New Delhi, December 4 - South Africa coach Russell Domingo praised the Indian bowlers after a disappointing performance by his batsmen in the first innings of the fourth and final Test against India at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Friday.
The visitors struggled on a pitch that is slowly beginning to offer some extra turn to the spinners. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja made good use of the conditions to claim five wickets.
The Proteas were bundled out for a meagre total of 121 runs in reply to India's first innings total of 334.
There was some movement on offer for the fast bowlers as well, with Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma producing an excellent display of pace bowling.
Although some of the South African dismissals were due to genuinely good deliveries, several of their batsmen virtually gifted away their wickets with poorly executed shots.
"There were a few dismissals that could be deemed as soft. But some of them were due to very good bowling. The dismissals of Temba Bavuma and Dane Vilas, for example. There was some very good bowling by the Indian spinners, in particular," Domingo said after the second day’s play.
“They deserve credit for the way they bowled. But having said that, we also take responsibility for some very soft dismissals,” he added.
The hosts have decided against enforcing the follow-on and will bat on in their quest to drive home the advantage.
But Domingo asserted that the match is far from over and the South Africans will try to claw their way back into the reckoning on Saturday.
“You got to keep believing. We are a long way behind in the game. I suppose it will be foolish to put money on South Africa winning this Test match from here."
“But cricket is a strange game. If we can bowl them out for less than 120 in the second innings, a target of around 320 will mean we will have a chance of winning. We know we are a long way behind and we are being very optimistic by saying we can win. But cricket is a strange game,” he added.
Agency