South Africa have produced an incredible comeback series victory against India after losing the opening Test match in Centurion to complete a memorable 2-1 series win. Following a seven-wicket victory in the second Test match at Johannesburg, the hosts sealed a series victory with a victory in Cape Town by the same margin.
While skipper Dean Elgar was the hero in the Jo’burg Test, it was inexperienced batter Keegan Petersen who led the way for the Proteas at the Newlands Stadium with knocks of 72 and 82 in the two innings.
Ex-cricketers from all around the globe reacted to South Africa’s empathic victory.
Talking about the match, after winning the toss and batting first, India failed to make the most of the advantage as they only managed a score of 223 with Virat Kohli top-scoring with a knock of 79.
However, the Indian bowlers led by a five-wicket haul by Jasprit Bumrah ensured that Kohli & Co. get a vital 13-run lead but the batter’s again failed to give the team a formidable platform as they were bowled out for just 198 despite a stunning century by Rishabh Pant. Apart from Pant and a gritty knock of 29 by Kohli, no Indian batter managed to score more than 10 runs in the second innings.
In the fourth innings, Petersen along with captain Dean Elgar gave the hosts a solid foundation and despite some testing bowling by the Indians, the wickets simply did not come for the Indian bowlers.
Ultimately, Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma took the Proteas home and clinch a memorable series victory on home soil.
The two teams will now face each other in a three-match ODI series. The first ODI is scheduled on January 19 with the next two games set to take place on January 21 and January 23.