Cricket Photos

Ravindra Jadeja's 5/21 Give India Thumping Victory

November 07, 2015 17:15

Ravindra Jadeja picked up 5/21 and was ably supported by Ravichandran Ashwin as India thrashed South Africa to go 1-0 up in the four-match series.

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Resuming at 125/2 on a difficult pitch, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara started off solidly on a difficult pitch. The partnership was comfortably pushing India towards a healthy lead.
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However, Stiaan van Zyl broke the 66-run stand when he had Kohli caught for 29. That set about a collapse which gave South Africa a brief glimmer of hope. Imran Tahir struck with the first ball of his second spell by getting rid of Pujara for 77.
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South Africa kept taking wickets at regular wickets following the dismissals of Pujara and Kohli. Simon Harmer and Tahir operated wonderfully and they exploited the conditions superbly.
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South Africa ensured that India did not get the initiative. With the pitch crumbling rapidly, these regular strikes kept the match interestingly poised.
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India lost six wickets for 24 runs and it needed some help from wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha to help India get past the 200-run mark. South Africa needed 218 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
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South Africa sprung a surprise and opened with Vernon Philander. However, the move did not work and he was trapped in front by Ravindra Jadeja, although replays showed there was an inside edge. The big blow came in the same over when Hashim Amla left a straight ball and was bowled by Jadeja. The expression of the team was stunning and South Africa had their backs to the wall.
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The nail in the coffin was almost sealed when Amit Mishra clean bowled AB de Villiers for the second time in the match. In the first innings, Mishra had gotten him with a perfect legbreak and in the second innings, he got him with a ball that stayed low. South Africa were reeling at 32/4 and the task was uphill.
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South Africans were suffering from total misjudgment. In this match, Faf du Plessis and Amla were out leaving straight deliveries from Jadeja. Now, in the second innings, Dane Vilas became the third as he left a straight ball from the left-hander
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With Jadeja pegging away at one end, Ravichandran Ashwin continued his fine form and he posed plenty of questions to the lower order. He managed to pick up three wickets as India closed in on a great win.
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Stiaan van Zyl delayed the inevitable with a solid 36. He played Ashwin, Jadeja and Amit Mishra well and he had put on a stubborn stand with Simon Harmer.
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Jadeja and Ashwin ran through the lower order as India sealed a magnificent 108-run victory. Jadeja finished with 5/21. This was his third five-wicket haul in Tests and it was his second in home Tests.
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India's victory over the World No 1 ranked Test team will give them plenty of confidence. The spinning trio of Jadeja, Ashwin and Mishra have set the blue-print in this series and it is going to be a tough road ahead for them.

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