that's the end of that! It has taken a sensational catch from Rabada to end this Test. Kohli steps out and plays a horizontal bat shot over the bowler's head - not quite like the one he played off Haris Rauf in *that* game, but you get the drift, right? But he doesn't time it as well. Yet it needs an outstanding effort from Rabada to even get to the ball. He sprints to his left from long-on and then is on the move as he completes the catch. Sensational stuff. Kohli is shell-shocked and India have been bundled out in less than 35 overs. The final frontier will have to wait.
South Africa vs India, 1st Test at Centurion, SA v IND, Dec 26 2023 - Match Result
Thanks for your company over the last three days. Wish it was a tad longer, but worry not, we'll see you in the new year. Hope the 2nd Test will be a lot more closely fought and compelling. Have a great new year. Stay safe, mask up and enjoy the festivities. It's goodbye and goodnight from me, Shashank Kishore, on behalf of our crew: Deiva Muthu, Chandan Duroah and Thilak Gowda. Cheers
Dean Elgar is the Player of the Match for his 185. "Pretty special for me, rather just smile than cry (this is his farewell series) and enjoy the moment. Contribute to this team is what I've always wanted to do. Hasn't worked out sometimes, but it did here, massive effort to pick 20 wickets. It was a juicy wicket. Got to keep nice and simple, batting in Tests you have to simplify things. Focus on the ball, play nice and straight, play late. Wickets like that, one's got your name on it, got to ride the wave when it's in your favour. Good partnerships with Tony, David and Jans. You need fast bowlers and spinner potentially to take 20 wickets, need guys firing. KG was amazing, and a guy like Nandre just came to the fore. Awesome to see his performances. Really great team performance going forward. Glad to leave here on a high.
Rohit Sharma: Not good enough. Got decent runs having been put in. KL Rahul batted brilliantly, but we failed to exploit conditions with the ball. Batting was poor in the second innings, Virat batted brilliantly but if you have to win Tests, have to come together collectively. We failed to do that. Guys have come here before, we understand what to expect from the conditions. Every individual has his own plan. Our batters were challenged at different times. We didn't adapt well. We didn't bat well both times which is why we stand here. There were some positives. Not a lot when you finish the game inside three days. KL the way he batted, he showed what you need to do on that kind of pitch. Don't want to be too critical on the bowlers, they haven't played much here. We'll regroup and come back. It's important to regroup as quickly as we can, tough from a loss like these but as sportsmen you go through these times. Got to pick ourselves up.
5.03pm An abject surrender by India. If you grew up in the 1990s, this must feel like a proper throwback. Over their last five fours in these shores, India have competed hard and won at least one Test. That proud record is on the line here with one more to come in Jo'burg next week. India were briefly in it, courtesy KL Rahul's magnificent first-innings hundred but there's been very little else of note. Lots and lots of things to mull over and they'll have two extra days to do a de-brief, before preparing for Newlands.
South Africa have been absolutely sensational. SuperSport Park seems like a giant party waiting to take off. They're dancing in the grass banks. Dean Elgar plucks a stump out for posterity. It's his farewell series and he's started it with a magnificent match-winning 185, full of pluck and guts. There was a five-for from Rabada, wickets for debutant Nandre Burger and runs for debutant David Bedingham. The only real concern - or maybe it's not - heading into Cape Town is the fitness of Temba Bavuma. Can it be scripted any better for Elgar to lead his time in his farewell Test?
corker, absolute corker that he had no clue about! Full, angling into the stumps, the ball straightens to beat a squared up Prasidh. Missed the stumps by a whisker.
cops a blow on the body, predictably with a short ball
this one nips back in off the seam to cramp Kohli for room as he plays a short-arm jab, the ball deflects into the off side off the thigh pad.
beaten as he tries to wallop the length ball on the up over over
sashays down the pitch and lofts him through the line, long-off was a touch wide and it beats him to the fence. Clean stroke. Kohli is looking to cut loose and charge towards a century here. The only way he can get there is if he takes the attack to the bowlers before one gets him.
sliced over the infield, the ball races away off the edge to the square third man fence. Kohli had the width and he threw his hands at that.
yorker honing into the stumps, it dipped on Prasidh who somehow managed to get some bat on it.
sways out of the way of this short ball on middle, but it looked very awkward for someone that tall to weave out and then fall
punched on the up to wide long-off, he actually takes the run
A massive patch of dark cloud is now hovering over SuperSport Park.
into the blockhole, dug out to deep cover. Doesn't take the run
that's a scorcher as Kohli steps out and flays it on the up. But goes straight to wide long-off. No run again
tucks it to midwicket but Kohli refuses the single
veers back in off a length on middle from around the stumps, Prasidh somehow manages to keep that out
4.47pm That's drinks, with SA one wicket away from an innings win inside three days. Shashank will be back to apply the finishing touches.
Siraj is on the floor. SA think Siraj has tickled it behind to the keeper. Not given out on the field. SA challenge the on-field not-out decision. Short and slanting back into Siraj, who looks away and takes his eyes off the ball and ducks into this. Ultra Edge detects a spike. The ball brushes the gloves and pops up to the keeper
rides the bounce of this short ball outside off and guides it to point
on a fuller length and nips in, Siraj shuffles across and ekes out an inside edge past the left of the keeper
on a length, angling in and shaping away past the outside edge
Sumit: "For some one who grew up in the 90s watching Indian batsmen struggle match after match, series after series in SENA countries, its deja vu all over again ..."
on a length and outside off, Siraj tips it to the off side. No single there. Kohli sends him back
banged in short and outside off, Kohli shimmies out, swipes and misses. SA now have Siraj on strike
1W | 2W | |||
1W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | 1W | |||
SuperSport Park, Centurion | |
Toss | South Africa, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2023/24 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | South Africa led the 2-match series 1-0 |
Match number | Test no. 2520 |
Hours of play (local time) | 10.00 start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00 |
Match days | 26,27,28 December 2023 - day (5-day match) |
Test debut | |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | South Africa 12, India -2 |