South Africa strikes back before the magic of Bumrah turns the tide

Jasprit Bumrah delivered two late hits to leave South Africa 94/4 ahead of day five of the Centurion Test, with the hosts still needing 211 runs to win.

EVALUATION

Picking up again at 16/1, the Indian batters had a clear task ahead of them – to extend the lead as much as possible. KL Rahul and night watchman Shardul Thakur were vigilant for the first few minutes, while the South African pacemakers maintained a disciplined line and length.

Shardul would begin opening his bat with a six against Marco Jansen. But the inconsistent jump in the square would soon surface when Kagiso dismissed Rabada Shardul for 10 with a delivery that started a length.

Ngidi would then continue his brilliant form from the first innings by snapping Rahul for 23rd Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.

They did just that while putting down a few bad deliveries when India paused with a score of 79/3, 209 runs ahead.

The hosts had the perfect start to the second session as Jansen took Kohli out with the very first delivery after lunch. Trying to drive against a wide delivery proved Kohli’s curse again when he went back to the pavilion for 18.

Ajinkya Rahane went out with an aggressive intent and played some beautiful shots from the start. He was unable to develop a partnership with Pujara, however, as the latter was fired while attempting to nudge the ball down the side of his leg on a delivery that went down his leg. Pujara got a slight tickle and was gone for sixteen.

Rahane would follow on the next over, as a short delivery from Jansen served the purpose. Rahane grabbed the hook and punched his way down to Rassie van der Dussen after a well-made 20.

Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin then formed an important 35-person partnership that would further extend India’s lead. Both played their punches as the runs began to flow. Rabada eventually ended the booth with a peach from a shipment that grabbed Ashwin’s glove and dragged it down the gully, putting an end to his knock of 14.

After Ashwin left, Pant turned up the tempo even further and played some glorious strokes. The uneven nature of the pitch would be his doom when Rabada’s delivery awkwardly ricocheted, resulting in his sacking for 34.

The Proteas then dropped the Indian tail relatively quickly, but the guests had managed to postpone the tour beyond 300. The goal was for the hosts to need 305 runs to win a day and a half before the end of the game.

Mohammad Shami would have a great start in India when Aiden Markram hacked one on his own stumps for 1. Skipper Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen then had to pass a tough test from Shami and Jasprit Bumrah in their short break before tea. There were some tight calls, but they made it through the break on 22/1.

The couple started the last session steadily and defended with great equanimity. The all-important breakthrough for India would come from Siraj thirty minutes after the last session. Petersen, who was looking at the crease quite calmly, received a delivery that took shape late. This would result in an outside edge in Pant’s hands which would end his strike at 17.

Elgar would be supported by Rassie van der Dussen and the couple would create another important partnership for the hosts. The Indians tried their best and switched bowlers to get another wicket. But the two batterers were quite robust and determined in their approach, left the ball and defended well.

India took some magic to end the determined stance and Skipper Kohli turned to Jasprit Bumrah. And, as so often, the pacemaker turned up the heat. He got Rassie van der Dussen for the first time with an absolute miracle delivery that came back sharply from the surface to knock over his stumps. The South African batter was in disbelief when he went back to the pavilion for 11am.

Elgar then brought up a grim half-century to which the night watchman Keshav Maharaj also came. In the final over of the day, Bumrah struck again with a hissing Yorker, knocking Maharaj’s stumps over and turning the tide in India’s favor.

On the fifth and final day, India now needs six wickets to win, while South Africa needs 211 runs, with their skipper Elgar being the key man.

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