Cape Town: Seamer Vernon Philander took career-best figures as rampant South Africa claimed a 72-run victory over India in a gripping first Test at Newlands on Monday.
Set 208 for victory, India were skittled for 135 in 42.4 overs in their second innings on a lively wicket with Philander the chief destroyer, recording figures of 6-42 for his first five-wicket haul in Tests since 2013.
India had looked to seize control of the Test when they bowled South Africa out for 130 in the morning session, but found the home attack on the seamer-friendly wicket too much of a challenge.
The tourists were reduced to 82 for seven at tea in pursuit of a modest victory target and with all the time in the world.
Philander took three wickets at the break while Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada claimed two each as India were subjected to a pace barrage in bowler-friendly conditions.
Earlier, it had been the Indian bowlers who held sway when South Africa were bowled out cheaply in their second innings, losing their last eight wickets for 65 runs.
India’s run chase started promisingly with Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan putting on 30 for the first wicket, although Vijay was reprieved on review twice after being given out against Philander, for leg before wicket and a catch behind the wicket.
But then Dhawan was caught at gully off his bat handle when he got into a tangle against a lifting ball from Morkel. Six balls later, it was third time lucky for Philander as Sharma edged a catch to AB de Villiers at third slip.
Philander claimed the key wicket of Indian captain Virat Kohli, who had looked confident in scoring 28 before he was trapped leg before wicket.
Philander struck again when Rohit Sharma was bowled off an inside edge and Rabada dismissed first innings top scorer Hardik Pandya for one, caught by a diving De Villiers at third slip.
Rabada trapped Wriddhiman Saha leg before with the last ball before tea to leave India in a desperate situation in a match hastening towards a conclusion despite the loss of the third day because of rain.
South Africa were without fast bowler Dale Steyn, ruled out of the rest of the series after suffering a heel injury while bowling on Saturday.
But Steyn, who arrived at the ground on crutches, limped to the wicket as the last batsman in an effort to keep company with AB de Villiers, who top-scored with 35. He managed to defend four balls from Bhuvneshwar Kumar but De Villiers was caught off Jasprit Bumrah in the next over by one of eight fielders stationed on the boundary.
Mohammad Shami and Bumrah were the main destroyers of the South African batting, taking three wickets each.
Shami started the collapse, dismissing Hashim Amla with the ninth ball of the morning and taking three wickets for 28 runs.
Bumrah took three for 39 and, in addition to De Villiers, claimed the key wickets of South African captain Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock, with Du Plessis falling to an unplayable delivery which lifted sharply off a good length and flicked a glove.
SCOREBOARD
South Africa (1st Innings) 286 all out
India (1st Innings) 209 all out
South Africa (2nd Innings)
(Overnight: 65-2)
Aiden Markram c Kumar b Pandya 34
Dean Elgar c Saha b Pandya 25
Kagiso Rabada c Kohli b Shami 5
Hashim Amla c Sharma b Shami 4
AB de Villiers c Kumar b Bumrah 35
Faf du Plessis c Saha b Bumrah 0
Quinton de Kock c Saha b Bumrah 8
Vernon Philander lbw Shami 0
Keshav Maharaj c Saha b Kumar 15
Morne Morkel c Saha b Kumar 2
Dale Steyn not out 0
Extras: (2w) 2
TOTAL: (all out) 130
Overs: 41.2
Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-59, 3-66, 4-73, 5-82, 6-92, 7-95, 8-122, 9-130, 10-130.
Bowing: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 11-5-33-2 (2w), Jasprit Bumrah 11.2-1-39-3, Mohammed Shami 12-3-28-3, Hardik Pandya 6-0-27-2, Ravichandran Ashwin 1-0-3-0.
India (2nd Innings)
Murali Vijay c de Villiers b Philander 13
Shikhar Dhawan c sub (Morris) b Morkel 16
Cheteshwar Pujara c de Kock b Morkel 4
Virat Kohli lbw b Philander 28
Rohit Sharma b Philander 10
Wriddhiman Saha lbw b Rabada 8
Hardik Pandya c de Villiers b Rabada 1
Ravichandran Ashwin c de Kock b Philander 37
Bhuvneshwar Kumar not out 13
Mohammed Shami c du Plessis b Philander 4
Jasprit Bumrah c du Plessis b Philander 0
Extras: (1lb) 1
TOTAL: (all out) 135
Overs: 42.4
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-30, 3-39, 4-71, 5-76, 6-77, 7-82, 8-131, 9-135, 10-135.
Bowling: Vernon Philander 15.4-4-42-6, Morne Morkel 11-1-39-2, Kagiso Rabada 12-2-41-2, Keshav Maharaj 4-1-12-0.
Toss: South Africa.
Result: South Africa won by 72 runs.
Series: South Africa leads three-match series 1-0.
