SA vs IND 2021: India Win First Ever Test Match in Centurion – Cricket Twitter Reacts

SA vs IND 2021: Team India have made history by winning their first ever Test match in Centurion as they defeated South Africa by a convincing margin of 113 runs in the opening Test match on Thursday. The Virat Kohli-led Indian team have now taken a crucial 1-0 lead in three-match Test series. Indian opener KL Rahul played an outstanding innings of 123 runs in the first innings of the Test match in some really tough conditions while Mohammed Shami picked up a total of 8 wickets.

SA vs IND 2021: India Win First Ever Test Match in Centurion

This is South Africa’s only third loss at the SuperSport Park in Centurion as they got bowled out for a total of 191 runs in the fourth innings while chasing a massive total of 305 runs. India have registered just their fourth victory on the South African soil and this is only the second time after 2006 that the visitors have won the opening Test match of the series against the Proteas. After opening the 2021 calendar year by successfully breaching the Gabba fortress in Australia, India have now conquered Centurion as well in the finish of the year.

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#TeamIndia WIN at Centurion ????#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/35KCyFM4za

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 30, 2021

India’s historic winning moment ?#SAvIND | #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/T88aMy4taP

— ICC (@ICC) 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

India register their first Test victory in Centurion ?

They defeat South Africa by 113 runs and go 1-0 up in the series.#WTC23 | #SAvIND | #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/K55Cvfh3v5

— Nancy (@nan_cy2308) December 30, 2021

Yes, India have won quite a few Tests in South Africa in the last 20 years & yes this might not have been the strongest South African team as many have said, but if you grew up in the 1990s, any Test win in South Africa for India still feels quite surreal #SAvIND

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 30, 2021

India in 2021 is confirmed as the first ever team whose both pacers and spinners took 100+ Test wickets at average under 30 in an year.

So far in Tests this year:
Indian pacers – 128 wickets at 28.12 avg
Indian spinners – 121 wickets at 20.19 avg#SAvIND

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) December 30, 2021

Gabba Lords Oval Centurion.

All conquered in a single year.
2021 has been landmark year in indian test history.#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/mVSqkI3yxg

— Sarb (@ChandlerStinso1) December 30, 2021

Related: Quinton de Kock to Miss Remainder of India Test series?

India vs South Africa

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Indian opening pair of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal got their team off to an incredible start in some really tough conditions. Both the openers provided their with a strong foundation at the top by notching up a wonderful 117-run partnership for the first wicket. Mayank played a fine innings of 60 runs before getting dismissed by Lungi Ngidi. KL Rahul composed a sensational knock of 123 runs while Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli contributed with scores of 48 and 35 respectively. India suffered a disappointing batting collapse on Day 3 as they lost their last 7 wickets for just 49 runs getting bowled out for 327 runs. For South Africa, Lungi Ngidi picked up a brilliant six-wicket haul while Kagiso Rabada took three wickets.

South Africa did not performed well with the bat in the first innings as they got bundled out for just 197 runs handing India a massive lead of 130 runs. Temba Bavuma scored a gritty fifty while Mohammed Shami claimed a staggering five-wicket haul. However, the Indian batting line-up also failed to show any real resistance in their second innings as they were dismissed for 174 runs, Rishabh Pant being the highest scorer with 34 runs.

Related: India vs South Africa 2021 Schedule

While chasing down a monumental fourth innings total of 305 runs, South Africa did not had the best of starts losing 94 for 4 at the end of the fourth day. Proteas captain Dean Elgar batted remarkably well and showed phenomenal temperament throughout his amazing knock of 77 runs, but after his wicket, things became really tough for the hosts and they slipped to a disappointing 113-run defeat at home.

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