India whitewash South Africa 3-0, registers 11th Test series at home
By Anurag Mallick Published on 22 Oct 2019 1:50 PM IST
Hyderabad: India beat South Africa by an inning and 202 runs in the third and final test at Ranchi on Tuesday. On Day 4 India whitewashed the Proteas 3-0 for the very first time in Test Cricket.
The Indian team faced no difficulties whatsoever as they put up a clinical performance in all the three departments of the game.
India won the toss and chose to bat as the South African bowlers came hard at the Indian Batsmen causing some damage by picking 3 quick wickets until lunch. Opener Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane took up the responsibility of the Indian innings as the duo put up a 267-run partnership for the 4th wicket.
Indian batsmen take away the game from the South African bowling attack
Opener Rohit Sharma brought up his 6th Test ton and 3rd in the series. Ajinkya Rahane scored his 11th Test century and a much-awaited century at home in over three years and 16 test matches against seven different opponents. He soon got out to debutant George Linde as Rohit Sharma marched on to what was his maiden double ton in Test cricket.
He hit 28 boundaries and 6 sixes in a Marathon inning of 212 which put Indian in a commendable position. Umesh Yadav was the icing on the cake as he hit 5 sixes in his little cameo of 31(10). It was the fastest 30+ score by a Batsman in the history of Test cricket with a strike rate of 310. Jadeja scored a half-century as India declared their innings at 497/9.
Indian pacers run through South African batsmen
The South African batsmen then walked out to bat in what was a poor batting performance as they bundled out for 162 as India gained a massive lead of 335 runs in their second innings. Pacer Umesh Yadav picked 3 wickets, and debutant Nadeem picked 2 wickets.
A likely and an expected move from skipper Virat Kohli came in, as he enforced the follow-on on the Proteas.
The South African batsmen looked utterly clueless as they again fell prey to the dominant Indian bowling attack and bundled out for 133. Shami picked 3 wickets, and Nadeem again picked 2 wickets to make sure India whitewashed the Proteas 3-0, for the very first time in Test cricket history.
Opening the batting order for the first time, Rohit Sharma was judged Man of the Match and Man of the series. He had to tackle the new ball and overcome the first few overs, considered the most important ones.
#TeamIndia win the 3rd Test by an innings & 202 runs #INDvSA @Paytm
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ā BCCI (@BCCI) October 22, 2019
He scored a total of 529 runs which included 19 sixes, 3 centuries and a double hundred.
India has now strengthened its position on the top of the World Test Championship points table with 240 points from 5 test matches.
India is next set to play a T-20 series against Bangladesh beginning from November 3 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Although, the series is under threat as the Bangladeshi cricketers are on strike presently, due to the disappointment in the way their nation is running the Cricket board.
