India win Vizag Test against South Africa by 203 runs
India defeated South Africa by 203 runs in the first Test match played in Visakhapatnam to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series. Rohit Sharma played an important role in this victory, who scored 176 runs in the first innings and 127 runs in the second innings. Rohit Sharma was adjudged ‘Man of the Match’ for his twin tons.
The Indian team, ranked number one in the ICC rankings, has recorded its third major victory in terms of runs against South Africa in Test cricket on home soil.
India registered its biggest win in Test cricket in 2015 against South Africa in Delhi. India won this test match by 337 runs.
India’s biggest win over South Africa by runs on home soil
1. 337 runs, Delhi Test, December 2015
2. 280 runs, Kanpur Test, December 1996
3. 203 runs, Visakhapatnam Test, October 2019
India beat South Africa by 203 runs on Sunday, on the fifth and final day of the first Test match played in Visakhapatnam. Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja claimed 9 wickets between them in the second innings.
India declared their first innings for 502 runs at the loss of seven wickets. South Africa scored 431 runs in their first innings.
The Indian team came out with a lead of 71 runs in the second innings and declared the innings by scoring 323 runs for four wickets in the second innings and set a target of 395 runs to win in front of South Africa.
In response to this, the South African team was reduced to 191 runs in 63.5 overs and suffered a crushing defeat by 203 runs. For the South African team, Dane Piedt contributed 56 runs with the help of nine fours and a six off 107 balls and Senuran Muthusamy scored an unbeaten 49 from 108 balls with five fours. Four of the visiting batsmen were dismissed without opening an account. Shami took five wickets from India while Jadeja took four wickets. Ravichandran Ashwin also took a wicket to go with 7 in the first innings.
Ashwin tied with Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan to claim 350 test wickets in 66 Test matches. With the win India fortified their top spot in the ICC Test championships ranking with 160 points leading second placed New Zealand by 100 points.
