DEAN HOLDS KEY
South Africa in hunt as defiant Elgar takes host to 118/2 in pursuit of 240
JOHANNESBURG: The South Africa batters, led by gutsy skipper Dean Elgar, dug their heels in here on Wednesday to reach within 122 runs of a series-levelling victory against a determined India as the second Test match seemed poised for a gripping fourth-day finish.
Elgar (46 batting off 121 balls, 2 fours) took some nasty blows off deliveries that spat off the cracks but kept his team on course at 118 for 2 in pursuit of
a tricky 240-run target, which was set by India in the wake of a solid century-plus partnership from the under-fire duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.
Shardul Thakur (1/24), who is in the middle of a great Test, got his eighth victim of the match when he struck opener Aiden Markram’s (31) pads. Keegan Petersen (28 off 44 balls, 4 fours) added 46 runs for the second wicket with his skipper before Ravichandran Ashwin (1/14) got a leg before decision going his way.
Like every new innings in this game, the heavy roller made batting easier by ironing out the divots on the good length spots. And, home team’s leader Elgar was ready to play the patient game, putting his body on the line, getting hit on knuckles, chest, shoulder and even on the head that prompted a quick on-field concussion test.
While South Africa would believe that it has half a foot through the victory door, there has been numerous instances in the series where a batting collapse has changed the course of the game. There are two things that would keep India worried going into the fourth day. In this Test, the batting conditions have improved as the match has progressed – 202, 229, 266 (runs scored in each completed innings). And secondly, pacer Mohammed Siraj is far from fit and bowled only four out of the 40 overs sent down till now. Earlier on Wednesday, India’s middle-order finally came good through combative half-centuries from Pujara and Rahane. Pujara (53 off 86 balls, 10 fours) and Rahane (58 off 78 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) gave fresh lease of life to their respective careers with timely knocks while Hanuma Vihari (40 not out off 84 balls, 6 fours) also played a crucial part in swelling India’s overall lead. The tourist finished its second innings at 266.
Kagiso Rabada (20-3-77-3) was inspirational in the final half-an-hour before lunch as he brought his team back with quick dismissals. Marco Jansen (17-4-67-3) and Lungi Ngidi (10.1-2-43-3) also played their parts to perfection.