South Africa Fight It Out But India On Top, Score 94/4

Cricket Image for South Africa Fight It Out But India On Top, Score 94/4 (Image Source: AFP)

Captain Dean Elgar fought well to keep South African hopes alive, at least to draw the game, but Indians ended day 4 on top. 

Resuming the day at 16/1, Shardul Thakur, who came in as the nightwatchman on day 3, started the proceedings with a six over backward point but soon got out off Kagiso Rabada. 

Rabada and Lungi Ngidi made use of the new ball to consistently trouble the Indian batters and cut the run-scoring. KL Rahul added 18 runs to his overnight score of five and edged the ball to the slips off Ngidi. 

Virat Kohli joined Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease. Kohli, as he usually does, looked solid at the crease but wasn't shy not to score on the ball he thought should be hit for four. 

On the first ball after lunch, Kohli was dismissed as he tried an off-drive on delivery, and edged it. Debutant Marco Jansen picked up this wicket. After Kohli's departure, Pujara and Rahane etched a partnership of 30 runs from 30 balls, as Indians looked to pile on the scoreboard to set a target. 

Pujara was again dismissed by Lungi Ngidi. Ajinkya Rahane followed in the next over, dismissed by Jansen after scoring 20 runs. Then, Ravi Ashwin & Rishabh Pant stitched a partnership of 35 off 38 balls. Pant played a useful hand of 34 runs off 34 balls with 6 boundaries and was the highest scorer of the innings for India. 

In the 45th over, Ashwin was dismissed by Rabada after scoring 14 runs. 2 overs later, Pant was dismissed while trying to hit a big shot against Rabada. Shami was dismissed in the next over by Rabada and finally, Jansen bowled Siraj on a duck to restrict India at 174. Rabada & Jansen remained the highest wicket-takers for South Africa in the second innings, with 4 scalps each.

South Africa started off their 2nd innings, with a target of 305 runs to chase down. South Africa had a jittery start, as Mohammad Shami, who picked up 5 wickets in the first innings, dismissed Aiden Markram on the 3rd delivery of his first over and 2nd over of the South African innings. 

The third session saw Siraj getting the edge off Keegan Peterson, who scored 17 off 36. However, Rassie Van der Dussen and Dean Elgar stitched a crucial 40 runs stand in 137 balls to frustrate the Indians. 

Bumrah got the much-needed breakthrough in the form of Van der Dussen, who misjudged the delivery that crashed straight into his off-stump. With the day ending, South Africa sent in Keshav Maharaj as nightwatchman. He survived 18 deliveries. In the last over of the day, Maharaj had to face Bumrah. 

He played the first four balls nicely but Bumrah being Bumrah, bowled a perfect yorker and Maharaj couldn't do anything about it. 
India now need six wickets to win while South Africa need 211 runs on the final day, which is expected to have several rain interruptions. 

Brief Scorecard: 

South Africa - 94/4