India versus South Africa 1st Test 4th Day: India six wickets away from a famous win
The Indian Cricket Team ended the 4th day of the 1st Test match in a dominating position against the hosts South Africa played at SuperSport Park, Centurion on Wednesday.
Starting on the overnight score of 16 for 1, Shardul Thakur showed
positive intent against bad deliveries. Kagiso Rabada finally struck for South
Africa getting rid of nightwatchman Thakur. The pitch had an uneven bounce keeping
the batsmen honest. Cheteshwar Pujara was given a reprieve as Rabada dropped a
simple chance at mid-on. KL Rahul's struggle came to end caught by Elgar at first
slips.
Virat Kohli looked in positive touch as the South African
captain Elgar put attacking field. Kohli survived a close LBW shout given not
out but on review, it was retained to not out due to the umpire’s call. Kohli and
Pujara ensured that India end the first session at 79 for 3.
It was a disastrous start for the Indian team as Kohli was
dismissed the very first ball after the lunch break. Ajiyanka Rahane looked
positive right from the word go taking on Marco Jansen putting South African
bowlers under pressure. Pujara fell in an unfortunate manner caught down the leg.
Pujara and Rahane added 30 runs for the 5th wicket. Rahane also
could not control his shot dismissed at deep square leg by Van der Dussen. Ravichandran
Ashwin and Rishabh Pant smashed some brilliant strokes.
Kagiso Rabada troubled the Indian batters with uneven bounce.
R Ashwin was given out by the umpire but on review, it was overturned to not out
because it did not hit gloves. Rabada finally dismissed Ashwin with another stunning
delivery. This time, Ashwin decided to review the decision and it was retained
to out. Ashwin and Pant added 35 runs for the 7th wicket. Pant
showed intent playing big shots. He eventually was caught by Ngidi trying to
come down the track. Rabada produced another superb delivery to get rid of
Shami caught by Mulder. Jansen dismissed Mohammed Siraj bowling out India for
174 runs in the 2nd innings setting South Africa 305 runs to win.
Mohammed Shami started brilliantly for India in the 2nd
innings getting rid of Aiden Markram taking inside edge onto stumps. Keegan
Pietersen and Dean Elgar looked compact against the top-quality pace bowling of
Bumrah and Shami. At the end of the 2nd session, South Africa made
22 for 1.
After the tea break, Keegan Pietersen and Elgar kept the
Indian bowlers at bay. Siraj grabbed the wicket of Pietersen with a beauty. Pietersen
and Elgar added 33 runs for the 2nd wicket. Dean Elgar looked solid keeping
the good deliveries away while Van der Dussen showed resistance against top-quality Indian bowling. Jasprit Bumrah produced a snorter of a yorker to dismiss
Dussen. Dussen and Elgar added 40 runs for the 3rd wicket. Keshav
Maharaj showed some resistance along with Elgar keeping Indian bowlers at bay.
Elgar looked compact reaching his fifty off 121 balls. Bumrah produced another
beauty to dismiss nightwatchman Maharaj to ensure that India is on course for
a historic win.
India
327 in 105.3 overs ( KL Rahul 123, Agarwal 60, Lungi Ngidi 6/71, Rabada 3/72)
and 174 in 50.3 overs ( Pant 34, Rahul 23, Rabada 4/42, Jansen 4/55) South
Africa 197 in 62.3 overs ( Bavuma 52, de Kock 34, Shami 5/44, Bumrah 2/16) and
94 for 4 in 40.5 overs ( Elgar 52*, Bumrah 2/22)
India
needs 6 wickets to win and South Africa needs 211 runs.
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