Tag: India vs South Africa

CAPE TOWN: Jasprit Bumrah provided an early breakthrough after India collapsed for 223 in the first innings on day one of the third Test against South Africa, here on Tuesday. 

Bumrah’s late inswinger saw Proteas’ skipper Dean Elgar departing after scoring a mere three. Aiden Markram (8*) and the nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj (6*) will now resume the proceedings for the home side at 17/1 on the second day of the ongoing Test.

Indian captain – Virat Kohli opted to bat first after the coin flipped in his favour. Batting first, the Indian openers failed to provide a solid start to the team as both the batters departed at a combined score of 33. KL Rahul scored 12, while Mayank Agarwal could score 15.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli then anchored the innings with a 62-runs stand for the third wicket. The duo appeared firm, but, Pujara walked back to the pavilion after nicking the ball straight into the gloves of South African wicket-keeper, Kyle Verreynne. He scored 43; facing 77 balls. The right-handed batter smashed seven boundaries.

The side then began to lose wickets at a consistent rate; resulting in India slipping from 95/2 to 116/4. Rishabh Pant then showed grit with his 27 off 50 balls, but, fell short of Macro Jensen’s brilliant delivery.

Kohli, on the other hand, stood firm and kept ticking the scoreboard, while the touring side was losing the wickets at an alarming rate. Kohli scored a gritty 79 before getting dismissed on Kagiso Rabada’s outside off-stump delivery; nicking the ball into the gloves of Verreynne. He faced a mammoth 201 balls for his 79; scoring 12 boundaries and a six.

Following his departure, the touring side soon bowled for 223 in the first innings.

For the Proteas, Rabada impressed with his four wickets, while Jensen bagged three. Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi, and Maharaj made one scalp each.

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JOHANNESBURG: South African skipper – Dean Elgar’s valiant 96* helped the home side to win the second Test by seven wickets; levelling the ongoing series 1-1 against India.

The proteas, resuming their innings at 118/2 after the rain interrupted the day’s play, carried their previous day’s momentum. Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen batted sensibly and partnered strongly to make the run-chase comfortable.

The pair put on an 82-runs partnership before Dussen departed after scoring a well-crafted 40. He faced 92 balls and smashed five boundaries. The side lost their third wicket at a combined score of 175.

However, Temba Bavuma and Elgar then recorded a match-winning partnership of 68-runs. Bavuma scored a handy 23* off 45 balls, laced with three boundaries. Elgar, on the other hand, was even more impressive as the left-handed batter remained unbeaten for his magnificent 96; facing 188 balls. He hit 10 boundaries.

For the men in blue, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, and Ravichandran Ashwin shared one wicket apiece.

Following this victory, the home side has now levelled the series 1-1 against the men in blue with the third Test to take place from January 11 to January 15.

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JOHANNESBURG: South African top-order chipped in after the bowlers displayed combined effort to dismiss India for 266 in the second innings; putting the home side close to the victory in the second Test.

On the third day of the second Test, Indian batting collapsed to 266 all-out after Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane’s brilliant century-plus partnership. The touring set an achievable target of 230 for the Proteas.

Earlier in the day, India resumed their second innings at 85/2. Rahane and Pujara showed grit to anchor the innings for the touring side. Both the batters scored half-centuries. The duo appeared to be solid, but, Rahane fell short after scoring 58. He fell short to Kagiso Rabada’s brilliant delivery; nicking the ball straight into the gloves of Kyle Verreyne.

Soon after, Rabada also dismissed Pujara, as the pacer trapped the right-handed batter in legs. Pujara scored a fighting 53, laced with 10 boundaries.

Following his dismissal, the touring side began to lose wickets at an alarming rate, but, Hanuma Vihari stood firm at the other end. He kept the scoreboard ticking and put on a brief partnership with Shardul Thakur. The pair put on a valuable 41-runs partnership before Thakur perished. He scored a quick 28 off 24 balls; smashing five boundaries and a six.

The side, in the end, bowled for a mere 266; setting a target of 230 for the hosts. Vihari remained unbeaten with his valiant 40. He hit six boundaries.

For the proteas, Macro Jensen, Lungi Ngidi, and Kagiso Rabada each took three wickets. Duanne Olivier, on the other hand, claimed one wicket.

Set to chase 230, the South African opening pair provided a solid start to the side. The duo put on a magnificent 47-runs partnership before Aiden Markram departed after scoring 31.

Keegan Petersen then joined his skipper – Dean Elgar at the crease; putting a magnificent 46-runs partnership. Petersen looked comfortable, but, could only managed to score 28.

Dean Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen will now resume the proceedings for the proteas at 118/2; requiring 112 runs to pull off a victory. Elgar scored an unbeaten 46, while Dussen is not-out with his sensible 11.

For India, Thakur and Ravichandran Ashwin claimed one wicket apiece.

READ: Thakur, Pujara fightback to pull India back in the game

JOHANNESBURG: Indian quicks showed fightback; dismissing South Africa for 229, before Cheteshwar Pujara anchored the second innings; providing a 58-runs lead to the touring side at the end of day two.

On the second day of the second Test, India’s top-order batters stepped up after Shardul Thakur’s magnificent bowling spell troubled the hosts. The pacer recorded the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler against South Africa, in their backyard.

Earlier, in the morning, the home side started the proceedings at 35/1; trailing by 167 runs. Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen looked to anchor their side’s position in the match; recording a brilliant 74-runs partnership, but, the duo could not get going for long, as Elgar departed after scoring 28.

Petersen, on the other hand, stood firm and kept the scoreboard ticking. The right-handed batter then went on to smash his maiden Test half-century. The 28-years-old looked to switch the gears but Thakur’s brilliant delivery undid the Proteas’ top-scorer of the first innings. He managed to score 61; smashing nine boundaries.

Following his dismissal, the side began to lose wickets at an alarming rate, Temba Bavuma, however, looked to fight back, but he too, fell short soon after reaching his half-century. With little to no contribution from the batting tail, the home side, in the end, bundled out for a meagre 229. Bavuma scored a valiant 51.

For India, Thakur starred; claiming seven wickets, while Mohammed Shami bagged two. Jasprit Bumrah, on the other hand, made one scalp.

Starting with a 27-runs deficit, India, halted by a poor start; lost both their openers for just 44. KL Rahul departed after scoring eight, while Mayank Agarwal scored 23.

Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane then retaliated and made sure the side did not lose further wickets. The duo added a fighting 41-runs for the third wicket before stumps were called. Pujara (35*) and Rahane (11*) will now resume the proceedings for the touring party at 85/2 on the third day of the ongoing Test.

For the Proteas, Macro Jensen and Duanne Olivier each bagged one wicket apiece.

READ: Pacers shine to put South Africa in command

JOHANNESBURG: South African pacers shone with the ball; dismissing India for a paltry 202 in the first innings of the second Test, on Monday.

The proteas finished the first day at 35/1; trailing by 167 runs. Following the brilliance of the pacers, the hosts bowled India out for a mere 202.

At the toss, India’s standing captain – KL Rahul elected to bat first after the coin flipped in his favour. India’s regular captain, Virat Kohli missed the ongoing Test following an injury.

Batting first, Indian openers provided an average start to the side; putting up a 36-runs partnership before Mayank Aggarwal dismissed after scoring 26. Soon after, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane departed in quick succession; causing the side to slip to 49/3.

Hanuma Vihari, however, looked to anchor the innings along with Rahul, but, he too departed cheaply. Rahul, on the other hand, put on his first Test century as captain, but, was unable to go deep. He was dismissed after scoring 50, laced with nine boundaries.

The side then ran into a collapse and lost their remaining half of the side for just 86 runs. Indian veteran spinner – Ravichandran Ashwin, however, showed grit; scoring 46 runs. Ashwin was removed by the promising young pacer – Macro Jensen.

For the Proteas, Jensen starred; picking up four wickets, while Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier each claimed three wickets.

In response to India’s 202, the hosts could not start their inning decently; losing their first wicket for just 14, as Mohammed Shami trapped Aiden Markram in legs for his individual score of seven. Shami has now removed the right-handed top-order batter thrice in three innings, thus far in the ongoing series.

Dean Elgar (11*) and Keegan Petersen (14*) will now resume the proceedings for the home side at 35/1 on the second day.

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New Zealand batsman Devon Conway continued his phenomenal rise in Test cricket, scoring 122 as New Zealand finished day one of the first Test against Bangladesh in a strong position at Mount Maunganui on Saturday. 

In only his fourth Test, and first since recovering from a broken hand, Conway lifted New Zealand from being one for one to close the day at 258 for five with Henry Nicholls on 32 and Tom Blundell out on the last ball for 11.

“It’s a very special feeling,” Conway said of scoring a century in his first home Test and being in partnership with New Zealand icon Ross Taylor when he reached triple figures.

“It was a great feeling to have Ross Taylor there out in the middle with me when I achieved that milestone,” Conway said.

“He was very positive. He told me to soak it in, and congratulated me. It will last in my memory for a very long time.”

It is the fourth time in seven Test innings that Conway has passed the 50 mark, and it lifted his average to 71.57, but after setting New Zealand up for a big score he gave his wicket away to an innocuous Mominul Haque delivery.

Mominul only put himself on for three overs before the second new ball and claimed the prized scalp of Conway with a harmless delivery that was edged to wicketkeeper Liton Das.

With the wicket drying out Conway sees good batting prospects for New Zealand on day two, but Bangladesh bowling coach Ottis Gibson did not agree.

“It’s even-stevens, I feel,” said Gibson, the architect of Bangladesh’s use of swing bowling.

“We don’t see that much grass so the grass is a factor. All the fast bowlers bowled well in difficult conditions, alien conditions to them and Ebidot also bowled well.”

Bangladesh started the day well, putting Zealand into bat and then claiming Tom Latham for one in the fourth over.

But their mood changed as Conway mounted partnerships of 138 with Will Young (52), 50 with Ross Taylor (31) and 38 with Nicholls.

Conway weathered a fiery start by accurate quicks Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Aslam who found swing through the air and off the pitch.

Shoriful had Latham caught behind for one in the fourth over and in his next over believed he had Conway who had yet to score.

The original decision was not out and when Bangladesh appealed the replays were inconclusive and it remained with the umpire’s call.

But after Conway and Will Young inched New Zealand to 15 off the first 13 overs, the ball began to wear, the pitch began to flatten under a scorching sun and the runs started to flow.

Conway brought up his 50 with a majestic pull shot that sent the ball high over the boundary fence and he followed with two fours off the same Mehidy Hasan over.

He posted his century in more restrained fashion with a single as he tapped a short Taskin delivery to fine leg, finely missing the two fielders placed for a legside catch.

Young was looking comfortable, and survived a delicate edge on 27 which Bangladesh did not pick up and did not appeal. But when he entered the fifties his composure began to wane and after seeing a mistimed hook shot fall in front of the boundary fielder, he called for a single that was never on and gifted the tourists a run out.

Taylor, who entered Bay Oval to a standing ovation at the start of his penultimate Test, batted confidently to 31 when he drove at a wide Shoriful delivery but would not keep the ball down with Shadman Islam taking a sharp catch at short cover.

Shoriful was the most potent Bangladesh bowler with two for 53.

MUMBAI: India’s right-handed batter – KL Rahul appointed as the ODI captain for the upcoming series against South Africa; following Rohit Sharma’s injury.

The All-India Senior Selection Committee announced the squad for the ODI series against. Following an injury, India’s newly appointed ODI captain – Rohit Sharma ruled out of the series.

Rahul will be leading the men in blue for the white ball series, while Jasprit Bumrah announced as the vice-captain.

Taking to Twitter, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad along with the announcement of the standing captain for the scheduled series.

#TeamIndia for three ODI series against South Africa announced.

The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Mr KL Rahul as Captain for the ODI series as Mr Rohit Sharma is ruled out owing to an injury.

WATCH the PC live here – https://t.co/IVYMIoWXkq

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 31, 2021

The three-match ODI series between India and South Africa will take place from January 19 to January 23.

SQUAD: KL Rahul (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaekwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj.

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CENTURION: Indian cricket team set numerous records in their historic victory against South Africa in the first Test, here on Thursday.

India’s triumph over South Africa in the first Test helped the men in blue equal their five-year-old record for the second-highest number of Test victories in a calendar year. In 2021, the number one team won eight games.

India also became the first Asian team to defeat South Africa in a Test match in Centurion.

With India’s Boxing Day Test victory over the Proteas. Virat Kohli, the Indian Test captain, became the first Asian captain to win two Boxing Day Tests. In 2018, the 33-year-old won his first Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne.

Kohli also made history by becoming the first Indian captain to win at least two Tests in England, Australia, and South Africa.

The Indian skipper also became the fourth captain with the most victories in the longest format of the game; winning 40 matches.

KL Rahul, India’s first-innings centurion, also set two splendid records. After Wasim Jaffer’s 116 in the 2007 series in Cape Town, the right-handed batter became only the second Indian opener to score a century against South Africa.

Rahul also became only the third Indian batter after Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to score a century in South Africa’s citadel.

READ: India’s historic triumph over South Africa in the first Test

CENTURION: Indian bowlers displayed combined effort to dismiss South Africa for 191 in the second innings of the first Test; becoming the first Asian side to win a Test match against South Africa at the SuperSport Park.

Set to chase 305, the hosts resumed the run-chase at 94/4, Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma started the proceedings with a decent partnership. The pair appeared solid, but, Elgar fell short after scoring 77. The side slipped to 130/5 following his dismissal.

Bavuma then partnered with Quinton de Kock, who could not stay for long at the crease and dismissed cheaply for 21. Soon after, the South African batting tail had no answers to the Indian bowling attack and the hosts, in the end, bundled out for 191.

Bavuma, the lone warrior for the side, remained not out with his valiant 35. Elgar, however, remained top-scorer for the Proteas in the second innings.

For India, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami bagged three wickets each, while Mohammed Siraj and Ravichandran Ashwin each claimed two wickets.

READ: Bumrah stars as India need six more wickets to win

CENTURION: Indian fast bowlers breathed fire against the South African batters; dismissing their four wickets for 94, while chasing 305 in the first Test.

In the final session of the fourth day of the ongoing Test. South Africa started their run-chase lost wickets at a consistent rate; having lost four of them for the loss of 94 runs. The side still needs 211 runs to pull off a victory.

The skipper – Dean Elgar fought hard with his unbeaten 52 off 122 balls. However, his partners did not lend any support, and departed after scoring cheaply. Elgar (52*) and Temba Bavuma will now resume the proceedings for the side at 94/4 on the final day.

Indian bowling foundation – Jasprit Bumrah made two scalps in the second inning, while Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj each claimed one wicket.

At the day’s commencement, India resumed the proceedings at 16/1 struggled throughout the innings. None of their batters could able to stay for long at the crease, and the side, eventually, bowled out for a paltry 174; setting a 305-runs target for the hosts.

KL Rahul scored 23 off 74, followed by their top-scorer in the second inning – Rishabh Pant, who scored a run-a-ball 34; smashing six boundaries.

For the Proteas, Kagiso Rabada and Macro Jansesn each claimed four wickets, while Lungi Ngidi dismissed two batters.

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