Shami leads India's pace pack in historic win against South Africa

India’s once-in-a-generation pace unit destroyed a listless South Africa to fashion an emphatic 113-run win in the first Test at Centurion on Thursday, setting the team on the path towards an elusive series victory in the country. 

2021 started with India breaching the Fortress Gabba Down Under and it couldn’t have been a better end as they brought down Supersport Park – a Proteas citadel. 

The target of 305 on a track with a lot of uneven bounce was always out of question for a South African unit that is low on quality and the script unfolded as per the narrative set. 

The home team folded for 191 in 68 overs to give India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Such was the command of Indian pacers that they even took rain out of equation despite one full day being lost. 

Also read: India under Kohli poised to capture the last frontier – South Africa

It was a pity to see that South Africa, which boasted some great names of the yore, could not even post 200 runs in the both the innings with skipper Dean Elgars 77 off 156 balls not exactly being a saving grace. Quinton de Kock will be missing from the line-up from the next Test as he will be on paternity leave and it will certainly make it easier for India to claim their first series win in South Africa since they first toured here in 1992. 

For India, the four pacers took 18 wickets between them and Ravichandran Ashwin wrapped up the South African tail just after the lunch session to complete the formalities. 

The three men who won the match for India were, vice-captain KL Rahul for that first innings hundred that gave the team platform, supremely talented Mohammed Shami (5/44 and 3/63) who had a match-haul of eight wickets, and the peerless Jasprit Bumrah. 

Bumrah is perhaps Indian cricket’s biggest gift, a freaky fast bowler who can provide moments of magic, as he did on the fourth evening to close the match for India. 

Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur were the perfect supporting cast in one of the better and comfortable overseas wins for Virat Kohli’s men. 

“They bullied South Africa in their backyard and it’s not often seen,” said former South Africa pacer and broadcaster Morne Morkel. 

Bumrah (3/50) set the tone for the final morning by removing the dogged Proteas skipper Elgar (77 off 156 balls) while Siraj (2/47) and Shami also got into the act knowing that there is forecast for some rain in the late afternoon session. 

Having gauged the variable bounce of the track, skipper Elgar knew that survival isn’t an option and he needed to counter attack right at the onset. With the stodgy Bavuma for company, 36 runs were added in the first 45 minutes but the best part was that there was no let up in the intensity of the Indian attack as Kohli and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant were constantly heard cheering the bowlers on. 

Shami dropped Elgar off his own bowling but it was Bumrah who kept on asking probing questions to the Proteas skipper. 

One such delivery was angled into the left-hander as he shuffled way too much and leg before was one of the easiest of decisions that umpire Adrian Holdstock had to make in this match. Hoping against hope, Elgar appealed for DRS but he already knew that he was gone for good. 

Quinton de Kock (21) came in and hit couple of delicious shots off Bumrah, trying to knock off as many runs possible off the target. The hardworking Siraj bowled one with the scrambled seam and just like first innings, tried to cut with very little room for execution with the ball coming into him. 

Wiaan Mulder (1), who has had a forgettable match with no wickets to show for his efforts, got a delivery from Shami that was way above his skill-set. The ball pitched on length while landing on seam. Mulder shaped for one that would come back but it straightened enough to kiss the outside edge off his bat into Rishabh Pants gloves.

After the win Kohli said Shami was among the top three pace bowlers in the world.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Kohli said: “Shami is an absolutely world-class bowler, among top three seam bowlers in the world for me. Very, very happy for him to get 200 wickets and have an impactful performances.”

India Playing XI: KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

South Africa Playing XI: Dean Elgar (c), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi