Double act
FIRST TEST
VISAKHAPATNAM: Sunday morning evoked some old memories. For India, it was all sunshine but it hardly bright for South Africa, for whom it was again about their vulnerability on Indian pitches.
Spin had condemned the Proteas to a 3-0 series loss on the 2015 tour, although the first four days of the first Test here had showed South Africa were determined to put up a resistance. All that grit crumbled in the face of an attacking line adopted by the Indian bowlers on the final day’s pitch with enough variable bounce to sow doubts in the minds of batsmen.
The visitors resumed their second innings on 11/1, survival the only intention after India set a 395-run target. By the time the teams left for lunch, South Africa were reeling at 117/8. Dane Piedt and debutant Senuran Muthusamy put up a fight with a 91-run stand for the ninth wicket, but it only delayed the defeat with the hosts completing a 203-run win after the break. India are 1-0 up in the threematch series.
Mohammed Shami (5/35) made the most of the proceedings with his fifth five-wicket haul while Ravindra Jadeja claimed 4/87 to dash even remote hopes of South Africa escaping with a draw.
Cheteshwar Pujara had spoken about the cracks after the fourth day’s play and how the double paced pitch could trouble the batsmen. All of that came into play as the Proteas batsmen caved in under pressure.
Ravichandran Ashwin dealt the first blow in the second over when his delivery outside offstump turned sharply into No. 3 Theunis de Bruyn, who attempted a cut and got bowled. The wicket was the off-spinner’s 350th, making him the joint fastest to the landmark in his 66th Test by equalling Muttiah Muralitharan.
Any last day pitch in India is tough to bat on, but the challenge in Vizag did not come on account of being a rank turner. Rather t he s l o w p i t c h d e manded patience and required the Proteas top order to dig deep into their experience. It was somehow beyond Faf du Plessis and Co.
The next over after de Bruyn’s dismissal, Shami struck. His length ball on off-stump to Temba Bavuma went straight and kept rather low. The batsman, who had shaped to defend, was unable to bring his bat down and was bowled.