South Africa vs India 2018: 5 talking points from the Newlands Test

Big Vern claims his Test career best

South Africa v India - First Test Day 1 - 2018 Freedom Series

Vernon Philander isn't blessed with the pace of a Kagiso Rabada or a Morne Morkel but his strength lies in moving the ball off the seam and on his home turf in Newlands. The big fast bowler could not have got a more appropriate time to deliver his best in Test cricket.

Of all the 6 wickets, Philander would have enjoyed Indian skipper Virat Kohli's dismissal the most, not because he's the best batsman in the opposition but the way he set him up for the dismissal was a classic. Knowing Kohli's weakness outside off stump and his tendency to poke, Philander kept moving the ball away from the right hander and in that corridor.

Kohli knew what was coming and was intent in leaving the ball alone to the keeper. This was when Philander showed his class - after about 13 deliveries moving away, he got one to swing back and more importantly was right on the money. By the time Kohli could react, it was too late and the ball had hit the front pad just under the knee roll.

Philander was so confident that he didn't bother to turn around to check with the umpire if he had the raised the finger. Philander finished with 6-42 and appropriately got the final Indian wicket.