South Africa vs India, 3rd Test - 5 Talking Points

A comeback of epic proportions saw India stun the South Africans by 63 runs in one of the most dramatic Test match played in recent times. The Wanderers’ pitch has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in recent times and it has proven to be a bowling paradise. There were a lot of allegations over the pitch that it was too dangerous for the play to continue.

But as it turned out, both these incredible sides fought bravely and faced the adverse music. Both the batting lineups faltered in their respective first innings, but the Proteas managed to garner a slender lead of 7 runs. In the second innings. Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli chipped in with crucial contributions. Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a couple od decent knocks to propel their side to 247 runs.

The Proteas had a 241-run target ahead of them, which was humongous considering how the pitch was misbehaving. After a dramatic finish to the third day, the hosts batsmen showed great class to rescue their side. But the Indian bowlers made a stunning comeback towards the end and maintained their unbeaten record at the Wanderers.

Here are the five talking points from the Test match.

1. The Pitch Fiasco which left everyone in splits

One of the biggest talking points of the game remained to be the mayhem surrounding the pitch. Whilst many experts rated this pitch as dangerous and unfit for International cricket, the game eventually went on to provide a flabbergasting finish. It was a dramatic, entertaining and action-packed Test match and if it had not been for the entire Pitch fiasco, it could’ve been muc better.

2. The Pace Quartet does the trick

When was the last time an Indian fast bowling quartet pulled off such an amazing victory? Hard to even recollect that. It’d be fair to say this has to be one of the greatest fast bowling renditions from the Indians in the last two or three decades. Mohammed Shami chipped in with a 5-fer in the second innings, whilst Jasprit Bumrah picked as many wickets in the first innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma were consistent, but a tad unlucky when it came to picking wickets.

3. A collapse of epic proportions

South Africa was cruising away at one stage at 124/1. Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla looked unflappable and unflinching. Both these batters worked wonderfully in tandem, but what followed next was completely unexpected. Mohammed Shami ran riot as South Africa lost 9 wickets in a span of 53 runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant and Jasprit Bumrah returned with crucial scalps as well, which helped the Indians complete one of the greatest comebacks in their history.

4. Back in the side, Up and running!

The whole fraternity was perplexed when Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar didn’t feature in the second Test. But once they came in, they made an instant impact on the game. Ajinkya Rahane played one of the grittiest knocks of his career in the second innings whilst Bhuvi is proving to be a gem with both bat and ball. Eventually, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was awarded the man of the match award for his outstanding all-round performance.

5. Dean Elgar carries his bat through

Amidst all the elation and tranquility amongst the Indian lines, it is important to compliment Dean Elgar’s stubborn and elegant knock. The opener carried his bat through the innings and remained unbeaten on 86 off 240 balls. It was his injury towards the end of the third day which led to the culmination of day’s play, but he cameback strongly. The Indians bowled magnificently, but they failed to get the better of Elgar.