South Africa vs India 2018, 1st Test: Hits and misses

South Africa were dealt a huge blow as Dale Steyn was ruled out of the first Test and the rest of the series after suffering a heel fracture on Saturday.

The hosts were left with three pacers in the second innings in the form of Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.

When the visitors bundled out South Africa on 130, their second-lowest Test total at home against India, they needed an imminently gettable 208 to win in the final innings.

Virat Kohli & Co. faltered in the chase and were dismissed at 135 as South Africa won the first Test by 72 runs, taking a 1-0 lead in three-match series.

The second Test will be played from January 13 at SuperSport Park, Centurion.

Now, let's have a look at hits and misses from the first Test as South Africa win their 14th five-day game against India.

Hit: Vernon Philander

Vernon Philander was the star with the ball on Day 4 at Capetown as he produced a scintillating spell of 6-42 in the second innings, finishing the match with nine wickets overall.

Philander stepped up with his career-best figures as he cleaned up India's tail after taking key wickets of Indian skipper Virat Kohli and dangerman Rohit Sharma to lead the hosts to a 1-0 series lead.

Needing 208 to win, India’s batting line-up could not handle the resolute pressure applied by South Africa’s pace attack as the visitors were bowled out for 135.

Philander, who took his 100th wicket at home in 23 Tests when he removed Cheteshwar Pujara in the first innings, was declared the Man of the Match for his magical bowling that completely derailed India's chase.

Hit: AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers, who returned to Test cricket after a long sabbatical, wasn't thinking very hard, he just did his job on autopilot.

De Villiers did not show any signs of nerves as went after the Indian bowlers from the word go to score an 84-ball 65 in the first innings.

The hosts were reduced to 12/3 in the first five overs courtesy a hostile bowling spell from Bhuvneshwar Kumar but De Villiers did not get flustered by the events happening around him and entered into a zone of his own to orchestrate South Africa's fight back.

The 34-year-old launched a counter-attack on Bhuvneshwar, who ran through South Africa's top order, and displayed his exceptional batting skills to ensure that the home team reached a respectable total of 286 in the first innings.

Even during the second innings, De Villiers fought a lone battle and scored 35 off 50 balls before South Africa suffered a massive collapse and were bundled out on 130, their second-lowest Test total at home against the Indians.

Miss: Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla has long been the backbone of South Africa's batting and was supposed to play an anchor's role in the first Test series against India.

The 34-year-old, who is the second highest run-getter for South Africa against India in Test matches behind Jacques Kallis, could not be at his stellar best and contributed with just 7 runs in the match, that saw two batting collapses for the hosts.

The Proteas went into the second innings with a 77-run lead and after the fall of openers Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram in quick succession, it was expected of Amla to step up and settle the home team and extend their lead.

The Mighty Hash, whose last couple of years haven't been the greatest in his glittering career, could not deliver as South Africa folded at 130 in their second innings, leaving India with a target of 208 to win.

Hit: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Faf du Plessis won the toss and took a tricky decision to bat first on a well-grassed pitch in Capetown on Friday morning.

Little did the South African skipper know that his top-order batsmen were about to be crippled, courtesy an exhilarating new-ball opening spell of swing bowling from Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Right from the outset, the Indian pacer meant business as he claimed wickets in each of his first three overs in a dream start on the first day at Newlands.

The right-hander, who has gained pace over the last few months without losing on the swing, dismissed Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla to leave the hosts in tatters on 12/3 after five overs.

Bhuvneshwar became only the third bowler to take three wickets in the first three overs of an overseas series since 2001 after James Franklin and Pat Cummins.

The 27-year-old was handy with the bat as well and stitched up a 99-run partnership with Hardik Pandya to ensure India's recovery in the first innings.

In the second innings, Bhuvneshwar claimed two wickets and ended the first Test with the figures of 5-120.

Hit: Hardik Pandya

Ever since breaking onto the international cricket scene, Hardik Pandya has become an integral part of the Indian cricket team.

The 24-year-old, who made his international debut in 2016, has risen through the ranks to establish himself as one of the most consistent all-rounders in the sport.

Pandya proved his mettle in the limited-over format but his biggest test awaited him when he came out to bat in the first Test against South Africa on Saturday.

South Africa had picked three early to push the visitors on the backfoot. When Pandya came to the crease at Newlands, India were reeling at 76 for 5, 210 behind the hosts' first innings total.

He did not succumb to the pressure and fought back valiantly with a 95-ball 93 on a pitch that had plenty to offer to the bowlers.

Owing to Pandya's stunning onslaught, India staged a comeback and reduced South Africa's first innings lead to 77.

Pandya chipped in with the ball as well as he removed well-set South African openers Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar and opened the floodgates for a batting collapse.