India defeated South Africa at Centurion in the first Test match of the 3-match Test series that began on Boxing Day. Pacers from both teams were exceptional but India's batting in the first innings did really make the difference in the outcome of this game!
Image Credits: India Today
Having opted to bat first, India managed to score 272 runs for the loss of 3 wickets on day one of this Test match. However, Rain played spoilsport and washed away the whole day two. South African pacers did make a comeback on day three bowling out India for just 327 runs! On day three, India effectively scored just 55 runs while losing 7 wickets!
South African pacer Lungi Ngidi bagged six wickets in the first innings, his second 6-wicket haul in Tests against India! In reply, Indian pacers created the magic with the ball bowling out the home team for just 197 runs. Shami was the weaker in chief as he bagged a 5-wicket haul which helped him complete 200 wickets in Tests.
Contrary to their first innings, India who started their 2nd innings at the end of day three did put on an awful show with the bat scoring just 174 runs. But the lead of 130 runs India garnered in the first innings came in handy as they set a mammoth 305-run target for Dean Elgar and his men! Though Elgar scored a fighting half-century (77 runs), South Africa were bowled out for 191 runs conceding India a 113-run victory!
South Africa's Lungi Ngidi and India's Mohammad Shami were the picks of the bowlers with 8 wickets each against their name! However, Indian vice-captain KL Rahul has been adjudged as the Player of the Match for scoring a century in India's first innings! That knock really did make a difference between these two sides!
India, with this victory, has taken a lead of 1-0 in the 3-match Test series. The second Test match will be played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg beginning from Monday (Jan 03).
Brief Scores: India - 327 all out (KL Rahul - 123, Lungi Ngidi - 6/71) & 174 all out (Rishabh Pant - 34, Kagiso Rabada - 4/42) defeated South Africa - 197 all out (Temba Bavuma - 52, Mohammad Shami - 5/44) & 191 all out (Dean Elgar - 77, Jasprit Bumrah - 3/50) by a margin of 113 runs
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