Last Update on: January 14th, 2022 at 06:00 pm
Hosts South Africa completed the comeback against favorites, India, as they won the third and final Test in Cape Town by wickets to secure the series 2-1.
Having lost the first Test, the onus was on the Proteas to turn their fortunes around. They pulled off an excellent run chase in Johannesburg to level the series before masterminding another chase to hand Virat Kohli and co. a series defeat in a long time.
After conceding a 13-run lead in the first innings, the South African pace attack brought their side into the game despite a Rishabh Pant century. The wicket-keeper became the first Indian on Proteas shores to score a hundred in the process.
Chasing a target of 212 on a decent batting surface would have been tough if not for the rise of Keegan Petersen. The youngster made the most of his luck and smashed a 113-ball 82 that completely deflated the Indian team.
By the time he was dismissed, he had already brought the home side to the brink of victory. It was a mere formality from thereon and the hosts pocketed valuable World Test Championship (WTC) points in the 2021-23 table.
Once again it was the batting that let the visitors down. Their middle order has been extremely poor but this loss could well prove to have a silver lining. The team might finally make the changes it needs and pushes out the underperforming seniors in Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to South Africa’s comeback:
India missed Rohit Sharma The Batsman or The Test Opener in this Test Series against South Africa.
— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) January 14, 2022
Nine wins & eight defeats since Jan 2020 is equitable for a team that has not put up 400+ in their 1st innings even once in the last 20 Tests. And that nine wins is courtesy of an outstanding all-conditions bowling attack.#SAvIND
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) January 14, 2022
South Africa win! 🔥
Bavuma and van der Dussen take them over the line!
A terrific victory for a young team – what a performance! 🙌
Watch #SAvIND live on https://t.co/CPDKNxpgZ3 (in select regions)#WTC23 | https://t.co/Wbb1FE2mW1 pic.twitter.com/uirBesoYdp
— ICC (@ICC) January 14, 2022
We missed Rohit, the batsman, a lot in this series.#SAvIND
— Neelabh (@CricNeelabh) January 14, 2022
Now that is what u call Protea Fire!!!
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) January 14, 2022
Coming back from 1 down to win 2 test matches is great effort by South Africa..Tht too after India wining the Toss in both the matches..well done #sa.. for India regroup and rephrase..
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) January 14, 2022
I thought this was our best chance to create a history! Considering our team and theirs. Well played South Africa. Marco Janson and Keegan Peterson are future South African stars.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 14, 2022
Result didn't go our way but that doesn't change the fact that this was a gripping series. Every session was a contest. Congratulations to @OfficialCSA. You've got great foundation to build on. Petersen is 👌🏼And Rabada-Nortje-Ngidi-Jansen attack is going to be 🔥 #SAvIND
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 14, 2022
Tight slap to those who said we win because of Virat Kohli's aggression. This is INDIAN TEAM. And every player is important. #SAvIND
— ANSHUMAN🚩 (@AvengerReturns) January 14, 2022
202, 223 there you lost it. Period….#INDvSA #CricketTwitter
— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) January 14, 2022
This series loss will hurt India. Cape Town is again unconquered in the decider. In 2006-07, India took the lead & lost after 2nd inns collapse, 2010-11 had a great chance to win but Kallis defied with his ton & in 2022 India took a slender lead but didn't score big in 2nd inns
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) January 14, 2022
India’s batting had been remorselessly pursuing disaster for a long time and the last two Tests the bowling didn’t turn up in the last innings. Don’t go by the usual, we-fought-well or proud-of-the-way-we-played types. SA were inexperienced yet won the series #INDvSA
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) January 14, 2022
Indian bowlers managed to pick up 13 wickets each in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The last time before this series when Indian bowlers failed to pick up 20 wickets in consecutive Tests of a same series was against New Zealand in New Zealand in 2020.#SAvIND
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 14, 2022
Amazing fight boys. Great Test series. Well done to both teams for pulling us all in👏
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) January 14, 2022
THAT
WAS
INSANE.#Proteas— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) January 14, 2022
Not enough runs. After the first innings of the first Test it was the central reason. Pujara and Rahane got their chances and it will not be the best end. A series of what could have been. Bowlers set it up and lacked luck but better batting and they could have had cushion.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 14, 2022
A golden opportunity to win a Test series in South Africa is now lost. Some of the decisions will hurt Team India forever. #SAvIND #INDvSA #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/ZmmGsS9yhs
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) January 14, 2022
That is proper!!!!
Beating the top ranked side in the world so comprehensively
Our test team deserves more respect than they are given
Well done boys 🇿🇦#ProteaFire
— Tabraiz Shamsi (@shamsi90) January 14, 2022
