India beat best side in the world within three days
South Africa dismissed for 109 as hosts claim 108-run win to go 1-0 up in four-match series
Left-armer Jadeja claimed five wickets in the second innings to finish with eight in the match alongside Ashwin. PHOTO: AFP
MOHALI:
India’s spinners tied South Africa’s batsmen up in knots to give the hosts a 108-run victory in the bowler-dominated first Test in Mohali on Saturday.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja grabbed five wickets and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took three as the Proteas, set a victory target of 218, were dismissed for 109 after tea on the third day.
Both bowlers finished with eight wickets apiece in the low-scoring match played on a dusty, dry pitch at the IS Bindra stadium, with the Indian spinners claiming 19 of the 20 South African scalps.
The Proteas were reduced to 60-6 before Stiaan van Zyl, who top-scored with 36, and Simon Harmer (11) got together to put on 42 for the seventh wicket.
India spin Africa to defeat in first Test
Seven batsmen failed to reach double figures, leaving the top-ranked South Africans a lot to ponder over ahead of the second Test in the four-match series starting in Bangalore on November 14.
Indian captain Virat Kohli was delighted to win his first Test on home soil as captain. “This was a special occasion for me,” said Kohli, who turned 27 on the first day of the match. “Ours is a young team and we are trying to build a strong one together. A lot of credit to the boys for bouncing back after the loss in the limited-over series.”
Kohli felt it was wrong to criticise the pitch which produced a three-day Test. “I don’t think there were any demons in the wicket,” he said. “The ball did not turn square at any stage. Batsmen had to apply themselves since it was a bowler’s game.”
Kohli irked by 'unnecessary hype' over Mohali pitch
South African skipper Hashim Amla also refused to blame the defeat on the pitch, saying there were a few ‘soft dismissals’ in their innings. “200 was chaseable, although probably 150 would have been more realistic,” he said. “There were some soft dismissals. We were in the game till we lost four or five wickets and put pressure on the lower order. Stiaan showed you could get runs if you hung in there.”
Amla also praised his bowlers for dismissing India for 200 after they were 161-2 at one stage. “To get India out for 200 was an excellent effort from our bowlers and we kept ourselves in the game till the last session,” he said. “But credit to India for bowling us out.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2015.
India’s spinners tied South Africa’s batsmen up in knots to give the hosts a 108-run victory in the bowler-dominated first Test in Mohali on Saturday.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja grabbed five wickets and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took three as the Proteas, set a victory target of 218, were dismissed for 109 after tea on the third day.
Both bowlers finished with eight wickets apiece in the low-scoring match played on a dusty, dry pitch at the IS Bindra stadium, with the Indian spinners claiming 19 of the 20 South African scalps.
The Proteas were reduced to 60-6 before Stiaan van Zyl, who top-scored with 36, and Simon Harmer (11) got together to put on 42 for the seventh wicket.
India spin Africa to defeat in first Test
Seven batsmen failed to reach double figures, leaving the top-ranked South Africans a lot to ponder over ahead of the second Test in the four-match series starting in Bangalore on November 14.
Indian captain Virat Kohli was delighted to win his first Test on home soil as captain. “This was a special occasion for me,” said Kohli, who turned 27 on the first day of the match. “Ours is a young team and we are trying to build a strong one together. A lot of credit to the boys for bouncing back after the loss in the limited-over series.”
Kohli felt it was wrong to criticise the pitch which produced a three-day Test. “I don’t think there were any demons in the wicket,” he said. “The ball did not turn square at any stage. Batsmen had to apply themselves since it was a bowler’s game.”
Kohli irked by 'unnecessary hype' over Mohali pitch
South African skipper Hashim Amla also refused to blame the defeat on the pitch, saying there were a few ‘soft dismissals’ in their innings. “200 was chaseable, although probably 150 would have been more realistic,” he said. “There were some soft dismissals. We were in the game till we lost four or five wickets and put pressure on the lower order. Stiaan showed you could get runs if you hung in there.”
Amla also praised his bowlers for dismissing India for 200 after they were 161-2 at one stage. “To get India out for 200 was an excellent effort from our bowlers and we kept ourselves in the game till the last session,” he said. “But credit to India for bowling us out.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2015.