In the first Test of the two-match series, South Africa defeated India by an innings and 32 runs at the Supersport Park in Centurion.
South Africa won the toss and opted to field first. The bowlers did a commendable job for the home team, especially experienced Kagiso Rabada and debutant Nandre Burger. The well-star-studded Indian team got bundled for 245 runs.
Answering back, the Proteas began their innings with some clever shots off their willow, especially by Dean Elgar (185), who is playing his final Test series. The 36-year-old notched his top score against the Indian side, in which he hit 28 fours. All-rounder Marco Jansen (84) also showcased his talent as he scored a fifty too. Alongside him, David Bedingham (56) also fired a quickfire fifty. On a pitch where the Indian team struggled to even reach 200, SA easily posted 408 runs, taking the lead of 168.
It was KL Rahul‘s (101) astonishing hundred, along with a few knocks from Virat Kohli (38), Shreyas Iyer (31) and Shardul Thakur (24) that helped India to get to some extent in their first innings.
As mentioned above, Rabada plucked a fifer in the first inning, and with him, Burger also got three wickets. One wicket each was also taken by Gerald Coetzee and Jansen.
For India with the ball in the first innings, Jasprit Bumrah scalped four wickets while two wickets were taken by Mohammed Siraj. Ravichandran Ashwin, Prasidh Krishna, and Thakur also took one wicket.
Trailing 163, Team India once again struggled with the bat as the side got restricted to 131 runs. Virat Kohli (76) was the only batter who stood tall from one end but unfortunately, he got no help from the other side.
This time with the ball, Nandre Burger took four wickets, whereas Marco Jansen got three wickets. Rabada also got two wickets.
Dean Elgar was adjudged Player of the Match for his outstanding century in the first inning. With this win, SA have claimed series lead by 1-0.
Scorecard:
1st Innings:-
India: 245/10, Overs 67.4, KL Rahul 101, Kagiso Rabada 5/59
South Africa: 408/10, Overs 108.4, Dean Elgar 185, Jasprit Bumrah 4/69
2nd Innings:-
India: 131/10, Overs 34.1, Virat Kohli 76, Nandre Burger 4/44