INDIA IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT
Bumrah picks up two wickets at end of Day 4 as tourist eyes win
Jasprit Bumrah produced a couple of magic deliveries at the fag end of the fourth day – Wednesday – as India remained on course for an emphatic victory against South Africa in the first Test here.
Chasing a never-achieved victory target of 305 at the SuperSport Park, South Africa finished the day at 94 for 4 with skipper Dean Elgar unbeaten on 52 (122 balls, 7 fours). This was after the India batters caved in on a track with uneven bounce, getting all-out for 174 in just 50.3 overs in the second innings.
The seasoned trio of captain Virat Kohli (18), Cheteshwar Pujara (16) and Ajinkya Rahane (20) suffered another failure, but the pacers once 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 India would pray that the 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 for the third wicket, more importantly batting for more than 22 overs, as the pitch looked like easing down a bit. Just when the game looked like meandering, Bumrah (2/22 off 11.5 overs) went wide off the crease and got the ball to cut back late to disturb van der Dussen’s stumps.
A lethal delivery then knocked the stuffing out of night-watchman Keshav Maharaj (8) to leave the Proteas in tatters. Even Mohammed Siraj (1/25) bowled one that angled in and moved away late, taking Keegan Peterson’s (17) outside edge. Aiden Markram (1) 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. Earlier in the day, KL Rahul (23), Rishabh Pant (34) and Ravichandran Ashwin (14) got snorters that grew big on them as Kagiso Rabada (4/42 off 17 overs), debutant Marco Jansen (4/55 off 13.3 overs) and Lungi Ngidi (2/31).
Jansen would remember his Test debut as he angled one across at fuller length, enticing Kohli to go for a drive. Pujara once again played a lot of dot deliveries, but tickled one down the leg-side to Quinton de Kock off Ngidi.
Brief scores: India 327 & 174 in 50.3 overs (R Pant 34, K Rabada 4/42, M Jansen 4/55) vs South Africa 197 & 94/4 in 40.5 overs (D Elgar 52*, J Bumrah 2/22)