CAPE TOWN, Jan 8: India�s much-vaunted batting line-up fell apart in the face of a Vernon Philander-led pace attack�s relentless aggression as South Africa emerged victorious by 72 runs in the first Test here today.
While South Africa grabbed a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, the visitors squandered a golden opportunity to script a memorable win outside the sub-continent.
Needing 208 on day four for their third ever Test win on South African soil, the Indian batsmen let their team down for the second time in the match, getting skittled out for 135 in 42.4 overs. The game finished well inside three days despite a full day�s play being washed out.
There was no Dale Steyn in the second innings, yet the South Africa pace department had enough firepower to expose the visitors� batting line-up on a bouncy and seaming surface.
Philander was simply outstanding with his pace and precision, ending with a career-best six for 42 and match haul of nine wickets.
Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada played the supporting role well, finishing with two wickets apiece in the second innings.
With India reeling at 82 for seven, R Ashwin (37) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar saved them the embarrassment of being bowled out for under 100.
The duo shared a 49-run stand for the eighth wicket, the highest of the innings, but it folded quickly after Philander had Ashwin caught behind with the keeper standing up.
Earlier, the hosts lost 8 for 65 in the morning session to lead by overall 207 runs. Shami took 3-28 while Bumrah had 3-39. � PTI
SCORECARD
South Africa 1st innings: 286
India 1st innings: 209
South Africa 2nd innings: (Overnight 65/2 in 20 overs)
AK Markram c Kumar b Pandya 34
D Elgar c Saha b Pandya 25
K Rabada c Kohli b Shami 5
Amla c Sharma b Shami 4
AB de Villiers c Kumar b Bumrah 35
F du Plessis c Saha b Bumrah 0
Q de Kock c Saha b Bumrah 8
VD Philander lbw b Shami 0
KA Maharaj c Saha b Kumar 15
M Morkel c Saha b Kumar 2
DW Steyn not out 0
Extras: (W-2) 2
Total: (All out in 41.2 overs) 130
Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-59, 3-66, 4-73, 5-82, 6-92, 7- 95, 8-122, 9-130, 10-130.
Bowling: Kumar 11-5-33-2, Bumrah 11.2-1-39-3, Shami 12-3-28-3, Pandya 6-0-27-2, Ashwin 1-0-3- 0.
India 2nd innings:
Dhawan c sub (Morris) b Morkel 16
Pujara c de Kock b Morkel 4
Kohli lbw b Philander 28
Rohit b Philander 10
Saha lbw b Rabada 8
Pandya c de Villiers b Rabada 1
Ashwin c de Kock b Philander 37
Kumar not out 13
Shami c du Plessis b Philander 4
Bumrah c du Plessis b Philander 0
Extras: (lb 1) 1
Total: (all out in 42.4 overs) 135
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-30, 3-39, 4-71, 5-76, 6-77, 7-82, 8-131, 9-135, 10-135.
Bowling: VD Philander 15.4-4-42-6, M Morkel 11-1-39-2, K Rabada 12-2-41-2, KA Maharaj 4-1-12-0.