A thriller is on the cards
PRETORIA: India start the fifth day, with their hopes at creating history teetering.
They require another 252 runs to win the second Test, to achieve a target that’s higher than any which has been successfully chased at Centurion, and tie the series, on a surface their batsmen cannot trust.
An awful lot has been said of the surface. Publicly the South Africans, through fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Lungi Ngidi, have expressed surprise at how uncharacteristically it has played. It’s slower than normal – slower than the South Africans want it – the bounce – of the steepling kind – is not consistently there and there’s a little too much in it for the spinners.
The toss was very important because batting first was the key to laying a foundation. SA didn’t do that as well as they should have, and so it meant they have had to scrap, to get their noses in front.
However for all the concerns about the pitch, there’s no doubt it has created a gripping spectacle. These are two very closely matched teams and on a lively surface – unusually so in that case – in Cape Town they threw a stack of haymakers at each other, before the outcome was settled.
It felt like a laborious affair between lunch and tea yesterday as SA scratched out 57 runs in 27 overs, with the wicket of Vernon Philander the result of batting error and that of Keshav Maharaj down to temptation.
India bowled wicket-towicket, employing a sub-continental strategy on a pitch with some sub-continental characteristics. It’s the disconcertingly low bounce that plays tricks on the minds, and Faf du Plessis’ ploy to stay out there batting for as long as possible and let the surface wear out even more proved beneficial. The SA captain received a standing ovation from coach Ottis Gibson and his teammates for an innings of 48 that lasted three and three-quarter hours, in which there was little dazzling strokeplay but plenty of hard graft.
Having spent that amount of time batting on it, he knew just how difficult it was to score and to even survive.
The target set at 287, and with two hours left to play, Du Plessis knew a couple of wickets would send shivers down the opposition spine. The wicket of Virat Kohli, who’s first innings knock of 153, had been the defining performance of the match so far, would be a veritable quake.
Like batsmen, bowlers too have to work hard to gain success at Centurion. But knowing there are areas on the surface from which they can get the unplayable to occur will spur them on.
Kagiso Rabada produced the first such moment to Murali Vijay and then Ngidi, almost blew the roof off the grandstand when he dismissed the Indian captain.
The only reason Kohli referred it to the television official, was in the vain hope that the young quick bowler had over-stepped the front line – Ngidi’s toe barely touched it.
While Cheteshwar Pujara is still out there, India will remain hopeful. Parthiv Patel showed plenty of guts yesterday, surviving a bruising examination from Ngidi.
Rohit Sharma has an opportunity to justify the selectors’ faith in him as a Test player, Hardik Pandya has shown he is capable of match-changing performances and Ravichandran Ashwin is a determined performer who puts a high price on his wicket.
There is plenty left on the last day of what has been an intriguing encounter. SA have got India’s main man, but such is the spirit he has instilled in his squad and the desire with which he wants them all to play, that they will still believe an historic outcome is possible. NGIDI: If you’re going to make an impact on debut, then knocking over the opponent’s captain, one of the world’s best batsmen, at a critical juncture is one way to make a memory. The last ball of Ngidi’s third over did the job, from wide of the crease, the ball angled into the righthander, it skidded low off the surface, the batsman had no chance. South Africa’s wish for that last session was granted. Ngidi was the hero, ULTRA-EDGE: South Africa could and should have had Pujara last night too, but neither appealed nor referred after Morne Morkel found the outside edge of his bat. Perhaps De Kock’s lack of confidence had something to do with his not appealing - he did move to throw the ball in the air and then didn’t. And so Pujara remains and while he’s there, India has hope. SHAMI-NATOR: It was a spell of great skill from Mohammed Shami in the morning that kept South Africa in check and maintained the touring teams hopes. He removed De Villiers, Elgar, De Kock and Rabada, to finish with 4/49 in 16 overs. GAZUNDERS: South Africa’s approach after lunch didn’t make for exciting viewing, but the plan to play for time, and allow the wicket to worsen, certainly appeared right given the results in the last hour of the day. Philander ended the seventh over with one to Rahul that shot through at ankle height off a good length, missing the off-stump by another advertising sticker. Five balls later, Rabada bowled Murali Vijay off the bottom of the bat, and then Kohli suffered a similar fate later. QUOTE: “The positivity and the confidence of youth is what you see coming out. Lungi has a special and unique attitude, he’s always positive, always has a smile on his face...he’s as surprised playing in this Test as a lot of other people. His talent will only come out stronger and stronger the more confident he gets.” - Dean Elgar, enjoying the attitude and success of his Titans - and now Proteas - teammate