Indian team registered their first-ever Test win at the Supersport Park in Centurion when they defeated South Africa in the first Test of the three-match series by 113 runs on day five. This was after day two was totally washed out due to rain.
India batted first after winning the toss and thanks to KL Rahul’s 123, Mayank Agarwal’s 60 and 48 from Ajinkya Rahane put on a competitive 327 on the board. Lungi Ngidi picked 6/71, while Kagiso Rabada picked three wickets.
In reply, South Africa managed just 197 with Temba Bavuma making 52, while Mohammad Shami picked 5/44 and Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah picked two wickets each.
India’s second innings ended on 174 with Rishabh Pant top-scoring with 34 runs. Rabada and debutant Marco Jansen picked four wickets apiece. India earned a lead of 304 runs and set South Africa a target of 305 to win the Test.
While Dean Elgar made 77 and Temba Bavuma remained unbeaten on 35, the Indian bowling unit proved to be too much as the home side ended day four on 94/4. On the final day, Jasprit Bumrah (3/50), Mohammad Shami (3/63), and two wickets each for Mohammed Siraj and R Ashwin won the match for India.
South Africa folded for 191 runs and India won the Test match by 113 runs and became the first Asian side to register a Test win at this venue in Centurion.
The next Test will begin in Johannesburg on January 3rd.
The cricket fraternity was all praises for the Indian team on social media, as it was a brilliant performance from both the batters and the bowlers alike, which gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Here are some of the tweets:
