Watch: The Shami inswinger to du Plessis that was just as good as Bumrah’s wonder ball to Rassie
Watch: Jasprit Bumrah’s wonder ball to dismiss Rassie van der Dussen made headlines on day four of the South Africa-India Boxing Day Test, playing a key role in India’s eventual 113 run-win.
Just over two years ago, Mohammed Shami, another member of the winning unit from Centurion, had delivered an inswinging beauty to dismiss another South African batter in Visakhapatnam, during the team’s visit to India for a three-Test series.
With South Africa chasing 395 runs to win, they would have had high hopes from their skipper Faf du Plessis to ride them through the storm after they had lost their first three wickets for 20 runs. Du Plessis combined with opener Aiden Markram to steady the innings briefly, before he was undone by a Shami special.
Off the fifth ball of the 22nd over, du Plessis found himself facing a back of length delivery from Shami, who had been operating in the region outside the off stump. The skipper, quickly assessing the offering, thought it best to shoulder arms, with the ball having pitched well outside the off-stump.
However, much to his horror, the ball darted in off the pitch, shattering the off-stump as du Plessis stood motionless, still shouldering arms. Even as the Indian players started celebrating, du Plessis held his ground, marvelling at the delivery while questioning his own judgement.
The rest of the South African line-up couldn’t hold on much longer, eventually succumbing to 191 all out to give India a 203-run win and a 1-0 lead in the series. Shami returned figures of 5-35.
