Still breathing: Gritty South Africa stay in the fight, India need six wickets on Day 5 to breach fortress Centurion

Centurion, December 29

South Africa captain Dean Elgar scored an unbeaten 52 against India as the hosts showed a dogged determination to stay in the fight on a spicy wicket and closed the fourth day on 94 for four in the first Test at Centurion Park today.

The wicket has variable bounce so if we keep bowling the right areas then we’re in a good position in the game. We need to keep hitting those lengths consistently Vikram Rathour, India batting coach

South Africa are still 211 runs off their record victory target at the venue of 305 on a wicket that is treacherous for the batsmen with sideways movement, but also variable bounce.

Some deliveries are staying low and others spitting off the surface with exaggerated bounce.

They will need to negotiate the skillful India attack on the final day as the tourists attempt to secure a victory on the way to a hoped for first-ever series win in South Africa with Tests in Johannesburg and Cape Town to follow.

South Africa lost Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj and Rassie van der Dussen, who showed great patience for his 11 from 65 balls before he was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah with a superb in-swinger while not offering a shot.

The highest fourth innings score to win at Centurion Park is 251/8 by England in 2000, an infamous Test where both teams agreed to forfeit an innings after rain to force a result.

The next best successful chase is 226/4 by South Africa against Pakistan in 1998.

India implode

India were earlier bowled out for 174 in their second innings, the South African seamers expertly using the conditions with Kagiso Rabada and 21-year-old left-arm debutant Marco Jansen the chief wicket-takers.

None of the tourists’ batsmen were able to get settled at the crease with Rishabh Pant the top scorer as he tried to take it to the bowlers.

There was more disappointment for India captain Virat Kohli (18) as he chased a wide delivery for the second time in the Test and was caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off the bowling of Jansen.

In 14 Tests since the start of 2020, Kohli has scored 652 runs at an average of 26.08, almost half his career average before this Test of 50.65. — Reuters

652 In 14 Tests since the start of 2020, Kohli has scored 652 runs at an average of 26.08, almost half his career average before this Test of 50.65.

Scoreboard

India 1st innings 327

South Africa 1st innings 197

India 2nd innings

KL Rahul c Elgar b Ngidi 23

M Agarwal c de Kock b Jansen 4

S Thakur c Mulder b Rabada 10

C Pujara c de Kock b Ngidi 16

V Kohli c de Kock b Jansen 18

A Rahane c van der Dussen b Jansen 20

R Pant c Ngidi b Rabada 34

R Ashwin c Petersen b Rabada 14

M Shami c Mulder b Rabada 1

J Bumrah not out 7

M Siraj b Jansen 0

Extras: (b 17, lb 4, nb 6) 27

Total: (All out, 50.3 overs) 174

FOW: 1-12, 2-34, 3-54, 4-79, 5-109, 6-111, 7-146, 8-166, 9-169

Bowling O M R W

Kagiso Rabada 17 4 42 4

Lungi Ngidi 10 2 31 2

Marco Jansen 13.3 4 55 4

Wiaan Mulder 10 4 25 0

South Africa 2nd innings

A Markram b Shami 1

D Elgar not out 52

K Petersen c Pant b Siraj 17

R van der Dussen b Bumrah 11

K Maharaj b Bumrah 8

Extras: (lb 1, nb 4) 5

Total: (4 wickets, 40.5 overs) 94

FOW: 1-1, 2-34, 3-74, 4-94

Bowling O M R W

Jasprit Bumrah 11.5 2 22 2

Mohammed Shami 9 2 29 1

Mohammed Siraj 11 4 25 1

Shardul Thakur 5 0 11 0

Ravichandran Ashwin 4 1 6 0