Bumrah’s fivefor gives India hope
PACE AND SWING Newcomer caps superb response on seaming track, India 42 runs ahead at close
morning when Elgar and nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada almost saw out the first hour. Elgar fell to an unplayable delivery from Bhuvneshwar but Rabada tried his best to play spoilsport. By the time he had spent an hour, Rabada was confident enough to even square drive Mohammed Shami for four. Entertaining as his innings was, it came to an end minutes before lunch when Ajinkya Rahane held on to a sharp edge off Bhuvneshwar.
South Africa raised 23 runs in the first hour but 52 came in the next, showing the pitch had eased out a touch. Amla though was ready to bide time. It worked in India’s favour as 62 runs were scored in the mid-session though India were frustrated two reviews against Amla didn’t work. This was before Amla successfully reviewed a leg-before decision.
During this phase, Amla also got struck on his chest by an Ishant Sharma snorter. However, he was solid with technique, getting behind the line by moving across the stumps and standing at least a foot outside the crease.
India seemed to have missed out by not reviewing against AB de Villiers in the first over after lunch but Bhuvneshwar set him up with away-going deliveries before bowling him with one that came in sharply. Faf du Plessis’s attempts of repeating Centurion’s blockathon was nipped in the bud when he shouldered arms to Bumrah’s incoming delivery. FOW: Bowling: