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

A five-for on the fifth day of the Test match in India. Sensational Shami…. #IndvSA

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 6, 2019

India deserved that win. Proteas have some thinking to do. They must combine skill, combinations (good selections) and determination (mental resolve) if they are to bounce back…

— Alviro Petersen (@AlviroPetersen) October 6, 2019

Strong performance from @BCCI Very strong .. Congratulations!!! 👏👏#INDvSA

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) October 6, 2019

Well done @MdShami11 for your brilliant spell.. 5 wicket hauls.. brilliant 💪.. india won the first test congratulations @BCCI

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 6, 2019

What an over that was from @imjadeja 3 wickets 💪 that fought and bowled was unbelievable

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 6, 2019

Ashwin’s loading before delivery seems a little closer to the right ear (i.e visibly straiter and upright) in this series, should add more body and life in to his deliveries #INDvSA

— subramani badrinath (@s_badrinath) October 6, 2019

Question is how long are they gonna persist with de bruyn and bavuma #INDvSA #sscricket

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) October 6, 2019

Rare & Special ability to bowl wicket taking balls consistently #shami #

— Ajit Agarkar (@imAagarkar) October 6, 2019

Fastest to 350 scalps !! Many congratulations @ashwinravi99 .May u keep breaking records!! Tests are always the ultimate test .

— Mithun Manhas 🇮🇳 (@MithunManhas) October 6, 2019

160/160 points available. 1-0. #IndvSA

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) October 6, 2019

Team India remain unbeaten in the World Test Championship. #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/FgB0V43Jeh

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 6, 2019

Batsmen are usually felled by bouncers. Shami is that champion bowler who can also do that with balls that don't bounce. #Bavuma #INDvSA

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) October 6, 2019

1-0 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳#TeamIndia win the 1st Test in Vizag by 203 runs #INDvSA @Paytm pic.twitter.com/iFvuKOXPOJ

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 6, 2019

Indian pacers with a 5-for in the fourth innings of a Test at home:

Karsan Ghavri v England, Mumbai, 1977
Kapil Dev v England, Mumbai, 1981
Madan Lal v England, Mumbai, 1981
Javagal Srinath v South Africa, Ahmedabad, 1996
Mohammad Shami v South Africa, Vizag, 2019*#INDvSA

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) October 6, 2019

What an amazing spell @MdShami11 #IndvsSA

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 6, 2019

Mohammad Shami is the only bowler to take 3 five-wicket hauls in team's second innings since 2018.

v SA, J'burg
v Aus, Perth
v SA, Vizag#IndvSA

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 6, 2019

Excellent win. 5th day second session. Near perfect Test match. South Africa will wonder what happened in the first session today. @ImRo45 @mayankcricket @ashwinravi99 @MdShami11 and @imjadeja special match for all of them.

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) October 6, 2019

The only downside of Jadeja not getting a 5-er is that Sanjay Manjrekar couldn't interview him. #INDvSA

— Manya (@CSKian716) October 6, 2019