In a commanding display of skill, South Africa clinched a resounding victory over India by an innings and 32 runs within three days at SuperSport Park on Thursday. The outstanding performance of bowlers, coupled with Dean Elgar's majestic 185, propelled South Africa to a dominant position in the first Test.
After conceding a 163-run lead, South Africa reached a formidable total of 408, thanks to stellar contributions from Elgar, Marco Jansen, and David Bedingham. Unfortunately, India's second innings resembled a horror movie, lasting only 34.1 overs with eight batters succumbing to single-digit scores.
South Africa's bowlers, led by Nandre Burger's exceptional four-wicket haul, capitalized on home conditions, further extending his debut match tally to seven scalps. Despite a valiant effort from Virat Kohli, who scored a gritty 76 off 82 balls, the lack of resistance from his teammates led to India's downfall as they were bowled out for 131, trailing 1-0 in the two-game series.
Post-lunch, India, starting from 62/3, faced immediate setbacks as Marco Jansen dismissed Shreyas Iyer. Kohli, determined to salvage the situation, showcased resilience by scoring boundaries, but wickets kept falling at the other end. KL Rahul, Ravichandran Ashwin, and others departed in quick succession.
Kohli managed to survive a hat-trick ball from Burger and reached a fifty in 61 balls with a wristy shot past mid-on. Despite Kohli's attempts to mount a counterattack, his innings concluded at 76 when he tried to pull over the bowler's head, resulting in a spectacular catch by Kagiso Rabada.
In summary, India's total of 131 in the second innings, with Kohli's valiant effort, couldn't prevent South Africa from securing a comprehensive victory by an innings and 32 runs. The first Test showcased South Africa's dominance, setting the stage for an intriguing two-game series.
Brief Scores: India 245 and 131 in 34.1 overs (Virat Kohli 76; Nandre Burger 14-33) lost to South Africa 408 in 108.4 overs (Dean Elgar 185, Marco Jansen 84 not out; Jasprit Bumrah 4-69, Mohammed Siraj 2-91) by an innings and 32 runs.
(With Agency Inputs)
