Published 15:50 IST, October 21st 2019
Ind vs SA: India create history by giving SA 2 follow-ons in a series
India enforced the follow-on on South Africa in the ongoing 3rd Test match in Ranchi, making it two in a row. India had never done it before this series.
- SportFit
- 3 min read
India is playing South Africa in the third Test match of the three-match series in Ranchi where the hosts are in a commanding position. After having declared at 497 for 5, India bowled South Africa over for 162. India have enforced the follow-on for the second time in the series, being ahead by 335 runs in the first innings.
Interestingly, India was never able to enforce the follow-on against South Africa in any of the Test series they have played against each other in the past. However, Virat Kohli and co. have created history by becoming the first Indian team to reverse this trend and do so not once, but twice in the same series! The tables have turned and how as South Africa can no longer be considered favourite to win Test matches against India easily.
India won the first test by a massive 203 runs on the back of Rohit Sharma's twin centuries and Mayank Agarwal's double century. Ravichandran Ashwin also shined with the ball and contributed to India's victory.
In the second test in Pune, India continued their dominant display of cricket as they defeated South Africa by an innings and 137 runs. The first match's centurion Mayank Agarwal scored yet another century and laid the foundation for India before Kohli led from the front with his unbeaten 253 which helped India to score a humongous total of 601/5. The hosts bundled the visitors for 275 and enforced a follow-on. India wrapped the South African second innings for 189, thus winning by an innings and 137 runs. This was the first instance of India enforcing a follow-on on South Africa.
The only instance of South Africa enforcing follow-on on India
The only occasion when South Africa had enforced follow on India was way back in the 2009-10 Test series in Nagpur where the hosts had posted a massive total of 558 courtesy Hashim Amla's unbeaten 253 and Jacques Kallis' 173. South Africa bowled India out for 233 and enforced the follow-on. The Indian team showed some fight but it was not enough as they were bowled out by South Africa for 319. South Africa registered a memorable win by an innings and 6 runs.
Head-to-Head series stats:
| Team | Total series | Won | Lost | Draw |
| India | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 |
| South Africa | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
Updated 16:49 IST, October 21st 2019