the South Africa lower order. However, Bavuma held firm and South Africa dragged the match into the second session. After the lunch break, the threat of rain grew even bigger. Marco Jansen smashed two boundaries off Shami but he was snapped up by Shami. With South Africa eight down, the chances of them holding on diminished greatly.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who had not taken a single wicket in the first innings, wrapped up the innings quickly by dismissing Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi in quick succession to wrap up a famous win. India’s mission for World Domination now comes one step closer and they will be aiming to get to Johannesburg and seal the series.
