Pune: India are three wickets away from registring a record win against South Africa as the visitors have been reduced to 172 runs for the loss of seven wickets at Tea on Day four of the ongoing second Test, here, on Sunday at the Maharashtra Cricket Association.
Just like in Proteas' first innings, South African tailenders Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj are once again fighting a losing battle.
At the end of the second session, the South Africans were trailing India by 154 runs with three wickets in hand at tea after starting the second innings 326 runs in arrears.
In the post-lunch session, Ravindra Jadeja (2/47 in 19 overs) removed Quinton de Kock (5) and Temba Bavuma (38) while Mohammed Shami (1/34 in 9 overs), with a short delivery, got rid of Senuran Muthusamy (9).
However, Philander (29 batting) and Maharaj (17 batting) again came together to delay the inevitable adding 43 runs in 16.1 overs.
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India are closing in on a series victory against South Africa in Pune!
— ICC (@ICC) October 13, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Standing in their way once again are Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander. The Proteas are 172/7 and need 154 runs to make the hosts bat again.#INDvSA 👇https://t.co/9BbEbVI5BA pic.twitter.com/BKFktVAUz5
">India are closing in on a series victory against South Africa in Pune!
— ICC (@ICC) October 13, 2019
Standing in their way once again are Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander. The Proteas are 172/7 and need 154 runs to make the hosts bat again.#INDvSA 👇https://t.co/9BbEbVI5BA pic.twitter.com/BKFktVAUz5India are closing in on a series victory against South Africa in Pune!
— ICC (@ICC) October 13, 2019
Standing in their way once again are Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander. The Proteas are 172/7 and need 154 runs to make the hosts bat again.#INDvSA 👇https://t.co/9BbEbVI5BA pic.twitter.com/BKFktVAUz5
In the morning, the stodgy Dean Elgar (48 off 72 balls) put up some stiff resistance before Ravichandran Ashwin (2/45 in 21 overs) snuffed him out, in what was a decisive blow for the Proteas just before lunch.
After going wicketless in the first innings, Ishant Sharma (1/17 off 5 overs) struck with the very second delivery of the morning, a full-length in-dipper that struck Aiden Markram's pads (0) and umpire Nigel Llong raised his finger.
After a long discussion with non-striker Elgar, Markram didn't opt for the review but TV replays clearly showed the ball was missing the leg-stump. The opener thus had the ignominy of bagging a ''pair'' in this Test.
However, it was Wriddhiman Saha's superb keeping skills that had all those present on the edge of their seats, as he showed why he is so highly rated for his glovework.
On the third morning during South African first innings, poor Theunis de Bruyn (8) had suffered trying to play an expansive cover drive off Umesh Yadav (1/14 off 5 overs) that Saha had plucked from thin air in-front of the first slip.
On the fourth morning, De Bruyn tried playing a delicate glance after Umesh had drifted on the pads. To his horror, he saw an airborne Saha pull off an acrobatic stunner that left everyone on the edge of their seats.
Elgar and skipper Faf du Plessis (5 off 54 balls) added 49 runs and were ready to show patience, especially the skipper, who was presenting dead bat.
However, the ultra-defensive tactic didn't work for a lengthy period as Du Plessis got out trying to drive an Ashwin off-break. The bat-pad inside edge kept low but Saha's sharp reflexes meant that he pouched it on the fourth attempt.
Elgar, who lost a bit of concentration, tried to play a lofted shot but didn't get his timing right as Umesh ran back from his mid-off position to take a fine running catch.
Brief Scores:
India 1st innings: 601 for 5 declared
South Africa 1st innings: 275 all out & 172 for 7 in 61 overs (Dean Elgar 48; Ravichandran Ashwin 2/45).
