India won the first Test at Centurion by 113 runs after wrapping up South Africa’s second innings on 191. The visitors now have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
After lunch, Mohammed Shami took the first wicket, and R Ashwin took the final two wickets in a row to help India win their first Test in Centurion.
On 35, Temba Bavuma stayed unblemished. The Indian team got off to a good start, collecting runs quickly before captain Dean Elgar was dismissed on 77 by Jasprit Bumrah.
The act was subsequently joined by Mohammed Siraj, who cleaned up Quinton de Kock on 21. Wiaan Mulder was the third wicket taken by Shami in the first session.
Bumrah’s twin strikes on the fourth evening put India on the edge of their first victory in Centurion. They had already lost both of their Tests in South Africa’s stronghold.
The Milestones Achieved
This is India’s first test victory in Centurion and sole victory in a test match on South African soil since 1992.
Virat Kohli has won two tests in South Africa, making him the first Indian captain to do it.
Mohammed Shami has already taken 200 test wickets, making him the fifth Indian pacer who has achieved this record.
The Indian Team broke other records after this match
South Africa had three Test defeats at SuperSport Park in Centurion, where they played 27 Test matches and won 21 of them. They have previously lost two Tests at this venue, to England in 2000 and Australia in 2014.
India has won four Tests in South Africa, including the most recent success at Centurion. Two of those victories occurred in Johannesburg in 2006 and 2018, and the third occurred in Durban in 2010.
Since their readmission, South Africa has been bowled out three times in both innings in a home Test. In Johannesburg, the other two times, in 2002 against Australia and 2018 against India.
South Africa had never been bowled out for less than 200 runs in a Test innings in Centurion before this match.
This year, India has won eight Test matches, the joint second-most in a calendar year. In 2010, they also won eight games.
In 2016, they won nine Tests, which was their highest performance. Outside of Asia, they won four times this year, tying for the most in a calendar year with four wins in 2018.
This year, India has bowled out 12 opponents for less than 200 runs in Test cricket. Only England has bowled out opponents for less than 200 runs in a calendar year (13 times in 1978).
Indian Team’s form
With records being broken and made, Indian cricket, for now, looks to be in safe hands. The Indian team is in no doubt its best form right now. Under the Captaincy of Virat Kohli’s skipper, the team seems to be doing well.
Mohammed Shami is also is in great form after his somewhat downfall in the ICC World Cup, where he didn’t perform as well, but clearly, he’s making up for it in South Africa.
Ashwin and Bumrah are also in a lethal form, proving to be beneficial for the Indian team. Now let’s see how the team performs in the remaining matches.
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