SA vs IND 2018: Virender Sehwag Congratulates South Africa On 'Another Wonderful Performance'

Debutant Lungi Ngidi blew away Virat Kohli & Co. as India’s nine-series winning run came to a screeching halt in Centurion with a 135-run defeat. The Proteas bowled out India for just 151 to win the series.

The writing was very much on the wall when India finished day four on 35 for 3 in pursuit of 287. With their talismanic skipper Virat Kohli already back in the pavilion, India’s remaining batsmen had a herculean task, but they failed miserably. The formidable hosts wrapped up the game inside the first session on day five to not only win the game but also took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Overnight batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Parthiv Patel could add only 14 runs before the former was run-out by AB de Villiers when he went for a suicidal run out.

Rohit Sharma then joined Parthiv Patel in the middle, but the duo could not do much as Morne Morkel took a stunning catch to send back the wicketkeeper-batsman and reduce India to 65 for 5. Ngidi soon ended any hopes of seeing an Indian revival. The fast-bowler, who had taken two wickets on day four, removed Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin in quick succession to leave the visitors reeling at 87 for 7.

Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami then revived India’s hopes for a while, but their fight did not last long. The duo added 54 runs for the eighth wicket before Rohit Sharma became Kagiso Rabada’s third victim. The right-handed batsman, who was under immense pressure to deliver, scored 47. Four runs after Rohit’s dismissal, Ngidi dismissed Shami to complete his five-wicket haul on debut and all but seal India’s fate. The debutant was not done yet and took the last Indian wicket to finish with figures of 6 for 39.

Impressed with the Proteas and Ngidi’s series, former India opener Virender Sehwag took to Twitter to congratulate them.

“Congratulations South Africa on another wonderful performance. Lungi very impressive. Well tried , India,” wrote Sehwag who had scored his first Test ton in South Africa.

Congratulations South Africa on another wonderful performance.
Lungi very impressive. Well tried , India.

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 17, 2018