India's much-sought after batting line-up failed for the second time in the match after Vernon Philander-led pace attack dismissed India for a paltry 135 as South Africa won the first Test by 72 runs in Cape Town on Monday. With this win, South Africa go up 1-0 in the three-match series.
Needing 208 on day four, the Indian batsmen did little to notch their third ever Test win on the South African soil. The game finished well inside three days despite a full day's play being washed out.
Despite Dale Steyn’s absence in the second innings, the South African pace department had enough firepower to expose the visitors' batting line-up on a bouncy and seaming surface.
Philander with his pace and precision outclassed the Indian batsmen, ending with a career-best six for 42 and match haul of nine wickets.
Mornel Morkel and Kagiso Rabada played the supporting role well, finishing with two wickets apiece in the second innings.
With India reeling at 82 for seven, R Ashwin (37) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar saved them the embarrassment of being bowled out for under 100.
The duo shared a 49-run stand for the eighth wicket, the highest of the innings, but it folded quickly after Philander had Ashwin caught behind with the keeper standing up.
Post lunch, India began in circumspect fashion. Shikhar Dhawan (16) looked to make a quick start, but Murali Vijay (13) struggled against Philander.
Vijay survived twice via DRS reviews for caught behind and lbw appeals. Vijay wasn't third time lucky though, caught behind off Philander in the 8th over as the slide began for India. Six balls later, Dhawan was caught pulling much like the first innings, only this time off Morkel. India were struggling at 39/3 as Cheteshwar Pujara (4) was caught behind off Morkel too.
Virat Kohli (28) and Rohit Sharma (10) stemmed the slide by adding 32 runs for the fourth wicket. After drinks though, Philander returned from the other end and trapped Kohli in front of the wicket.
India were desperately struggling thereafter. Keshav Maharaj (0-12) dropped Sharma (on 9*) off Rabada (2-41) in the 23rd over, but the batsman didn't make this chance count. An over later, he played on Philander.
First innings' hero Hardik Pandya (1) then gave slip catching practice off Rabada as India lost eight wickets for 52 runs in this session. Wriddhiman Saha (8) fell at the stroke of tea, trapped lbw by Rabada.
Post tea, Ashwin and Kumar looked to bat for time. They put on 49 runs for the 8th wicket to take India past the 100- mark and raised visions of an improbable win.
However, they were misplaced as Quinton de Kock pulled off a smart catch standing up to Philander.
Philander picked up his 12th five-wicket haul as Mohammed Shami (4) was caught at second slip two balls later. He finished things off in style as Jasprit Bumrah (0) was out in the same fashion on the very next ball. Philander improved on his previous best of 6-44 against New Zealand in March 2012.
Starting from day two overnight 65/2, the South African batting collapse began in the second over of the morning.
Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah shared six wickets as South Africa were bowled out for 130 runs in 41.2 overs in their second innings at the stroke of lunch.
The hosts lost 8 for 65 in the morning session to lead by overall 207 runs. Shami took 3-28 while Bumrah had 3-39.
After the first Test, the teams travel to Centurion which will host the second Test from 13 January.
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