India, chasing their maiden Test series in South Africa, entered the second match at the Wanderers as favourites, and dominated the majority of the sessions, but ended up losing by seven wickets. And thus the visitors tasted their first defeat in Johannesburg. On Day 4, play resumed at 7:15 PM IST after rain wiped out two sessions. South Africa needed 122 runs, while India needed eight wickets. Skipper Dean Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen (40 off 92) added 82 runs for the third wicket in 160 balls to all but deflate the visitors.
Mohammed Shami got a breakthrough, but that was not enough as the Proteas kept calm on a rain-affected day with Elgar stitching another half-century stand with Temba Bavuma (23 off 45). It took less than the 34 overs marked for the day's play for the hosts to complete the task (27.4 overs). And the star of the chase was Elgar (60 not out off 188), who played a captain's knock. For the record, 240 is South Africa's third-highest fourth-innings successful chase at home. This was India's sixth Test match at the venue (2 wins, three draws and one defeat). The match will be remembered for Shardul Thakur's seven-wicket haul and also Virat Kohli's absence due to a back spasm. In his stead, KL Rahul led the side. The series finale at Newlands, Cape Town starts January 11. Catch highlights of SA vs IND, second Test:
9:23 PM IST: Result
Dean Elgar hits the winning runs, a four, off Ravi Ashwin. A seven-wicket win to level the series. He remains unbeaten on 96 off 188.
9:20 PM IST: Three More
Shardul Thakur is frustrated. Temba Bavuma pulls out at the last moment and some expletives from the Indian bowler. Wry smile for the umpire as he calms Thakur down. And Mohammed Siraj continues his chat with Dean Elgar. Bavuma pulls out for the second time. He then latches onto a bouncer and a four to square leg boundary. A hit away. A couple more. South Africa need three runs. SA - 237/3 (67)
9:15 PM IST: Body Blow
Ravi Ashwin back. Temba Bavuma slog sweeps the third ball with some power and hits Hanuma Vihari on the shoulder at forward short leg. Nasty. South Africa need 10 runs. SA - 230/3 (66)
9:11 PM IST: Proteas On The Charge
Mohammed Siraj with his 6th over and Dean Elgar hits him for back-to-back fours, to mid-on and to third man. Then, five wides, third today. Bouncer, bouncer... one for the over! Elgar guides the fourth over the cordon for another four. And fifty-run stand in 65 balls. Siraj says something to Elgar. 18 from the over. South Africa need 11 runs. Elgar on 89. SA - 229/3 (65)
9:02 PM IST: 34 More
Mohammed Siraj gets his first over today. Six from the over -- one wide and five singles. South Africa need 34 runs. SA - 206/3 (63).
Mohammed Shami is off the field. He's seen tending to his bowling shoulder.
8:56 PM IST: Lights On
Jasprit Bumrah returns. Temba Bavuma hits the fifth ball for a four. Lights on. Still overcast conditions, but the Protea batters have no issue dealing with Indian pacers. South Africa need 40 runs. SA - 200/3 (62)
8:51 PM IST: SA Need 46
Shardul Thakur with his 15th over. Temba Bavuma takes a couple off the first ball. India running out of time here. South Africa need 46 runs. SA - 194/3 (61)
8:39 PM IST: Proteas Inch Closer
Dean Elgar hits Mohammed Shami for back-to-back fours off the second and third balls. South Africa need 50 runs. SA - 190/3 (58)
8:33 PM IST: Dropped Catch
Shardul Thakur drops Temba Bavuma. Overcommitted. Bavuma hits back the second ball and Thakur, on the follow on, sticks his right hand and it doesn't stick. Massive moment. South Africa need 59 runs. SA - 181/3 (57)
8:28 PM IST: Proteas Need 60
Mohammed Shami continues, his 15th over. Dean Elgar flashes hard on the third and flies over the second slip for a four. In the previous over, Shardul Thakur conceded a single. South Africa need 60 runs. SA - 180/3 (56)
8:20 PM IST: Shami Strikes
Mohammed Shami breaks the stand, 81 runs in 160 balls, with the wicket of Rassie van der Dussen (40 off 92). Caught at first slip by Cheteshwar Pujara. Temba Bavuma is the new man. South Africa need 65 runs. SA - 175/3 (54)
8:08 PM IST: Bowling Change
Shardul Thakur on. Half chance. Rassie van der Dussen gets lucky. Beats the cordon for a four. No gully. And an awkward bounce. Rassie then stands tall and plays a delicate back foot drive for a four. South Africa need 68 runs. 54 in 11 overs today. Proteas are on top. SA - 172/2 (51)
8:02 PM IST: Desperate India
Massive over. Rassie van der Dussen hits Mohammed Shami for back-to-back fours, then a bouncer for five wides, second today. 14 from the over. South Africa need 79 runs. SA - 161/2 (50)
7:58 PM IST: Proteas In Command
Jasprit Bumrah with his 15th over. Rassie van der Dussen hits the fifth ball for a four, a brilliant cover drive. Wet ball and Indians are not happy. New old balls. South Africa need 93 runs. SA - 147/2 (49)
7:51 PM IST: 50-run Stand
Fifty-run stand in 12 balls between Dean Elgar (54 off 143) and Rassie van der Dussen (18 off 63) for the third wicket. Two singles from Mohammed Shami's 11th over. Beating the edges but not doing enough. South Africa need 97 runs. SA - 143/2 (48)
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7:45 PM IST: Proteas Need 99
Jasprit Bumrah continues. Rassie van der Dussen takes a couple off the fourth and South Africa need less than 100 now. India running out of means. Need wickets. SA - 141/2 (47)
7:40 PM IST: Bowling Change
Mohammed Shami with his 10th over. A maiden to Dean Elgar. South Africa need 101 runs. SA - 139/2 (46)
7:33 PM IST: 50 For Elgar
Dean Elgar hits the fifth ball for a four to bring up his fifty, in 131 balls. 44-run stand in 100 balls for the third wicket with Rassie van der Dussen (13). South Africa need 103 runs. SA - 137/2 (44)
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7:29 PM IST: India In A Spot
Jasprit Bumrah continues. And more extras. The fourth ball goes over the Rassie van der Dussen and Rishabh Pant can only watch it go for five wides. South Africa need 108 runs. SA - 132/2 (43)
7:23 PM IST: Spin On
Ravichandran Ashwin into the attack. More extras. Three leg byes off the second ball. South Africa need 117 runs. SA - 123/2 (42)
7:19 PM IST: Play Starts
Jasprit Bumrah with the first over the day. Rassie van der Dussen on strike. Two leg byes off the third ball. South Africa need 120 runs. SA - 120/2 (41)
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7:00 PM IST: 15 Minutes To Start
India need eight wickets. South Africa need 122 runs. 34 overs is more than enough to have a result.
6:25 PM IST: Good news. Play will start 7:15 PM IST/3.45 PM local time. And 34 overs to be bowled. Conditions permitting, expect an extended session.
6:19 PM IST: Tea taken. Conditions have improved significantly. Some action in the scheduled final session.
5:57 PM IST: Rain has stopped and super sopper is in action. Covers are coming off.
5:18 PM IST: The situation hasn't changed. It's still raining. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal has reacted to the Novak Djokovic controversy.
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4:24 PM IST: It's still raining.
3:30 PM IST: It's Lunch!
3:12 PM IST: Expect an early lunch soon with no play yet. Conditions remain gloomy. Still raining.
2:40 PM IST: Meanwhile, here's what awaits Indian cricket and world sports in 2022.
2:32 PM IST: It's still raining. Not heavy but more than enough to keep everyone indoors. One hour's play is lost.
2:13 PM IST: Here's more on the Indian squad for the Women's World Cup -- who are Renuka Singh, Meghna Singh and Yastika Bhatia -- a brief profile?
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1:30 PM IST: Start of play delayed due to rain.
This has largely been a bowlers' Test match and if the way bowlers on either side have performed, Day 4 is perfectly set up. South African captain Dean Elgar will be the home team's main man. He has shown tremendous fighting spirit and taken a few body blows.
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While India will look for a couple of quick breakthroughs, South Africa will hope that their batsmen apply themselves on a wearing Wanderers pitch and keep the scoreboard ticking against a formidable Indian pace attack and a vastly experienced spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin.
The Wanderers Test has swung back and forth on Day 3 on Wednesday as India put themselves on the brink of a dominant, series-clinching position in their second innings at 155 for 2, only to falter and lose their last eight wickets for 110 runs.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane scored timely fifties but that advantage was somewhat lost as the lower order failed. India were ultimately bowled out for 266, giving South Africa a sight at victory and a chance to send the series to a deciding Test in Cape Town next week.
