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DEFINING: PHILANDER WRAPS IT UP AS INDIA COLLAPSE AT FINAL HURDLE
Faf praises new ‘King of Newlands’ who now boasts career-best figures of 6/42.
Proteas captain Faf du Plessis said yesterday that whatever the outcome had been, it was an “absolute pleasure” to play in the first Test against India at Newlands.
It helped, of course, that South Africa won an enthralling contest by 72 runs, rushing to a dramatic conclusion as 18 wickets fell on the fourth day.
“That was as good as it gets, the type of cricket played means it was probably one of the most exciting Tests seen for a long time. The game flowed the whole time, there were periods India were on top and then we’d get on top of them, they would take the game to us and then we would take it to them,” Du Plessis said after the Proteas had successfully defended a lead of just 207 by bundling India out for 135.
In the absence of leading wicket-taker Dale Steyn, an inspired Vernon Philander led the victory charge with career-best figures of six for 42, with Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada providing admirable support with two wickets apiece.
Philander not only removed Indian skipper Virat Kohli, for a threatening 28, but then returned after tea to snap the 49-run partnership between Ravichandran Ashwin (37) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (13*).
Philander initially bowled Kohli numerous away-swingers starting outside off stump and, as well as India’s premier batsman was leaving, it was also drying up his runs and dragging him across the crease. When the bowler threw in a straighter delivery, Kohli tried to work it through the leg-side, but his pad was in the way and he was trapped plumb lbw by the ball that nips back.
It was a typical piece of Philander skill, but he has not derived many dismissals from having a batsman caught behind with the wicketkeeper standing up, but that was exactly how Ashwin was removed, Quinton de Kock taking a fine catch to the first delivery he moved up to the stumps.
Philander had earlier dismissed opener Murali Vijay (13) and bowled Rohit Sharma (10) off the inside edge, before his last two wickets – Mohammed Shami (4) and Jaspreet Bumrah (0) came off successive deliveries to wrap up the win.
Du Plessis hailed the new King of Newlands after South Africa collapsed from 65 for two to 130 all out yesterday morning. “If there’s something in the pitch then Vern’s as good a bowler as you’ll get in the world. What pleased me most was that he really wanted to bowl, he wanted the ball and he wanted to make a play,” Du Plessis said.