INDIA’S bowling unit put on a clinical display on the final day as the visitors went 1-0 up in the Test series, having become the first Asian team to defeat South Africa in Centurion.

The visitors were the favourites to get the job done going into Day 5 having already picked up four wickets. But they had to ward off the threat posed by a resolute Dean Elgar and also rain, in order to complete the victory.

With rain out of the vicinity at the start of the day, they were in control of their destiny.

However, when Mohammed Shami dropped Dean Elgar early in the day, South Africa appeared to slowly take the initiative away from the visitors. The boundaries were also flowing regularly and the hosts made a positive start in their quest to pull off a win that appeared unlikely by stumps on Day 4.

But just like it was the case late on the fourth evening, it was Jasprit Bumrah who gave India a very important opening. Elgar, India’s biggest threat with his stoic defence, was trapped leg-before-wicket by the pacer and the visitors broke through.

Quinton de Kock threatened for a short period by racing away to 21 but he attempted to cut a delivery that was too close to the stumps and ended up getting bowled. These two wickets completely shifted the momentum towards India once again and the visitors only made things harder for the South Africans from there. Shami got into the act immediately after de Kock’s dismissal as he managed to find the outside edge of Wiaan Mulder.

Going into lunch, South Africa’s hopes completely rested on a determined Temba Bavuma. But with 123 runs further needed, Bavuma clearly needed a bit of assistance from the other end.

India ensured he didn’t get that as Shami wasted little time in sending Marco Jansen back to the pavilion once play resumed in the second session. And in the very next over, R. Ashwin finished off proceedings by picking up the final two wickets off successive deliveries.

This was their fourth win outside Asia in 2021 and certainly a step in the right direction in their quest to win a maiden Test series in South Africa. (Cricbuzz)

INDIA first innings 327
INDIA 2nd innings
Lokesh Rahul c Dean Elgar b Lungi Ngidi 23
Mayank Agarwal c Quinton de Kock b Marco Jansen 4
Shardul Thakur c Wiaan Mulder b Kagiso Rabada 10
Cheteshwar Pujara c Quinton de Kock b Lungi Ngidi 16
Virat Kohli c Quinton de Kock b Marco Jansen 18
Ajinkya Rahane c Rassie van der Dussen b Marco Jansen 20
Rishabh Pant c Lungi Ngidi b Kagiso Rabada 34
Ravichandran Ashwin c Keegan Petersen b Kagiso Rabada 14
Mohammed Shami c Wiaan Mulder b Kagiso Rabada 1
Jasprit Bumrah not out 7
Mohammed Siraj b Marco Jansen 0
Extras: (b-17, lb-4, nb-6) 27
Total; (all out, 50.3 overs) 174
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-34, 3-54, 4-79, 5-109, 6-111, 7-146, 8-166, 9-169.
Bowling: Kagiso Rabada 17-4-42-4 (nb-6), Lungi Ngidi 10-2-31-2, Marco Jansen 13.3-4-55-4, Wiaan Mulder 10-4-25-0.
SOUTH Africa 2nd innings
Aiden Markram b Mohammed Shami 1
Dean Elgar lbw Jasprit Bumrah 77
Keegan Petersen c Rishabh Pant b Mohammed Siraj 17
Rassie van der Dussen b Jasprit Bumrah 11
Keshav Maharaj b Jasprit Bumrah 8
Temba Bavuma not out 35
Quinton de Kock b Mohammed Siraj 21
Wiaan Mulder c Rishabh Pant b Mohammed Shami 1
Marco Jansen c Rishabh Pant b Mohammed Shami 13
Kagiso Rabada c Mohammed Shami b Ravichandran Ashwin 0
Lungi Ngidi c Cheteshwar Pujara b Ravichandran Ashwin 0
Extras: (lb-2, nb-5) 7
Total: (all out, 68.0 overs) 191
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-34, 3-74, 4-94, 5-130, 6-161, 7-164, 8-190, 9-191.
Bowling: Jasprit Bumrah 19-4-50-3 (nb-2), Mohammed Shami 17-3-63-3 (nb-1) Mohammed Siraj 18-5-47-2, Shardul Thakur 5-0-11-0 (nb-2) Ravichandran Ashwin 9-2-18-2.