Team India was expected to seal their first series win in South Africa after a thumping 113-run victory over the Dean Elgar-led side in Centurion. However, despite being 1 down in the series, the hosts made a strong comeback and pulled off a spectacular result, sealing a 2-1 series victory by chasing down 212 in the tense Cape Town Test.
South Africa registered a formidable seven-wicket win in the second session of Day 4 as the young Keegan Petersen played one of his best knocks amid the DRS controversy at Newlands. Petersen defied the conditions and played beautifully for his career-best score from 113 balls before he was dismissed by Shardul Thakur.
WATCH – Netizens Erupted As Pujara Dropped An Easy Looking Catch Of Petersen
The top-order batter for South Africa finishes the series as the leading run-scorer with 276 in six innings, providing the hosts some solidity in the number three position that has been missing for some time. While South Africa needed 111 runs to win, India was in search of eight wickets in their quest to script history in the rainbow nation.
Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen stitched a 54-run stand for the third wicket before Thakur got rid of Petersen in the first session, but van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma stood their ground till lunch. Petersen’s wicket gave Team India some hope and they tried to exploit the conditions with some superb seam bowling on a spiteful Newlands pitch.
However, Rassie van der Dussen and Bavuma made sure that the Proteas did not suffer any further setback as the SA duo finished the job in the afternoon session on a difficult, seaming wicket. Virat Kohli lost his cool once again on Friday when the Indian team believed they had Van der Dussen caught behind off seamer Mohammed Shami, though the pacer himself showed no interest and returned to his mark.
WATCH – Virat Kohli Was Fuming After Another Close DRS Call In Cape Town
For the unversed, South Africa is the only nation where India is yet to record a Test series win. As the current Proteas side had been struggling in Test cricket, many backed the Virat Kohli-led side to upset Dean Elgar’s men in the rainbow nation. India’s series triumph looked even more inevitable after they won the first Test by 113 runs.
Here is how the cricketing fraternity reacted to series win of South Africa:
I thought this was our best chance to create a history! Considering our team and theirs. Well played South Africa. Marco Janson and Keegan Peterson are future South African stars.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 14, 2022
Now that is what u call Protea Fire!!!
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) January 14, 2022
Great series win @OfficialCSA
— Mickey Arthur (@Mickeyarthurcr1) January 14, 2022
Coming back from 1 down to win 2 test matches is great effort by South Africa..Tht too after India wining the Toss in both the matches..well done #sa.. for India regroup and rephrase..
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) January 14, 2022
Result didn't go our way but that doesn't change the fact that this was a gripping series. Every session was a contest. Congratulations to @OfficialCSA. You've got great foundation to build on. Petersen is 👌🏼And Rabada-Nortje-Ngidi-Jansen attack is going to be 🔥 #SAvIND
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 14, 2022
Final frontier remains unconquered. 2018 was a contest between two evenly matched sides and you could take a lot of heart from the performances even in a series defeat. This tour though…winning the first test…superior side…and then losing 1-2. This will hurt. Should hurt.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 14, 2022
That is proper!!!!
Beating the top ranked side in the world so comprehensively
Our test team deserves more respect than they are given
Well done boys 🇿🇦#ProteaFire
— Tabraiz Shamsi (@shamsi90) January 14, 2022
Exactly South Africa cashed on Ind A vs SA A. We just ignored Vihari’s knock and we are paying for that. It’s high time now India should go for Vihari and back him for Atleast 2-3 series.#INDvSA https://t.co/f0KhBdrxbI
— Charan (@charanb78) January 14, 2022
This is one of the biggest win in cricket test for South Africa vs India. What a win for the #ProteaFire @OfficialCSA 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦
— Sephiri Mosothoane™ (@SEPHIRI_M) January 14, 2022
South Africa are really having a resurgence in recent months. Had a great T20 World Cup (given their squad) and now the test series vs India (after losing the 1st game).
Good days for them and hopefully they build a strong team! Sad India lost 🙁#SAvIND
— Y P (@imYash07) January 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/AmitGautam16943/status/1481956203593089026?s=20
