By Nick Said
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) – Seamer Vernon Philander took career-best figures as rampant South Africa claimed a 72-run victory over India on a gripping fourth day of the first Test yesterday.Set 208 for victory, India were skittled out for 135 in 42.4 overs in their second innings on a lively wicket with Philander the chief destroyer recording figures of 6-42.

India had looked to seize control of the Test when they bowled South Africa out for 130 in the morning session, but found the home attack on the seamer-friendly wicket too much of a challenge.

”I was nervous we did not have enough runs,“ South Africa captain Faf du Plessis told reporters. ”I knew the new ball would be key for us, if we could strike early, we believed we could get through their batting line-up. “But I came in this morning hoping to get a 350 lead and bowl at them tonight, so obviously that did not go to plan.”

After day three had been a washout, 18 wickets fell in 64 overs yesterday, all going to seamers. South Africa resumed on 65 for two, but were only able to double their score before they lost their last eight wickets. Mohammed Shami (3-28) and debutant Jasprit Bumrah (3-39) were the pick of the Indian bowlers.

Only an attacking 35 from AB de Villiers stemmed the tide to a degree before he was the last man out. South Africa, without injured seamer Dale Steyn who will miss the rest of the series with a heel problem, weathered a first-wicket stand of 30 for India in reply.

Shikhar Dhawan (16) was out first, as he sparred a rising deliver from Morne Morkel (2-39) to gully. Philander picked up his first wicket as fellow opener Murali Vijay (13) edged to third slip.

SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings (o/n 65 for 2)
A. Markram c Kumar b Pandya 34
D. Elgar c Saha b Pandya 25
K. Rabada c Kohli b Mohammed Shami 5
H. Amla c Sharma b Mohammed Shami 4
AB de Villiers c Kumar b Bumrah 35
F du Plessis (c) c †Saha b Bumrah 0
Q de Kock c Saha b Bumrah 8
V. Philander lbw b Mohammed Shami 0
K. Maharaj c Saha b Kumar 15
M. Morkel c Saha b Kumar 2
D. Steyn not out 0Extras: (w-2) 2

Total: (41.2 overs) 130 all out
Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-59, 3-66, 4-73, 5-82, 6-92, 7-95, 8-122, 9-130. 
Bowling: B. Kumar 11-5-33-2, J. Bumrah 11.2-1-39-3, M. Shami 12-3-28-3, H. Pandya 6-0-27-2, R. Ashwin 1-0-3-0 .

INDIA 2nd innings 
M. Vijay c de Villiers b Philander 13
S. Dhawan c sub. (CH Morris) b Morkel 16
C. Pujara c de Kock b Morkel 4
V. Kohli (c) lbw b Philander 28
R. Sharma b Philander 10
W. Saha lbw b Rabada 8
H. Pandya c de Villiers b Rabada 1
R. Ashwin c de Kock b Philander 37
B. Kumar not out 13
M. Shami c du Plessis b Philander 4
J. Bumrah c du Plessis b Philander 0

Extras: (lb-1) 1
Total: (all out, 42.2 overs: 135
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-30, 3-39, 4-71, 5-76, 6-77, 7-82, 8-131, 9-135.
Bowling: V. Philander 15.4-4-42-6, M. Morkel 11-1-39-2, K. Rabada 12-2-41-2, K. Maharaj 4-1-12-0.