Twitter Reactions: India overcome Piedt-Muthusamy resistance to carve victory in Visakhapatnam

Coming into the fifth day of the opening Test, it was pretty much even-steven bearing in mind that South Africa put up a strong show in their first innings. However, the visitors’ batters imploded in the run-chase. The lower order tried their best, but couldn’t save the visitors from a 203-run defeat. With the triumph, Virat Kohli’s men won their third consecutive match in the Test Championship.

Shami rattles the middle order  

With 384 runs required, Aiden Markram (39) and Theunis de Bruyn (10) had a colossal task at hand. But offie Ravi Ashwin got rid of the latter to struck first blood. Then it was the turn of Mohammed Shami to unfold mayhem in the opposition camp. He castled Temba Bavuma’s woodwork to pick up his first wicket of the match. Faf du Plessis hit three fours and was seeming to find momentum.

But Shami’s inswinger in the 22nd over saw the Proteas’ batter’s stumps go for a walk. In his very next over, the speedster nipped out Quinton de Kock, who got a whirlwind ton in the first innings to keep the hosts at bay. It was the fifth South African wicket to fall and Shami’s spell literally sealed the fate of the game. At the other end, Markram held one end, getting the measure of the conditions.

Jadeja joins the party

Following Shami’s magic, Ravindra Jadeja wreaked havoc. In the 27th over, the southpaw picked up three wickets and made the game a completely one-sided affair. To start with, he removed the determined Markram via a sharp caught and bowled. Then he trapped Vernon Philander in front. The wicket wasn’t a straight forward one as India took the DRS for the decision to be overturned.

The third wicket came in the form of Keshav Maharaj. Senuran Muthusamy (49) and Dane Piedt (56) went into Lunch with the score at 117/8. The duo added 91 runs for the ninth wicket and frustrated the Indian bowlers. Piedt got to his maiden fifty off 84 balls. Kagiso Rabada scored 19 to delay the inevitable further. In the end, Shami notched a fifer to take the home team over the finishing line.

Here is how Twitter reacted on India’s thumping victory in Visakhapatnam