The opening Test of the South Africa Tour of India in 2019 witnessed both teams make history. Exactly five years ago, the batting units of both sides put up some relentless knocks in Visakhapatnam to surpass the record for the most sixes in a Test.
A couple of brilliant individual performances from cricketers of both sides, including Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Dean Elgar, and Quinton de Kock saw the ball go for six 37 times between October 2 and October 6. New Zealand and Pakistan held the previous record for the most sixes ever scored (35) in a Test in 2014.
The opening Test between India and South Africa series began with India batting first. Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal kicked off the innings for the Virat Kohli-led side. They put up a stellar opening partnership of 317.
Mayank scored a double hundred to help the hosts put up a 502-run total before declaring their innings. Rohit chipped in with 176 runs. Both Mayank and Rohit smashed six maximums each in the first innings.
With a mammoth tally ahead of them, South Africa ensured to answer back confidently. Dean Elgar anchored the visitors’ innings, scoring 160. He hit 18 boundaries and four sixes in the first innings. Wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock stepped up with a century as well. He added 111 runs and smashed 11 boundaries and two sixes in the game. The Proteas were dismissed for 431.
With South Africa closing in on India’s tally, the hosts had the daunting task of extending their lead by a formidable margin in the second innings. Rohit Sharma didn’t lose his touch in the second innings as he sent the ball into the stands seven times while adding 127 runs for India.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja combined for five sixes as the hosts declared their innings after putting up 323/4 on the board.
The massive lead eventually proved to be too much for South Africa as they mustered up 191 in the second innings. Dane Piedt was the only Proteas batter to score a half-century in the second innings. The Indian bowling duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami went on an absolute rampage to combine for nine wickets and seal a dominant victory.
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