South Africa Pin Hopes On Rain, Dean Elgar
Jasprit Bumrah produced a couple of magic deliveries at the fag end of the fourth day as India remained on course for an emphatic victory against a rattled South Africa in the first Test in Centurion on Wednesday. The home side would be praying for their captain Dean Elgar’s dogged defiance and some rain on the final day on Thursday. Chasing a never achieved victory target of 305 at the Supersport Park, South Africa finished the day at 94 for 4 with Elgar unbeaten on 52 after Indian batters caved in on a track with uneven bounce, getting allout for 174 in just 50.3 overs.
It was another failure for the seasoned trio of skipper Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane but the pacers again swung the match in India’s favour.
With 211 runs required and six wickets in hand, an intriguing battle could be on the cards on the final day but the Indian team would pray that forecast of a steady afternoon shower on Thursday doesn’t come true.
Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen (11 off 65 balls) added 40 runs but more importantly batted for more than 22 overs as the pitch looked like easing down a bit.
Just when the game looked like meandering, Bumrah (2/22) went wide off the crease and got the ball to cut back late just when Van der Dussen decided to shoulder arms thinking that it would go straight.
And then at the stroke of stumps, a lethal delivery knocked the stuffing out of night watchman Keshav
Maharaj (8) to leave the Proteas in complete tatters.
Even Mohammed Siraj (1/25) bowled one that was angled in and moved away late taking Keegan Peterson’s (17) outside edge. Aiden
Markram was the first to be dismissed as he failed to take his bat away from a Mohammed Shami (1/29) delivery that bounced a tad extra after landing on the perfect upright seam.