Will 187 runs be enough?
JOHANNESBURG: Faf du Plessis had hoped for a pitch with a bit of pace and bounce – but nothing out of the ordinary. However the surface at the Wanderers had pace, bounce and everything else, making batting a very complicated exercise.
Under cloudy skies, and on a surface with a good covering of grass, India captain Virat Kohli’s decision to bat was a gutsy one, and not only because of the conditions on yesterday morning. India’s batsmen – bar Kohli – have struggled to come to terms not just with the pitches in the series, but also South Africa’s aggressive bowling.
The home team’s seam bowling was further supplemented by the inclusion of Andile Phehlukwayo for the third Test, somewhat of a surprise, ahead of Keshav Maharaj.
Until Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara’s half-centuries yesterday, the only other times an Indian batsmen has gone past 50 in this series, was Kohli’s awesome century in the first innings at Centurion, and Hardik Pandya’s thrilling, counter-attacking 93 at Newlands.
Even at Centurion where conditions were more to their comfort, the Indians, Kohli excepted, struggled against SA’s quartet of quicks.
It was never going to be easy yesterday, but Kohli reckoned runs on the board was the best way to apply pressure on the SA team at a ground, where India has never lost a Test.
Quite how valuable a first innings of 187 is, remains to be seen. There were some similarities for India at the Wanderers with SA’s first innings at Newlands.
There the Proteas slumped to 12/3 before AB de Villiers and Du Plessis added 114 for the fourth wicket, a partnership that provided the foundation for victory.
Yesterday India crashed to 13/2, bringing together their two best batsmen. Through luck and terrific skill, they got through the first session. At lunch, India would have felt alright about being 45/2, because it felt like it should have been a lot worse.
Vernon Philander, playing in his 50th Test, couldn’t have dreamt for better conditions, and he had the ball seaming throughout a superb eight-over opening spell. He conceded just one run, bowled seven maidens, beat the outside and inside edges, and should have had Pujara lbw before he scored, only for umpire Ian Gould to say no, and have the TV replays support him with an “umpire’s call” when SA reviewed.
Perhaps the other SA bowlers could have bowled better lines, with Morne Morkel in particular struggling in his first spell. After lunch, SA had a terrible hour, losing their lengths along with their lines while the fielding lacked discipline and precision.
Kohli and Pujara were able to take advantage, adding 84 runs for the third wicket. Kohli, naturally was the more aggressive, driving the ball beautifully when the South Africans erred in line or length.
Pujara, playing an innings reminiscent of his very fine hundred at the Wanderers four years ago, defended and left well. Where he differed from his first innings in Cape Town – where scored 26 off 92 balls in over two-and-a-half hours at the crease – was a willingness attack when there was width.
He hit eight fours in his innings of 50, but his wicket – to a fine delivery from Phehlukwayo – was the start of an Indian collapse, that saw them lose their last six wickets for 43 runs.
Overall, despite their standards slipping in that hour after lunch, SA’s bowlers utilised the conditions very well – and had the fielders held onto their catches especially Philander when Kohli had 11 and De Villiers when Kohli had 32, India would have been in serious trouble.
As it is they have runs on the board, not many of them, but something, that on this surface especially they can bowl to.