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India beat South Africa by 113 runs to register historic first win in Centurion and take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series. On Day 5 of the Centurion Test, the rain gods did not interrupt and Indian bowlers wrapped up the game early in the second session by bundling out South Africa for 191. This was India’s first win in Centurion and fourth in South Africa.
Dean Elgar turned out to be the only batsman who kept Indian bowlers on their toes. Once again, it was Jasprit Bumrah who got the breakthrough by coming round the wicket to Elgar and trapping him in front of the wickets. Elgar reviewed the decision but the hawkeye vision showed three reds. The South African skipper top-scored with 77 runs off 156 deliveries. Earlier on Day 5, he was dropped by Mohammed Shami on the follow-through.
After Elgar’s wicket, Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock tried to string together a partnership. The sixth-wicket stand lasted just 8.4 overs as De Kock played on Mohammed Siraj’s delivery. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 21 runs off 28 deliveries including two boundaries.
The southpaw’s wicket opened the floodgates. Wiaan Mulder got out after scoring just a single to Mohammed Shami. In the second session, Shami got another wicket sending debutant Marco Jansen back to the dressing room for a score of 13. After that, Ravichandran Ashwin was introduced into the attack and on a cracked pitch he got the wicket of tailenders Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi for a duck. On the other end, Bavuma was left stranded for 35 off 80 deliveries.
KL Rahul was named player of the match as his 123 on a tough Centurion wicket on Day 1 turned out to be difference between the two teams. After their first loss to India in Centurion, few changes may be made in the South African side. Duanne Olivier is expected to comeback after he had issues with hamstring as a result of post Covid-19 effects.
