17:04 (IST)
India end what will go down as one of their best years in cricket history, one that saw them win at Gabba to cap off a memorable 2-1 series win Down Under, as well as victories at Lord’s and Oval in their tour of England, by breaching Fortress Centurion. Another superb performance from Kohli and Co, from the way KL Rahul set the tone with a first innings century to world-class bowling unit collecting 20 wickets in a little over four sessions. India certainly have their tails up and are now favourites to clinch their maiden Test series win on South African soil. The Proteas though, started fighting back later in the Centurion Test, and will certainly back themselves to bounce back in the New Year’s Test in Jo’burg.
Thank you for tuning in to our live coverage across the five days of this memorable encounter. On behalf of everyone at Firstpost, we wish you all a very happy and safe 2022!
16:53 (IST)
Rahul: I think it was just the grit and determination and I wanted to get my team off to a good start. The opening partnership is really crucial and we set the tone. Really happy with my performance. I don’t think I’ve made too many technical change, it’s been more about my mindset, how calm and disciplined I’ve become. Obviously I’ve worked on my technique with the batting coach, and it’s all coming pretty nicely now. It’s very sweet and something I’m proud of and want to build on. He kept us on the park a little lesser. Virat said they’ve shown a lot of heart. Really happy with the way Shami bowled and the way the other guys chipped in. Shami obviously gets the ball to do a little bit extra. Very special coming to South Africa and beating South Africa at Centurion gives us a lot of confidence.
16:53 (IST)
KL Rahul (123 and 23) is the Player of the Match!
16:53 (IST)
Virat Kohli: We got off to the perfect start. Getting to a result in four days, that shows how well we played this Test match and how keen and motivated we were. We had to be absolutely clinical with the bat and ball, and top start for us. The discipline that the batters showed. Winning the toss and batting first is a tough challenge overseas, and lot of credit has to go to Mayank and KL. Anything over 300 was going to be a top total for us, because we trusted the bowling unit to get the job done for us. That was the difference in the game. (On Bumrah’s injury scare) We just spoke about it, the fact that he didn’t bowl much in the first innings, allowed the opposition to get 40-50 extra runs. Just the way these guys bowl together has been the hallmark of India’s strong performances. (On Shami) He’s among the world’s three best seamers right now. He just gets that extra bit from any surface, thanks to his wrist and seam position and the areas that he hits. That was a big milestone for us as a side. We knew we had the talent. The two Test matches we played before were competitive, but we didn’t back off in the toughest pitch of the tour in Johannesburg and that gave us so much confidence.
16:52 (IST)
Dean Elgar, South Africa captain: It’s obviously not a nice thing. We did a lot of things wrong. India played a great Test match and lot of credit to them for that. It was always going to be a little tough because the wicket was a little bit slow. I thought we could’ve executed our lengths a little better, which we started doing after lunch (on Day 1), and we let it slip after tea. Our bowlers were brilliant after that and they executed exactly what was needed from them. Restricted India to what was a par score. We fought back well with the ball in the second innings as well. Can’t emphasise enough on the hard work the bowlers have put in to collect 20 wickets. The opening partnership set them up well. The difference was the batting. I think we will have a little sit-down with the management and strategise going forward. There’s still two matches left. We thrive under pressure.
16:36 (IST)
Morkel summing up this Test with this sentence
Morkel: "They bullied South Africa in their backyard. They just kept on coming."
— Ashish Magotra (@clutchplay) December 30, 2021
16:34 (IST)
2021 certainly has been very kind to Team India
2021 has been fantastic year in Test cricket for India. At the start of the year they breached Australia's fortress (Gabba after 32 years), won at Lord's, won at The Oval (after 50 years). Reached WTC final. Took 1-0 lead by beating South Africa at Centurion.
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) December 30, 2021
16:26 (IST)
India have breached the Centurion fortress with a 113-run win. Virat Kohli and Co take a 1-0 lead in the series. The celebration was pretty measured. The visitors know the job is still not done. Just a win at Centurion won't do. It's about winning the Test series this time.
16:22 (IST)
INDIA WIN!
Lungi Ngidi c Pujara b Ashwin 0 (1)
Ashwin takes the final wicket as India breach the Centurion fortress. Typical off-spin ball which Ashwin flighted on off stump. Ngidi leaned forward for a defensive shot but the inside-edge popped out to short leg who cleanly completed the catch as India secure a historic win.
16:20 (IST)
OUT! Kagiso Rabada c Mohammed Shami b Ashwin 0 (4)
South Africa needed Rabada to be patient but he has ended up giving a catch to Shami at backward point trying to play a wild slash shot. India now just one wicket away from a win.
16:18 (IST)
After 67 overs,South Africa 190/8 ( Temba Bavuma 34 , Kagiso Rabada 0)
As it happens so often in Test cricket, a wicket falls immediately after the lunch break. Shami strikes to remove Jansen on 13. Jansen scored two boundaries in the over. One with an outside edge running past the slip and another with a glorious cover drive, but Shami was quick to fins his line and length. Jansen was beaten at the outside edge before the fifth ball took the edge on its way to Pant. India two wickets away from a win.
16:15 (IST)
Marco Jansen c Pant b Mohammed Shami 13 (14)
Another one of those beauties from Shami. Upright seam delivery, pitches just outside off and takes the outside edge on its way to the keeper.
16:11 (IST)
We are back. Bavuma and Jansen are back at the crease for South Africa. Shami will bowl for India. They still need 123 runs and India need just three wickets to win.
15:33 (IST)
After 66 overs,South Africa 182/7 ( Temba Bavuma 34 , Marco Jansen 5)
LUNCH ON DAY 5. Ashwin collects a maiden in the final over of the session, as South Africa head back to the dressing room needing another 123 runs with just three wickets in hand. Bavuma’s batting on 34, and will hope to collect his second consecutive fifty in this Test, but the Proteas face a Herculean task if they are to avoid conceding a 1-0 series lead to the visitors from here. See you on the other side of the break in 40 minutes.
15:30 (IST)
After 65 overs,South Africa 182/7 ( Temba Bavuma 34 , Marco Jansen 5)
Shami continues from the other end, giving away three singles. Current partnership’s worth 18, with Bavuma taking over the responsibility of playing the anchor from hereon. Looks like India will be able to slip in one more over before lunch.
15:26 (IST)
After 64 overs,South Africa 179/7 ( Temba Bavuma 32 , Marco Jansen 4)
Bavuma moves into the 30s with a drive through the extra cover region off Ashwin, who returns to the attack shortly before lunch replacing Ashwin. Single to Bavuma off the last ball.
15:23 (IST)
After 63 overs,South Africa 174/7 ( Temba Bavuma 27 , Marco Jansen 4)
FOUR! Punched behind square by Bavuma off the third delivery of Shami’s 15th over as he moves to 26. He nearly chops the ball onto the stumps in the next delivery though, collecting a single in the end. Jansen collects the second boundary of the over, getting off the mark in style as he goes for an aerial drive off a half volley. Nine from this over.
15:19 (IST)
After 62 overs,South Africa 165/7 ( Temba Bavuma 22 , Marco Jansen 0)
A bit of excess aggression from Siraj as he throws the ball back at Bavuma, hitting the batter on the foot even though the batter didn’t look like he was going for a run. Siraj instantly walks up the batter and apologises, with Bavuma needing a quick look from the Proteas physio before going on with the innings. Maiden for Siraj, with a leg bye being added to the South African total in the fifth delivery.
15:08 (IST)
OUT! Mulder doesn't last long, getting caught-behind off a length delivery from Shami — the seam staying perfectly upright in this one — as Proteas lose their seventh. Mulder was expecting the ball to angle into the middle stump, the ball managed to nip back slightly and kiss the outer edge. SA 164/7
Mulder c Pant b Shami 1(3)
15:04 (IST)
After 60 overs,South Africa 164/6 ( Temba Bavuma 22 , Wiaan Mulder 1)
India inch closer to a maiden Test win at Centurion as de Kock chops the ball onto his off stump while looking to play the ball through the covers, resulting in Siraj’s second wicket of the innings. All-rounder Wiaan Mulder is the next man in, getting off the mark right away with a single followed by a brace to Bavuma off the fifth delivery. Three runs and a wicket from the over, with another 30 minutes left in the session.
14:58 (IST)
BOWLED! De Kock once again gets an inside edge, dragging the ball onto the stumps as Siraj breaks the partnership that was starting to worry the visitors. SA 161/6
De Kock b Siraj 21
14:57 (IST)
After 59 overs,South Africa 161/5 ( Temba Bavuma 20 , Quinton de Kock (W) 21)
De Kock collects a quick single in the first delivery after guiding the ball towards short third man. Slip, FSL and leg gully in place for Bavuma, who drives through midwicket for a single two balls later. De Kock retains the strike with a single off the last delivery.
14:53 (IST)
After 58 overs,South Africa 158/5 ( Temba Bavuma 19 , Quinton de Kock (W) 19)
De Kock guides the ball through extra cover at the start of Siraj’s 16th over, coming back for a second. Siraj follows up with a couple of sharp deliveries, one hitting him low in the abdomen, the other going narrowly past the outside edge. De Kock smacks the ball down the ground off the fourth ball, and would’ve collected a boundary had the ball not hit the non-striker Bavuma on the thigh, with the southpaw settling for a single. Bavuma taps the ball towards midwicket for an easy single off the fifth. De Kock slashes the ball towards deep point for a single off the final delivery. Five from the over.
14:49 (IST)
After 57 overs,South Africa 153/5 ( Temba Bavuma 18 , Quinton de Kock (W) 15)
Spin brought into play now as Ashwin starts off from over the wicket to de Kock with a slip and a forward short leg in place. Three from the offie’s first over of the day, all of them coming in the form of singles.
14:49 (IST)
After 56 overs,South Africa 150/5 ( Temba Bavuma 17 , Quinton de Kock (W) 13)
Bavuma collects a double off the first ball, steering the ball through cover point, to bring up the 150 for the Proteas. Has been a good morning session so far for the Proteas. Even though they lost the key wicket of Elgar, they have collected 56 runs at a healthy rate, with another 45 minutes left for lunch.
14:42 (IST)
After 55 overs,South Africa 148/5 ( Temba Bavuma 15 , Quinton de Kock (W) 13)
De Kock decides to take the attack to Mumbai Indians teammate Bumrah in this over, collecting a brace off the first ball before consecutive boundaries off the last two balls, driving the ball through mid on on each occasion. 10 from the over.
14:35 (IST)
After 54 overs,South Africa 138/5 ( Temba Bavuma 15 , Quinton de Kock (W) 3)
Seven from Siraj’s second over of the day, including a boundary to Bavuma off the penultimate delivery thanks to a misfield by Rahane in the slip cordon. Drinks called one the field now. For the Proteas, the Bavuma-QdK pair is crucial to their hopes of avoiding a defeat.
14:30 (IST)
After 53 overs,South Africa 131/5 ( Temba Bavuma 11 , Quinton de Kock (W) 0)
Bumrah continues from the Pavilion End, this turning out to be a fairly long spell for the spearhead. Collects his fourth maiden.
14:28 (IST)
After 51 overs,South Africa 130/5 ( Temba Bavuma 10 , Quinton de Kock (W) 0)
First bowling change of the morning, as Siraj replaces Shami. Starts off on a tidy note with one coming from the over, as Bavuma collects a single off the penultimate ball.
14:22 (IST)
After 51 overs,South Africa 130/5 ( Temba Bavuma 10 , Quinton de Kock (W) 0)
Bumrah continues with three slips and a gully. Finally ends Elgar’s resistance as he traps him leg-before in the fifth delivery, using the width of the crease well to angle one into the pads. The ball also stays a touch low and evades the inside edge. Elgar tries reviewing, and gets three reds as the Proteas lose a review. De Kock walks out to bat next, and gets a pearler first up. Wicket maiden for Bumrah, who has three wickets against his name now.
14:18 (IST)
OUT! The Indians let out an almighty roar after Bumrah traps Elgar leg-before with one that stays a touch low while being angled along the leg stump. Elgar reviews right away, and gets three reds on HawkEye. Virat gets a little impatient with the amount of time it takes for ball-tracking to load. "Don't take so much time," is what is heard on the stump mic. SA 130/5
Elgar LBW Bumrah 77(156)
14:12 (IST)
After 50 overs,South Africa 130/4 ( Dean Elgar (C) 77 , Temba Bavuma 10)
Bavuma drives the ball through the covers off the second ball, coming back for a third as Rahul puts in a slider near the fence to save the boundary. Single to Elgar three balls later after pushing the ball through midwicket.
14:07 (IST)
After 49 overs,South Africa 126/4 ( Dean Elgar (C) 76 , Temba Bavuma 7)
Edged… and safe! Chances are coming every now and then, but the Indians aren’t able to capitalise. This time an outside edge flies through the gap between second slip and gully, and all the way to the fence, as Elgar moves into the 70s. The skipper helps himself to another boundary two balls later, this time tucking a short of length ball through square leg, beating the fielder diving to his left. Eight from the over.
14:02 (IST)
After 48 overs,South Africa 118/4 ( Dean Elgar (C) 68 , Temba Bavuma 7)
Elgar collects a single off the first ball. Catching mid on brought in later for Bavuma, with the Indians hoping to avoid a repeat of the Elgar drop. One from the over.
13:59 (IST)
After 47 overs,South Africa 117/4 ( Dean Elgar (C) 67 , Temba Bavuma 7)
Two from Bumrah’s 15th over, with Bavuma collecting a brace off the first ball after a flick through the midwicket region.
13:58 (IST)
After 46 overs,South Africa 115/4 ( Dean Elgar (C) 67 , Temba Bavuma 5)
DROPPED! Shami puts down a simple chance off his own bowling after Elgar, batting on 63, ends up lobbing the ball in his direction while looking to drive down the ground. To make matters worse, the South African skipper collects a boundary off the last ball. Five runs from the over, including a single to Bavuma off the third ball.
13:57 (IST)
After 45 overs,South Africa 110/4 ( Dean Elgar (C) 63 , Temba Bavuma 4)
FOUR! Second boundary of the day for Elgar, this time off Bumrah’s bowling, this time directing the ball towards the fine leg fence at the start of the over to move into the 60s. Has been a decent start for the Proteas so far. Four from the over.
13:46 (IST)
After 44 overs,South Africa 106/4 ( Dean Elgar (C) 59 , Temba Bavuma 4)
Tidy over from Shami with just one coming from it, as Elgar collects a single off the third delivery after working the ball through midwicket.
13:42 (IST)
After 43 overs,South Africa 105/4 ( Dean Elgar (C) 58 , Temba Bavuma 4)
FOUR! Bavuma’s off the mark with a gorgeous cover drive off Bumrah! He’s in good nick at the moment, having brought up a half-century in the first innings this Test. Four from the over.
13:38 (IST)
After 42 overs,South Africa 101/4 ( Dean Elgar (C) 58 , Temba Bavuma 0)
Mohammed Shami starts off with the other end today. Dean Elgar, meanwhile, brings up the 100 for the Proteas with a drive off a full delivery, guiding the ball towards the midwicket fence. Seven from the other, with Elgar having earlier collected a brace off a front-foot no-ball.
13:34 (IST)
After 41 overs,South Africa 94/4 ( Dean Elgar (C) 52 , Temba Bavuma 0)
Bumrah bowls out the final delivery of his 12th over, with Temba Bavuma, who walks in at No 6 today after Keshav Maharaj had been sent in on nightwatchman duty in the final session yesterday.
13:33 (IST)
Jasprit Bumrah gears up to bowl the first delivery of the day, which will also be the final ball of his 12th over after he had dismissed Keshav Maharaj at the stroke of stumps in the penultimate delivery yesterday.
13:20 (IST)
“I think my planning was obviously to stay disciplined, and I realised it’s not the kind of pitch where you can go looking for runs. It was about waiting for the bowlers to make mistakes and capitalising on them, staying in the moment and not think too far ahead. The pitch has been uneven from Day 1. Tried to react in the best possible way to whatever we got. We’ve worked really hard to get ourselves in a position from where we have a good chance to win. But important for us to stay in the moment and focus on taking one wicket at a time. What we’ve done really well in the last two-three years is to stay disciplined, and the numbers show that and credit goes to the bowlers," says India vice-captain KL Rahul in a chat with Mike Haysman.
13:14 (IST)
Some final touches before the final day is underway
Warming up to what looks like a fascinating final day of the Test match 👌🏟️#TeamIndia | #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/sfM8KrEF4v
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 30, 2021
13:08 (IST)
“It’s another day of sunshine. The heavy roller will probably be used again today to make it as flat as possible. It will be about setting small targets and achieving them. Partnerships will be the key and running between the wickets will be crucial,” says former South Africa speedster Morne Morkel in a chat with the broadcasters.
12:58 (IST)
Indian cricket in 2021
The year began with a historic series win Down Under, witnessed some breakthrough debuts and with Virat Kohli's men also proving themselves on English soil. The women's team also had moments to savour from the year gone by, from ending the Aussie ODI winning streak to Mandhana's ton in the historic pink-ball Test.
We take a look at some of Indian cricket's top moments in 2021. Click here to read
12:49 (IST)
ICYMI
The Centurion Test has witnessed some milestones being achieved, with Rishabh Pant becoming the quickest Indian keeper to 100 Test dismissals, taking 10 Tests fewer than MS Dhoni and Wriddhiman Saha, who had taken 36 Tests each, while Mohammed Shami became only the fifth Indian pacer to cross 200 Test wickets.
12:46 (IST)
Dean Elgar fought hard on Wednesday evening, staying unbeaten on 52 after building fighting partnerships with Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen followed by a cameo from Keshav Maharaj as the Proteas ended the day on 94/4.
Though they'll need a near-miracle to chase down the remaining 211 runs, Elgar sure will hope to make things as tough for the Indians as possible, and get to the three-figure mark himself. Remember, Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock are yet to bat, with all-rounder Wiaan Mulder coming in after them, and they could frustrate the Indians for a couple of sessions if they can apply themselves. There's also a forecast for some showers later today, and the Proteas will hope to preserve their wickets till the heavens open up.
12:40 (IST)
"Indian bowlers have bowled a much fuller length and have caused a bit of uncertainty. I do believe, unless Quinton de Kock plays that unbelievable innings, and Temba Bavuma stays with him, it will be very difficult for the South Africans today. The Indians will hope to end this early," says Sunil Gavaskar in a chat with the broadcasters Star Sports from Centurion ahead of the day's play.
12:30 (IST)
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the final day of the first Test between South Africa and India at the Supersport Park in Centurion, with the visiting team favourites to go 1-0 up ahead of the start of play.
India vs South Africa, Live Cricket Score, 1st Test at Centurion, Day 5, Latest Scorecard and Updates: India have breached the Centurion fortress with a 113-run win. Virat Kohli and Co take a 1-0 lead in the series. The celebration was pretty measured. The visitors know the job is still not done. Just a win at Centurion won't do. It's about winning the Test series this time.
Day 4 report: Jasprit Bumrah was hailed by Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour after making two late breakthroughs on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa on Wednesday.
South Africa, needing 305 to win, were 94 for four at the close, with home captain Dean Elgar unbeaten on 52.
India’s progress to victory was held up by a defiant partnership between Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen, who eked out 40 runs for the third wicket at less than two runs an over and threatened to see their side through to the close of play.
But Bumrah came back for a final spell on a hot afternoon and produced a superb delivery which snaked back and bowled Van der Dussen, who did not offer a shot.
"That’s the quality of the bowler, he really set him up well," said Rathour, referring to a probing line by Bumrah which had the batsman unsure whether to play or leave the ball before misjudging the crucial delivery.
Bumrah followed up by yorking nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj in the last over of an extended day to put India firmly on course for a win in the first of three Tests.
"That’s what you expect from somebody like him," said Rathour about Bumrah. "But all of us bowled really well. They were bowling really good lines."
Rathour said the pitch was difficult for batsmen. "There is more and more variable bounce. The way we bowled today, if we carry on tomorrow we will create a lot of opportunities."
Elgar produced a typically determined innings, battling for more than three hours against consistently hostile bowling in difficult conditions.
'Show belief'
South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada said Elgar’s resolve needed to be matched by the remaining batsmen on the final day.
"We’re just going to have to show belief," he said.
Rabada said the team could not afford to be distracted by forecasts of possible thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon.
"There have been chats about that but it’s not a controllable (factor)," he said. "We have to come out thinking of playing a full day’s cricket."
Rabada took four for 42 as India were bowled out for 174 in their second innings.
It was a day of contrasts. India eked out 63 runs for the loss of three wickets in the morning. But the match moved ahead rapidly after lunch.
Starting the afternoon with an overall lead of 209 India took a more attacking approach as they added 95 runs off 18.3 overs while losing their remaining seven wickets.
Despite captain Virat Kohli falling to the first ball after lunch, edging a drive against a delivery slanted across him from tall left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen, the Indian batsmen went for their shots while wickets fell at regular intervals.
Ajinkya Rahane hit Jansen for four, six and four off successive deliveries before being caught in the deep off the same bowler in his next over.
Risabh Pant played a typically aggressive innings and top-scored with 34 off 34 balls.
Debutant Jansen took four for 55 and earned praise from Rabada. "He’s a phenomenal talent. He’s an awkward customer to face with his pace and bounce and in the second innings he justified his selection."
With inputs from AFP
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