SA vs IND, 2nd Test, Day 4, Review: South Africa seven wickets away from sealing the series

The series was on the line for the World number 1 Test side India in Centurion after the third day was owned by the AB de Villiers masterclass. They were expected to come hard at the hosts on the fourth morning as the duo of de Villiers and Dean Elgar grew increasingly comfortable in their stay on the 22 yards. However, the Indian bowlers wanted to pick quick wickets as the pitch had still something in it for the bowlers.

The play started amidst the Indian skipper getting fined 25 percent of his match fee for showing his dissent towards on the umpires on the third evening. Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma opened the bowling for India but failed to trouble the overnight batsmen apart from a rare play and miss. They added runs at a fast pace even as the visitors started to feel the pressure. The best spinner of the first innings, R Ashwin also failed to make the inroads as the partnership easily went past 100 and the lead 150 in the process.

Shami’s triple strike

Just when the things were looking bleak for India after the first hour, Mohammed Shami managed to generate the bounce which took the edge of AB de Villiers’ bat and was safely pouched by Parthiv Patel. The well-set Dean Elgar was also sent back soon as he was trapped with the short delivery by the same bowler. The most enterprising wicket was of Quinton de Kock who edged the ball thrice consecutively off Shami and scored three boundaries through the slip cordon. Finally, off the fourth ball, he edged and again and the catch was taken this time by Patel.

South Africa were suddenly reduced from 144/2 to 163/5 in no time and the pressure was on them to score runs and extend their lead. Though Faf du Plessis and Vernon Philander made sure there were no further hiccups as they were also troubled at times. It was the attritional Test cricket on display with both the teams not giving an edge to the other. The duo frustrated India by adding 46 runs in almost 26 overs. Ishant Sharma broke the stand by bouncing Philander out after which Keshav Maharaj also edged it behind the wickets.

Soon in the final session though they were bundled out for 258. Shami scalped Rabada first and then Bumrah latched onto a superb catch to end du Plessis’ vigil. In the end, Lungi Ngidi holed out in the deep which set India the stiff target of 287 in the final innings to level the series.

India lose three

In the pursuit of 287, the visitors were always struggling with the four-pronged pace attack breathing fire on a tough pitch to bat. Murali Vijay played on in the eighth over off Kagiso Rabada and soon KL Rahul followed him with a loose shot as India were reduced to 16/2. All their hopes were pinned on the skipper Kohli who received a brute of a delivery which stayed low and was caught in front of the stumps.

Parthiv Patel was then elevated in the batting order who along with Cheteshwar Pujara weathered the bowling attack as India ended the day on 35/3. The writing is on the wall it seems for the visitors as the pitch has gotten extremely tough to bat. Moreover, the hosts are really steaming in and haven’t given an inch to the batsmen.

It would be a matter of time on the final day as South Africa would look to wrap up the game. India, on the other hand, would be hoping for a miraculous knock from someone like Hardik Pandya or Rohit Sharma which is highly unlikely.

Brief Scores

South Africa 335 (A Markram 94, H Amla 82; R Ashwin 4/113) & 258 (de Villiers 80, D Elgar 61; M Shami 4/49, I Sharma 3/70)

India 307 (V Kohli 153; M Morkel 4/60) & 35/3 (C Pujara 11*; L Ngidi 2/14)

Keep following CricTracker for more analysis on SAvIND series.