CENTURION: In a dominant display of fast bowling, South Africa secured victory in the first Test against India at Centurion as they bowled out the visitors for a mere 131 runs in the second innings, claiming an innings win by 32 runs. Nandre Burger was the standout performer for the home side, finishing with impressive figures of 4-33.
India’s captain Virat Kohli fought a lone battle, scoring a resilient 76, but received minimal support from his teammates. The collapse accelerated after tea, with Burger accounting for crucial wickets, including first-innings centurion KL Rahul, Ravi Ashwin, and Mohammed Siraj, all caught behind the wicket. Marco Jansen complemented the bowling attack with 3-36.
South Africa First-Innings Lead
Earlier in the match, South Africa had taken a significant first-innings lead of 163 runs, with Dean Elgar’s magnificent knock of 185 and valuable contributions from Marco Jansen (84 not out), propelling them to a total of 408.
Kagiso Rabada, who claimed five wickets in the first innings, continued his impressive form with 2-32, culminating in a sensational catch to dismiss Virat Kohli and seal the victory. India’s innings lasted just 34.1 overs, leaving them with significant challenges to address before the second Test in Cape Town next week.
The defeat extends India’s quest for their first Test series victory in South Africa, as they look to bounce back in the upcoming matches.
