India on record chase in 2nd test against South Africa

Wednesday 17th January 2018 06:07 EST
 

In a Test match, day four proceedings mostly determine the outcome. South Africa, starting the day with a lead of 118 over India, had the edge, but Mohammed Shami's three-wicket burst in the first session and Ishant Sharma with a double-strike in the second, had reignited India's hope. However, those hopes were doused, first by the blockathon in the second session by Faf Du Plessis and Vernon Philander and then by SA bowlers who chipped away at India's top-order. Set a target of 287, India found themselves reeling at 35 for three at stumps at the Supersports Park on Tuesday.

Virat Kohli's fourth innings average before this innings was an incredible 58. However, he was trapped in front for just five with the one that came back in from debutant Lungi Ngidi. That was, if not the death knell for India, a big blow. The openers had once again failed to see off the opening spell from the South African quicks - KL Rahul wafted at a rather innocuous outside off delivery from Ngidi to gift his wicket away, while Murali Vijay was undone by the one that kept low.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Parthiv Patel held the fort till the close of play with final day staring at them. Miracles can happen, but how much would you bet on that to happen on day five at Centurion?

Earlier in the day, Faf du Plessis' 141-ball 48-run grind allowed South Africa to set a stiff target, which would be a record 4th innings total for a win, if India manage to chase it down and make the three-match series 1-1. Starting the day at 90 for 2, SA were buoyed by AB de Villiers' 80, 30 of which came on day four in just 43 deliveries, Dean Elgar's feisty 61 and du Plessis' innings of substance helped South Africa to 258 in their second dig.

India would not have been overly disappointed neither overly happy as the disciplined showcased by the restricted SA from taking the game away, but a 46-run stand for the sixth wicket between du Plessis and Vernon Philander frustrated India and with the last three adding 95 runs in total, India would have been better placed if they had bowled South Africa early.

For India, Shami, Ishant Sharma and Hardik Pandya toiled hard but both du Plessis and Philander were in no hurry to score and presented the full face of the bat when the opportunity presented. Short pitch stuff was evaded easily by the duo and even though there were a few close calls, India failed to get the breakthrough.

Brief Scores: India 35/3 (Pujara 11*; Ngidi 2/14) & 307 trail South Africa 258 & 335 by 252 runs


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