Press Trust of India
Mohali, Nov 7: Ravindra Jadeja (5/21 and 8/76 overall) made a memorable comeback to Test cricket with a five-wicket haul as India relied on their spinners to fashion a resounding 108-run victory against South Africa in the low-scoring first game to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series, here Saturday at the IS Bindra Stadium. Deepavali seemed to have arrived a shade earlier with firecrackers lighting up the sky immediately after India’s win over the Proteas.
Chasing a difficult 218-run target on a turning track, the Proteas were bundled out for 109 runs in 39.5 overs in the final session as the match ended inside three days. Fittingly, it was Jadeja who trapped Imran Tahir leg before to signal the start of the Indian celebrations.
Virat Kohli’s joy of winning his first game at home as Test captain was also evident, especially after the hosts lost the ODI and the T20 series against the visitors.
The spin troika of Ravichandran Ashwin (3/39), Jadeja and Amit Mishra (1/26) picked up 19 wickets in the game with Varun Aaron, the only Indian pacer to pick up the wicket of Dean Elgar in the second knock.
The visitors’ move of sending pinch-hitter Vernon Philander (1) was neutralised when Jadeja trapped the batsman leg before in the very first delivery of the second over.
Ashwin then had Faf du Plessis caught at first slip by Ajinkya Rahane and when in the very next over Jadeja cleaned up rival skipper Hashim Amla with one that came in straight with the arm, the writing was clear on the wall for the South Africans.
AB de Villiers tried to play in his own positive manner, stepping out to the spinners and hitting a lovely straight boundary off Jadeja. But then he played on while trying to cut Mishra and it looked the match would be over by tea.
That the South Africa managed to prolong the game was because of a stubborn 42-run seventh wicket stand between Stiaan van Zyl (36, 82b, 6×4) and Simon Harmer (11). Both proved that even though the ball turned and bounced, the pitch was not unplayable. Once they were dismissed by Ashwin and Jadeja respectively, the innings quickly folded up with the South Africans losing their last four wickets for only seven runs.
Earlier, India resuming at 125 for two were proceeding smoothly when disaster struck and they lost eight wickets for only 39 runs to be bowled out for 200. The moment Indian skipper Virat Kohli tried to cut irregular bowler Van Zyl and the fine edge was gobbled up by DJ Vilas behind the stumps and the floodgates opened for the South Africans.
Tahir (4/48) and Harmer (4/61) shared the spoils to spin a web around the Indian batting. Pujara (77, 153b, 6×4, 1×6) soon joined his partner in the pavilion after Tahir got the settled batsman to edge one to slip. After that it was a procession as wickets tumbled in a jiffy.
Even though, it was a comprehensive win for the hosts, they would definitely have to think about the form of Sikhar Dhawan at the top of the order. A good start is always helpful and this is one area where India have been lacking in the shorter and longer versions of the game. They need to address it as soon as possible.
