Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

‘Ball got wet and stopped swinging’

- HT Correspond­ent sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

CENTURION: India seamer Jasprit Bumrah said he wasn’t angry with Parthiv Patel or Cheteshwar Pujara for not going for South Africa opener Dean Elgar’s catch on the third day of the second Test here on Monday.

Third ball after rain disrupted play for some time after tea, Elgar edged Bumrah, but neither the wicket-keeper nor Pujara, standing at wide first slip, went for it.

Asked if he had got an apology from his teammates, Bumrah said, “We don’t do like that. It’s not like they didn’t go for the catch on purpose. It’s okay, it happens in the game. You cannot be too hard on them because a lot of the game is still left. We cannot make fun of them or pressure them because we have to forget the catch and move forward now.”

An hour was wasted due to rain. Bumrah said India wanted to ride the momentum created after he had dismissed Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla. “We were carrying a good momentum so we wanted to carry on. It’s okay, we never get too disappoint­ed because there is still a lot of play left in the match. We don’t get too dishearten­ed that this didn’t happen,” he said, adding they weren’t happy with the ball after it got wet due to a damp outfield.

“The ball was swinging a little bit but the field being wet, both sides of the ball got wet. So, it wasn’t swinging anymore. We were just having a word with the umpire that the ball is wet, so it won’t swing anymore,” he said.

The rain may have curtailed the day’s play but with two days left, South Africa pacer Morne Morkel said it’s unlikely the Test was heading to a draw. “I don’t see that. I think definitely a result is very much possible. If they get some early wickets tomorrow, or if we can bat through the first session not losing many wickets -- the game is still very open. Off the top of my head, I think maybe 250 on Day 5 (will be a safe target). With the wicket now turning a little bit and keeping a little bit low, I think 250 can be a very good score. But it’s important not to look too far ahead.”

The ball was swinging a little bit but the field being wet, both sides of the ball got wet. So, it wasn’t swinging anymore. JASPRIT BUMRAH, India bowler I think maybe 250 on Day 5 (will be a safe target). With the wicket now turning a little bit and keeping a little bit low MORNE MORKEL, SA bowler

 ?? BCCI ?? Jasprit Bumrah appeals against AB de Villiers.
BCCI Jasprit Bumrah appeals against AB de Villiers.

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