South Africa vs India 2018, 3rd Test - 5 Things which went right for India

#1 India’s fast bowlers

India’s bowlers had done very well in the first two Test matches as they took 20 wickets in both the Tests. But the South African pacers were much better as they never allowed India off the hook in the first two games.

However, in this Test, it was India’s pacers who out-bowled their counterparts. In the first innings, India bowled with great control and discipline. Even though they might have conceded a slender lead of 7 runs, the Indian bowlers looked much better. They hit the deck hard and extracted seam movement and extra bounce from the pitch. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/44), Jasprit Bumrah (5/54) and Ishant Sharma (1/33) were simply superb in the first essay.

In the second innings, India started off well with Shami getting the wicket of Markram. However, a gritty 119-run stand between Amla (52) and Dean Elgar (unbeaten 86) defied India as the pitch also eased out a bit. However, Bumrah and Ishant bowled brilliantly in tandem to keep the hosts in check even when the wickets weren’t falling.

Just before the tea break on the fourth day when things started to drift away, Ishant got rid of Amla and Bumrah removed AB de Villiers (for the third time in the series) to get India back in the game. Those two wickets opened the floodgates as the Proteas were bundled out for 177.

Shami, who was the least effective bowler in the first innings was fully charged up as post-tea on day 4 he ran through South Africa’s lower order. He eventually picked up his third five-wicket haul (5/28). Hence, overall it was the excellent (and collective) bowling performance that won India the game.

Have seen wins fashioned by spin. This the first from a pace quartet. Something to savour.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 27, 2018

Picking 20 wickets in all games the bowling has been incredible. If only the top order stepped up series could have been India’s. #savsind

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 27, 2018