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Though there was a forecast for rain, we didn’t see much of it. But it did rain records. Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Ravi Ashwin, Jadeja and Shami all had some other racked against their name in the match, reports Vijayhardik. An exclusive for Different Truths.
The first Test match of the Freedom Trophy between India and South Africa had a forecast of rain. Hopes of a result evaporated looking at the weather predictions. A damp start was to mark the beginning of the home season.
But it did rain. Literally and metaphorically. Rain descended on to the ground and gobbled up a session of play. On the metaphoric scale, it was a downpour. It rained records at Vizag. There was a record made or broken on every day of the match.
It rained records at Vizag. There was a record made or broken on every day of the match.
It began with the coin falling in favor of India. The wicket at Vizag coming with a reputation of being low and slow prompted the Indian skipper to bat first. With a new opening of Mayank Agarwal playing his first Test on home soil and Rohit Sharma playing his first Test as opener India began the proceedings.
Rohit Sharma treated the South African spinners with disdain carting them for towering sixes. Opening seems to agree with Rohit Sharma. He brought up his 50 off 84 balls
After a cautious beginning, both batsmen got into groove. Rohit Sharma treated the South African spinners with disdain carting them for towering sixes. Opening seems to agree with Rohit Sharma. He brought up his 50 off 84 balls while Mayank Agarwal played second fiddle to him. Having played a couple of good knocks in Australia and West Indies, he continued playing the game his way.
As the day progressed the Indian batsmen got more aggressive. Rohit Sharma with his impeccable timing and fluid bat flow was sending the ball to the fence at will. The closer he got to the personal milestone of a century Rohit Sharma was morphing into the Hitman. India was on course to end the day with a huge score on board. But proving the weather-man right, rain descended on the ground and play was curtailed with India at 202/0.
By the end of day one, Rohit had entered an elite list of scoring a century in the first match as opener. The Indian batsmen began the second day from where the left off on the first day.
By the end of day one, Rohit had entered an elite list of scoring a century in the first
match as opener. The Indian batsmen began the second day from where the left off on the first day. Scoring at a brisk pace they put the South African bowlers on the back foot. In the process, Mayank Agarwal scored his maiden Test hundred while Rohit Sharma known for making daddy hundreds irrespective of the format brought up his 150.
By the time duo of Mayank and Rohit were separated they had put on a record 317 runs for the first wicket. It was highest opening stand for an India- South Africa Test match. Even after Rohit’s departure Mayank Agarwal continued piling the runs and converted his maiden Test ton into a double century. He departed after a magnificent innings of 215. After piling on the misery for South Africa, Virat Kohli decided to declare the Indian innings at 502/7.
The South African innings was turning out to be a repeat of their horror tour of 2015 where all the matches ended before going into the final day.
The South African innings was turning out to be a repeat of their horror tour of 2015 where all the matches ended before going into the final day. Tottering at 34/3 at the end of day’s play South Africa were almost reliving the nightmare.
Dean Elgar who was Ashwin’s bunny on his previous tour to India was playing like a changed man. Sure of his footwork, confident in his defence and lofting the spinners over their heads he found a way to score runs. Elgar and the Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis began a dogged resistance which gave some hope to the South African camp. After du Plessis’ dismissal Quinton de Kock came to the crease. Elgar and de Kock took the fight to the Indians and the match meandered on to an interesting course. Elgar with his dogged style of play registered his highest score in India scoring a sublime 160 while de Kock scored a scintillating 111. Their innings placed the match in an interesting situation. It opened the chance for a draw.
Beginning from their overnight score of 385/8, the South African tail in company of Senuran Muthisamy wagged a bit and finally were dismissed for 431. This handed India a slender 71 run lead.
Beginning from their overnight score of 385/8, the South African tail in company of Senuran Muthisamy wagged a bit and finally were dismissed for 431. This handed India a slender 71 run lead. The credit for gaining that significant lead to the guile of Ravichandran Ashwin who weaved a web around the South African batsmen scalping seven and claiming his 27th 5-wicket haul in Test matches.
With one session being lost to rain India had to score quick runs to press their advantage materializes into a win. Rohit Sharma got going from the get-go and got stuck into the South African spinners. Mayank though did not get to replicate his first innings performance. Pujara, the next batsmen in, seemed to be in no hurry to score at a stage where India were looking for an early declaration. At one stage, he was batting on 8 off 61 deliveries.
In sending the ball to all parts of the ground, he achieved a personal milestone breaking Wasim Akram’s record. With a combined total of 13 sixes, he overtook Akram during his swashbuckling 127, his second hundred of the match.
After a bit of communication from the dressing room, he too changed his tune and began to make life hard for South Africa. While Pujara was playing an aggressive knock, Rohit Sharma was doing what he does best. Hit the ball out of the park! In sending the ball to all parts of the ground, he achieved a personal milestone breaking Wasim Akram’s record. With a combined total of 13 sixes, he overtook Akram during his swashbuckling 127, his second hundred of the match. Upon reaching his hundred he etched his name in the history books. Rohit Sharma became the first player in history to score two centuries in a single Test in their first appearance as an opener.
The platform laid by Rohit and Pujara helped Jadeja, Kohli and Rahane to tear into the hapless South African bowling and post a mammoth 323/4 in just over two sessions. The total extended India’s lead to a massive 394 at the point of declaration. South Africa had an uphill task of chasing 395 in 111 overs on a turning track.
After their gritty batting display in the first innings, no one expected that it would be an easy victory for India. But with Jadeja getting the prized scalp of Elgar in the dying minutes of the 4th day, India had a foot in the door.
After their gritty batting display in the first innings, no one expected that it would be an easy victory for India. But with Jadeja getting the prized scalp of Elgar in the dying minutes of the 4th day, India had a foot in the door. It was going to be a long fifth and final day.
On the fifth day, with a forecast of light showers in the afternoon though the weatherman had got it wrong expect for a portion of the first day, the longer the game stretched the greater was the chance of a draw. India was looking to take a lead in the series with a victory. South Africa on the other hand was playing for a draw. Keeping the series in a deadlock before heading to Pune for the second game.
However, on the bright sunny Sunday morning the South African innings unraveled like a pack of cards.
However, on the bright sunny Sunday morning the South African innings unraveled like a pack of cards. First Shami with his precision like line and length accompanied by a combo of deadly pace and reverse swing ripped through the South African middle order. The guy just loves bowling in the second innings!
To add to their humiliation Jadeja too wanted to have a crack at the them. In one over, he picked up 3 wickets that included the important of Aiden Markram off his own bowling for a patient 39. At 70/8 inside the first hour of play it was a no-brainer that South Africa had lost the match. But they had not given up yet.
After the fall of Piedt, the formalities were soon completed by Shami. He picked up his own 5-wicket haul giving away 35 runs and inflicted a heavy 203 run loss for the South Africans.
Once again Muthisamy, this time, in the company of Dane Piedt who score a valiant 56 put on a fighting 91 run partnership for the 9th wicket. After the fall of Piedt, the formalities were soon completed by Shami. He picked up his own 5-wicket haul giving away 35 runs and inflicted a heavy 203 run loss for the South Africans.
Aside from the accuracy of the prediction of the weather forecast, all the Indians were right on target and made sure it rained records at Vizag.
Photos sourced by the author from the Internet
