After starting 2021 after breaching Australia’s fortress at Gabba, India has ended the year has breached South Africa’s fortress in Centurion. There was rain forecast for the final day, but the rain gods stayed away, as India pulled off a brilliant performance with the red cherry on Day 5 to draw first blood in the three-match Test series. South Africa started the day confidently, with Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma scoring runs at a brisk pace.

Howeverm, just when things were getting easy for South Africa, Jasprit Bumrah got the prized wicket of Elgar, who was found plumb in front of the stumps. The Protean skipper walked back after scoring a defiant 156-ball 77. Quinton De Kock played a quickfire knock of 21 off 28 deliveries and perished when he tried to play one shot too many as he chopped one off towards the stumps. 

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Wiann Mulder departed in the next over itself and was dismissed by an absolute JAFFA from Mohammed Shami. Shami bowled the ball at a good length with the red cherry shaping away, Mulder tried to defend it, the ball took the outside edge of his blade, and Rishabh Pant completed the formalities with the gloves.

Marco Jansen was the next man to get dismissed. The tall South African edged Mohammed Shami to Rishabh Pant, who completed a good low catch behind the stumps. Then, Kagiso Rabada came and went. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled a flighted delivery, and the southpaw ended up hitting the ball straight to point and departed for a duck.

And finally, there was jubilation for the Indian side when Ashwin took the final South African wicket. Lungi Ngidi was dismissed off the very first ball that he faced, as India went 1-0 up in the series.

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Amidst all this, Temba Bavuma stood strong at one end fort as he didn’t let any loose delivery bowled by the Indians go away and at the same time was solid in defense. Bavuma was unbeaten on 35, having faced 80 deliveries. But, his vigil went in vain. So, Virat Kohli and Co. go 1-0 up and are on course to conquer their final frontier.

Here is the how the cricketing fraternity reacted to India’s win:

Great victory for Team India ..not surprised by the result at all…will be a hard team to beat this series..South africa will have to play out of their skins to do that ..enjoy the new year @bcci

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) December 30, 2021

https://twitter.com/mscmedia2/status/1476583888822538245?s=21

Starting the year at the Gabba and finishing it thus at Centurion is a mighty achievement. The WTC final was the only aberration in a great year of test cricket

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 30, 2021

#TeamIndia WIN at Centurion 👏👏🇮🇳#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/35KCyFM4za

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 30, 2021

Entire second day washed out. 5th day just one session play. And yet India wins comprehensively! Congratulations 👏. #INDvSA #CricketTwitter

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) December 30, 2021

I don’t remember team chasing 250 plus against india so it was always question of rain saving South Africa. Congratulations Team India for the new year gift!#SAvsIND #CricketTwitter

— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) December 30, 2021

Congratulations team India. Very well played. A historic win for India as they record their first Test series sweep against South Africa. A proud moment. #IndvsSA #BCCI #TestSeries #TeamIndia #IndiaToday #AajTak #ZeeNews #StarSports #SonySports #NDTVSports #IndiaTv #SportsTak pic.twitter.com/kfYlGfzMYg

— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) December 30, 2021

First step towards the history! Well done team India for winning the first test match of the series. #KLRahul #Bumrah #Shami were outstanding #INDvSA

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 30, 2021

Playing against SENA teams has always been a challenge for the Asian sides.

This year India have beaten each of the SENA teams:
South Africa – in S Africa
England – in India & England
New Zealand – in India
Australia -in Australia

What an achievement! 👏👏👏#INDvsSA#SAvsIND

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) December 30, 2021

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

Centurion Conquered. In 3.5 days. Let’s convert this start into the first ever Test series win in South Africa. 👏👏 #SAvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 30, 2021

Supersport park is SA's fortress. They hardly ever lose there.
Team India: 😆 #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/uHGvwUD0U3

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 30, 2021

What a great victory 🇮🇳❤️👏👏👏👏 great team work congratulations to each and every team members 😊 1-0 #INDvSA

— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) December 30, 2021

Time to celebrate first overseas test win under Rahul Dravid 😁 #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/M0q3RBizRK

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 30, 2021