Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Monday, 29 January 2018 00:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Johannesburg (Reuters): Superb seam bowling allowed India to rip through South Africa’s batting line-up and seal a 63-run consolation victory on day four of the third and final test at the Wanderers on Saturday.
India’s Virat Kohli celebrates with Mohammed Shami after Shami took the wicket of South Africa’s Aiden Markram - Reuters
Chasing 241 for victory on a wicket with pace, bounce and prodigious lateral movement, South Africa were on top at 124 for one, but lost their last nine wickets for just 53 runs as India roared back into the contest.
Opener Dean Elgar (86 not out) and Hashim Amla (52) had given South Africa hope with a 119-run second wicket stand, but the home side lost their way following the latter’s dismissal 20 minutes before tea.
The wickets were shared between the excellent Mohammed Shami (5-28), Ishant Sharma (2-31), Jasprit Bumrah (2-57) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-39).
South Africa claim the series 2-1 after victories in Cape Town and Pretoria.
The test victory will be especially pleasing for India after it was achieved on a treacherous Wanderers wicket.
“We required some character playing on a pitch that was very difficult to play on, but our guys showed great guts and determination through the four days,” India captain Virat Kohli said at the post-match presentation.
“We took the challenge, we wanted to face it head on. Batting first was something that didn’t go down well with a lot of people, but we knew it would get even more difficult to bat as the game went on.”
The batsmen in particular showed bravery and skill on a surface that at once stage was deemed so dangerous by umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar that they suspended play 20 minutes from the close on day three.
Resuming on 17 for one, South Africa played patiently through the rain-shorted morning session, but Amla’s dismissal sparked a swing in momentum.
The key wickets of AB de Villiers (6) and Faf du Plessis (2) followed quickly afterwards, and when the out of form Quinton de Kock was trapped leg before wicket first ball, the home side’s chances diminished.
At one stage India’s rampant seamers picked up six wickets for 17 runs, with only the lone hand of Elgar able to keep them at bay. “India outplayed us in this test, we didn’t take our chances and were sloppy. We weren’t as consistent as in the first two tests,” South African captain Faf du Plessis said.
“It’s very disappointing standing here after a loss, but if you had offered me 2-1 before this series I would have bitten your hand off. India is a fantastic team, but we have played some really good cricket in this series.” The teams will now play six One-Day Internationals starting on Feb. 1, followed by three Twenty20 Internationals.
Johannesburg (Reuters): South Africa’s triumph in their home test series against India was a tale of three pitches as the ball dominated the bat and the tourists made a statement about their ability to win in all conditions.
South Africa claimed victory in the first two tests in Cape Town and Pretoria, before India triumphed in what will be much more than a mere consolation success on a spiteful wicket in Johannesburg.
“This is one of our sweetest wins,” India captain Virat Kohli told reporters. “This day will be remembered for a long time for us as a team. We already had the belief but now we have the result to back that as well. “South Africa played better than us in the first two games so they deserved to win but we deserved to win this game. At many moments in the first two games we put them under pressure.”
In a series between top-ranked India and second-placed South Africa that had just one century scored in 12 completed innings, and in which all 120 wickets were taken, it was a massive test of grit, application and guts, and both teams will take positives.
India also ensured they will retain the number one ranking past the April cut-off date for this year, which will earn them $ 1 million as a reward.
The Newlands wicket for the first test was what South Africa had been calling for, pace and bounce, and their bowlers had too much skill for the tourists. The second test was quite the opposite, a track that was more Pune than Pretoria, suiting India. When the post-mortem on the series is done, it is this match they will look back on and feel they let victory slip from their fingers.
A flat South Africa pitched up for the third game in Johannesburg on a snake-pit that saw balls spitting up off a good length.
The fact that India were able to come away from the game with a 63-run victory is a massive credit to the players, who are often criticised for their inability to handle conditions outside of the sub-continent.
South Africa’s issue will be the how to prepare pitches that are a more even contest between bat and ball, with a four-match home series looming against Australia in March. “We never asked for something excessive. We never asked for extra grass. All we asked for was a typical South African wicket that has pace and bounce,” captain Faf du Plessis said.
“So we’re pretty disappointed with that. It’s disappointing to see that once again we’re not getting it right. I don’t know how to answer it or how to change it, but it obviously needs to improve.”
