The hosts India clinched a solid victory by 203 runs against South Africa on the day five of the first Test at Visakhapatnam. With this big victory, India have taken the 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series with two to go.
Chasing down the fourth innings target of 395 runs, South Africa started the day on their overnight score of 11/1.
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India had a fantastic session on the day five morning. In that extended session, South Africa lost seven wickets for 106 runs in 33 overs. Indian pacer Mohammed Shami and the left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja dominated that morning session.
A total of four Proteas batsmen scored ducks in that session. Once they were struggling on 70/8 after Jadeja bagged three wickets in the 27th over of the innings.
At the late of that innings, the tailenders fought and added 121 runs for the last two wickets. Debutant Senuran Muthusamy and Dane Piedt put a 91-run partnership for the ninth wicket. Piedt scored 56 runs before Mohammed Shami bowled him. Muthusamy remained not out on 49 runs while Shami ended that innings by dismissing the last batsman Kagiso Rabada (18 runs).
Mohammed Shami claimed a five-wicket haul in that fourth innings as he had the bowling figures of 10.5-2-35-5. Also, the left-arm Ravindra Jadeja managed the bowling figures of 25-6-87-4.
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India dominated from the day one
After winning the toss on the day one morning, the Indian team managed to score 502/7 decl. in their first innings. Indian new Test openers Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma set up the memorable start with the 317 runs partnership. While Rohit scored 176 runs, Mayank converted his maiden Test century to the double-century and finally scored 215 runs.
In reply, South African opener Dean Elgar and wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock hit centuries in their first innings. Elgar scored 160 runs while Quinton managed to play the knock of 111 runs. Also, the captain Faf du Plessis (55 runs) registered a half-century. Their batting helped the visitors to manage 431 runs in their first innings.
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was playing his first international game in this year, managed the bowling figures of 46.2-11-145-7.
Test opener Rohit Sharma registered another century during India’s second innings. This time the right-handed batsman played a blasting knock of 127 runs. Also, Cheteshwar Pujara scored a crucial 81-run. Their batting guided the hosts to 323/4 before another declaration. India set the 395 runs target for South Africa but the visitors failed to reply strongly.
For his brilliant batting performances, Rohit Sharma won the Player of the Match award.