Another fascinating day cricket in Centurion. India could manage only 174 runs in the second innings, but thanks to their 130-run lead, still ended up setting a 305-run target for South Africa in the first Test. At the close of play on Day 4, the Proteas were 94/4 in 40.5 overs with Jasprit Bumrah getting the wicket of nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj with the penultimate delivery -- a beauty of a yorker. India need another six wickets while South Africa are 211 runs behind the target.
India resume the day's play at the overnight score of 16/1, but were bundled out for 174 in 50.3 overs with Kagiso Rabada (4/42) and debutant Marco Jansen (4/55) getting four apiece. Rishabh Pant top-scored for India with a run-a-ball 34. Mohammed Shami struck early with the wicket of Aiden Markram in the second over of the Proteas second innings. Mohammed Siraj got Keegan Petersen in the 15th over then a 137-ball stand between skipper Dean Elgar (52 not out off 122) and Rassie van der Dussen (11 off 65) frustrated the visitors.
Advertisement
But India have the final say of the day with Bumrahconjuring up two brilliant deliveries -- a deadly cutter for van der Dussen and a toe-breaker for Maharaj. Catch Day 4 highlights and cricket scores of the first SA vs IND Test match:
REPORT | SCORECARD | LIVE STREAMING | NEWS
9:33 PM IST: Stumps
Jasprit Bumrah with the final over of the day. And Jasprit Bumrah gets the last laugh with the wicket of Keshav Maharaj (8 off 19). Bowled, under the bat. What a yorker. Dean Elgar is unbeaten on 52 off 122. And that's all for the day. South Africa need 211 runs. SA - 94/4 (40.5)
Advertisement
9:10 PM IST: Bumrah Strikes
A beauty to end a defiant 137-ball stand. Rassie van der Dussen (11 off 65) leaves the ball only to see it hitting the top of the off-stump. Jasprit Bumrah gets his first. Keshav Maharaj is the nightwatchman. South Africa need 231 runs. SA - 74/3 (36.4)
8:38 PM IST: Spin On
Ravichandran Ashwin gets his first over. Finally! Dean Elgar (39 off 89) takes a single off the last ball. And a 30-run stand in 90 balls for the third wicket with Rassie van der Dussen (9 off 43). South Africa need 238 runs. SA - 67/2 (29)
8:16 PM IST: Drinks
Mohammed Shami operating in tandem with Shardul Thakur. Maiden to Rassie van der Dussen (9 off 38). Dean Elgar unbeaten on 31 off 70. Shami's figures: 1/24 in 8 overs. 8 runs in the last four overs. South Africa need 246 runs. SA - 59/2 (25)
7:54 PM IST: Fifty Up
Rassie van der Dussen hits Jasprit Bumrah for a four. Bumrah's figures so far: 0/14 in nine overs. South Africa need 254 more runs. SA - 51/2 (20)
7:27 PM IST: Siraj Strikes
A maiden over from Jasprit Bumrah to Dean Elgar and Mohammed Siraj gets Keegan Petersen for 17 off 36. A diving Rishabh Pant completes the catch behind the wicket. And with that 33-run stand in 76 balls for the second wicket is broken. South Africa need 271 runs. Rassie van der Dussen is the new man. SA - 34/2 (14.1)
Advertisement
7:21 PM IST: Umpire's Call
Mohammed Siraj on with his second over and he convinces Virat Kohli to take a review against Keegan Petersen (17 off 35) for LBW. And it's the umpire's call. Ball clipping top off leg stump. South Africa need 271 runs. SA - 34/1 (12.6).
7:03 PM IST: Post-tea Session Begins
Mohammed Shami starts post-tea proceedings. Dean Elgar hits the second ball for a four. South Africa need 278 runs. SA - 27/1 (10)
6:43 PM IST: Tea
Jasprit Bumrah with the final over before tea. A single from it. Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen are unbeaten on 9 and 12 runs respectively. South Africa need 283 runs. 42 overs remaining in the day. SA - 22/1 (9)
Advertisement
6:10 PM IST: Shami Strikes
And Mohammed Shami continues from where he left off. Aiden Markram is bowled for 1 off 7. Keegan Petersen is the new man. South Africa need 304 runs. SA - 1/1 (1.3)
6:04 PM IST: Chase Begins
Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball. Aiden Markram takes the first strike. His opening partner is Dean Elgar.
5:50 PM IST: Innings Break
Debutant Marco Jansen cleans up Mohammed Siraj (0 off 5) to claim a four-wicket haul. India all out for 174 in 50.3 overs. And the target for South Africa is 305 runs.
51 overs remaining in the day's play. A lot can happen before the close of play.
Advertisement
5:45 PM IST: Nine Down
Another one for Kagiso Rabada, his fourth. Mohammed Shami (1 off 12) caught by Wiaan Mulder at third slip. India's lead is 299 runs. Mohammed Siraj is the new man. IND - 169/9 (49.2)
5:37 PM IST: Pant Goes
A batter's biggest enemy is indecision and Rishabh Pant knows it. He comes down to deal with a Kagiso Rabada short delivery but ends up playing a half-hearted hook. Result, a top edge at mid-on and Lungi Ngidi completes the rite. Pant goes for run-a-ball 34. Jasprit Bumrah is the new man. India lead by 296 runs. IND - 166/8 (47.4)
Advertisement
5:12 PM IST: Ashwin Reviews
Ravichandran Ashwin (13 off 11) given caught behind. But a review saves him. Brilliant bouncer from Kagiso Rabada but only brushing the forearm. India lead by 270 runs. IND - 140/6 (43.4)
4:45 PM IST: Rahane Too Goes
Marco Jansen gets his third wicket. Ajinkya Rahane holes out at deep square leg for 20 off 23. Easy catch for Rassie van der Dussen. Ravichandran Ashwin joins Rishabh Pant. India lead by 241 runs. IND - 111/6 (38.5)
4:36 PM IST: Pujara Out
Lungi Ngidi gets his eighth wicket of the match. Cheteshwar Pujara (16 off 64), caught behind. And a 30-run stand is broken. Rishabh Pant joins Ajinkya Rahane (20 off 18) in the middle. India lead by 239 runs. IND 109/5 (37.1)
Advertisement
4:11 PM IST: Kohli Out
Dramatic. Marco Jansen strikes first ball after lunch. And Virat Kohli is back in the hut. The skipper goes for 18 off 32. Caught behind. Ajinkya Rahane joins Cheteshwar Pujara in the middle. India lead by 209 runs. IND - 79/4 (32.1)
3:31 PM IST: Lunch
Wiaan Mulder with the final over before lunch on the penultimate day. An absorbing morning session, shared. India scored 63 runs and lost two wickets, those of nightwatchman Shardul Thakur and opener KL Rahul. Cheteshwar Pujara (12 off 52) and Virat Kohli (18 off 31) are in an unbeaten stand of 25 in 58 balls. India lead by 209 runs. IND - 79/3 (32) & 327; SA - 197
Advertisement
3:18 PM IST: Kohli Gets Lucky
Umpire's call and Virat Kohli (10 off 18) survives. Massive shout for LBW, clipping top of leg stump. Such small margins. India lead by 196 runs. IND - 66/3 (28.3)
2:51 PM IST: Rahul Goes
Lungi Ngidi strikes. KL Rahul pokes one and is caught at slip by Dean Elgar. He goes for 23 off 74. India lead by 184 runs. Virat Kohli is the new man. IND - 54/3 (22.3)
2:23 PM IST: Pujara Survives
A little period of consolidation for India. Runs hard to come against a good attack, but some rub of the green. Kagiso Rabada drops one at midwicket in the 17th over, and Cheteshwar Pujara gets a life on 6. Unlucky Lungi Ngidi. India lead by 175 runs. IND - 45/2 (18)
Advertisement
2:00 PM IST Thakur Goes
Shardul Thakur's vigil ends. Wicket for Kagiso Rabada. Caught at cordon bis y Wiann Mulder. And with that, the 23-run stand is broken. Thakur made 10 off 26. Cheteshwar Pujara is the new man. India lead by 164 runs. IND - 34/2 (12.5)
1:40 PM IST: Wasted Review
Marco Jansen with the second over of the day. A maiden to Shradul Thakur and also a wasted review for LBW off the fifth. Going over the stump. India lead by 152 runs. IND - 22/1 (8) & 327; SA - 197
1:29 PM IST: Day 4 Starts
Advertisement
Kagiso Rabada with the first over of the day. Kagiso Rabada takes the strike. India resume on 16/1 in 6 overs. Lead is 146 runs.
If the rain does not intervene and India does not suffer a batting collapse like Tuesday, Virat Kohli's men are in a dominant position in the Centurion Test against South Africa.
Ninety-eight overs are due on Day 4 on Wednesday and if no play is lost, India will aim to consolidate their overnight lead of 146 and look for a total around 350-400 before asking the South Africans to bat last on a pitch that is aiding the fast bowlers.
Advertisement
India lost their last seven wickets in a space of 69 balls on Tuesday. While this was not ideal for a team that made a solid start with KL Rahul scoring a century, it gave Indian bowlers an early look at the South African batting.
The South African batting looked weak and wobbly. Mohammed Shami's five for 44 and Jasprit Bumrah's two for 16 wrecked SA as India took a first-innings lead of 130. At stumps on Tuesday, India had added another 16 runs but lost Mayank Agarwal.
India will have to be careful with the way they bat. South Africa will unleash their pace duo of Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada, who took nine wickets between them in the Indian first innings. Ngidi had outstanding figures of six for 71, his second-best in Tests.
