- Thursday, April 25, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE first Test match between South Africa and India at SuperSport Park in Centurion saw a captivating third day which saw fall of 18 wickets, thereby increasing the chances of a result after the second day was washed out without a delivery being bowled.
The hosts did well to restrict India to 327 after they resumed their innings at 272 for 3 but the visitors struck back to bowl the Proteas out for 197 to register a lead of 130 runs. India lost opener Mayank Agarwal in their second essay to end the day at 16 for 1, extending their overall lead to 146 runs. Indian pacer Mohammed Shami took five wickets for 44 runs and became the third Indian fast bowler after Kapil Dev and Javagal Srinath to complete 200 wickets in the long format.
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Indian batters KL Rahul (123) and Ajinkya Rahane (48) resumed from their Day 1 scores but the partnership did not last long with Rahul managing to add just one run to his overnight score. Rahane returned soon and India’s lower order saw a collapse as the Asians lost their last seven wickets for only 55 runs.
South Africa vs India first Test: Second day washed out
Lungi Ngidi, who took all the three wickets that fell on the opening day, added three more to his tally to finish with six for 71. His opening bowling partner Kagiso Rabada came out with a much-improved effort and finished with three for 72. Debutant pacer Marco Jansen picked the wicket of Jasprit Bumrah who made 14.
The Indian pace battery lived up to its reputation by giving early blows to the home team and reducing it to 32 for 4 inside 13 overs. Temba Bavuma (52) and wicket-keeper-batter Quinton de Kock (34) then brought the South African innings back on track by adding 72 runs for the fifth wicket but Shardul Thakur broke the partnership by picking de Kock.
The hosts’ lower order kept on making contributions to reduce the gap with the Indian total but a spirited show from the Indian bowlers led by speedster Mohammed Shami bowled them out for 197 in 62.3 overs. Rabada made 25 and Jansen 19. Bumrah and Thakur took two wickets each while Mohammed Siraj picked one.
India came out to bat again but lost the wicket of Agarwal who fell to Jansen by poking at one to the wicket-keeper. Thakur joined Rahul as a night watchman in place of the out-of-form Cheteshwar Pujara and India finished the day at 16 for 1.
India have never won a Test series in South Africa and lost both the long-format matches that they have played in Centurion so far.
Brief scores: India 327 & 16/1 vs South Africa 197 at stumps Day 3
