India became the first Asian team to win a Test match at Centurion as they beat the hosts South Africa by 113 runs on the final day of the first Test. In the process, they gained a 1-0 lead in the series. India needed six wickets to win when the day started as opposed to 211 runs for South Africa.
India wrapped up the South African innings inside a session and a half. This happened after there were reports of inclement weather affecting the outcome of the game on day 5. Dean Elgar (77) started the day with Temba Bavuma (35*) as they had a 36-run stand. However, Jasprit Bumrah broke through for India and opened the floodgates for India.
The rest of the wickets fell in quick succession with Ravichandran Ashwin cleaning up the tail. The Indian bowlers in Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah built on the good work set up by KL Rahul and others. Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur played their part in the process as well. Shami ended with match figures of 8/107.
This is how Twitter reacted to India’s success. The Centurion win was their fifth overall in South African conditions. Overall in 2021, India have won at Brisbane, Lord’s The Oval and at Centurion, reinforcing their domination in Test cricket.
India’s Test wins in South Africa
123 runs Jo’burg 2006/07
87 runs Durban 2010/11
63 runs Jo’burg 2017/18
113 runs Centurion 2021/22
Well played, #TeamIndia! 👍
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 30, 2021
#SAvIND post-match conference today: pic.twitter.com/wgoFB0KpR3
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) December 30, 2021
Supersport park is SA's fortress. They hardly ever lose there.
Team India: 😆 #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/uHGvwUD0U3— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 30, 2021
What a superb win this is! @ashwinravi99 finishes things in style! 1-0 India. Gabba breached. Centurion Breached. Best ever year for India in Test cricket! Perhaps yes.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) December 30, 2021
Starting the year at the Gabba and finishing it thus at Centurion is a mighty achievement. The WTC final was the only aberration in a great year of test cricket
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 30, 2021
Centurion Conquered. In 3.5 days. Let’s convert this start into the first ever Test series win in South Africa. 👏👏 #SAvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 30, 2021
Centurion Conquered. In 3.5 days. Let’s convert this start into the first ever Test series win in South Africa. 👏👏 #SAvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 30, 2021
In 2021, India has now beaten four top Test sides
– Australia
– England
– New Zealand
– South Africa#INDvsSA#IndvSA #SAvIND #SAvsIND— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 30, 2021
Rahul Dravid has now won a Test in South Africa as captain (2006) and coach (2021) 👏#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/rYZWqIyVoV
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) December 30, 2021
KL Rahul and his 117-run opening wicket stand with Mayank stands out. That was the difference between the two teams. And not to mention how well Shami and Bumrah were #INDvSA
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 30, 2021
Started the year with Gabba and ending it with Centurion!
Congratulations for the historic Test win #TeamIndia.
What a brilliant performance to beat the hosts in such a grand manner! 🙌#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/ymnAbwtPJ6— DK (@DineshKarthik) December 30, 2021
This has to be one of the finest eras in Indian Test bowling.
M. Siraj , M. Shami, J. Bumrah and S. Thakur with Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav on the bench. Truly exceptional!#SAvIND
— Nirmit Mehta (@NirmitMehta10) December 30, 2021
Someone give Daniel Alexander a hug.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) December 30, 2021
Another fortress breached. Historic win at Centurion for Team India #INDvsSA
— Rakshita Misra (@RakshitaMisra) December 30, 2021
Fortress Gabba. Fortress Centurion. Will it be Fortress Edgbaston next ?#TeamIndia
— Rajal Arora (@RajalArora) December 30, 2021
A big victory for #TeamIndia in the 1st Test.
Scorecard – https://t.co/eoM8MqSQgO #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/lRWDCAalIZ
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 30, 2021
The fortress has been breached!
India win only their fourth Test in South Africa 👏 https://t.co/togwpuGhnL | #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/zj8nQlQfhm
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 30, 2021
Tired of watching India dominating Test cricket man. These boring world class bowlers with so much fire in their bowling. I am so done.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 30, 2021
Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his deputy KL Rahul had a special word for all the bowlers and especially for Mohammed Shami who took the limelight in this game.
“Got off to the perfect start. Have to understand one day was washed out – shows how well we played. It’s always a difficult place to play against SA (Centurion). The discipline that the batters showed. Winning the toss, batting first overseas is a tough challenge. Credit to Mayank and KL the way they set it up. We knew we were in pole position with anything over 300-320. Knew the bowlers will do the job. Spoke about it in the change room – the fact he didn’t bowl much in the first innings, it allowed SA to get around 40 more runs (Bumrah). Just the way these guys bowl together has been a hallmark of our team getting a result in difficult situations” said an elated Virat Kohli at the presentation ceremony.
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