| 0.0 : New year, trailing in the series, now a venue which is South Africa's best in their nation - these are enough pointers to what a 'tough' Test tour means. Pace, bounce and movement were what they had to counter in the first game and there won't be any respite from at least the first two aspects in the second one. Welcome to our coverage of the second Test between South Africa and India which will be played at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Picture this - the hosts have won 17 of the 22 games that |
| Virat Kohli's record of not losing a series since he became India's full-time Test captain is under some serious threat. The pre-match talks suggest a definite change for the visitors at the top of the order. Will Ajinkya Rahane play? We'll find out that. For the hosts, only Dale Steyn's spot is up for grabs and it will be interesting to see the route that they take in that respect. Do any surprises await us? We'll know that in a while. Stay with us. |
| Pitch Report - Shaun Pollock is out there doing the pitch report. He expected a nice grass covering but that's not to be. Reckons that the bright sunshine and seriously hot temperatures out there mean that one has to bat first after winning the toss. Observes that there are patches of grass but not as thick as generally seen. Reckons that spinners will play a part as the game goes on. Expects some reverse swing later, too. Ends saying that it is a bat-first surface although seamers will get some |
| Toss - Virat Kohli calls heads but the coin lands in favour of Faf du Plessis. SOUTH AFRICA WILL BAT FIRST. Early advantage? Maybe. |
| Faf du Plessis, the South African skipper, reasons about his decision, that the history of the ground says that it is slow on Day 1 and the cracks are expected later. States that spin doesn't play a massive part here. Reckons that they expect India to come back hard at them as they are a quality opposition. Looks to improve on the performance in the first game. Announces that Lungi Ngidi makes his Test debut and that's the only change for them, which is a forced one as Dale Steyn is out injured. |
| The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, would have liked to bat first as well. Is surprised to see a very dry surface on offer. Aims to extract confidence from their bowling performance from the first game. Reckons that they would look to extract whatever is on offer in the initial hour. Mentions that they have one forced change in Parthiv Patel, who comes in for Wriddhiman Saha, who has an hamstring niggle and the team doesn't want to risk the same. Adds further that KL Rahul comes in for Shikhar Dhaw |
| Here's a view about the team changes. Though Morris was widely touted to replace Steyn, Ngidi makes his Test debut and that isn't a great surprise. For the tourists though, Kumar had a good outing with the ball and a decent one with the bat. Sharma replacing him is a touch unexpected, although a good performance would render these talks useless. And yes, no Ajinkya Rahane yet again. For now, both the sides line up for the national anthems. It will be India's first followed by South Africa's. |
| The anthems act as an additional motivation for the sides who turn up to play the sport, if representing the country wasn't motivating enough. That is done and dusted now. The players and the umpires walk out to take their positions on the ground. Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram are the two men for the hosts who walk out with the willow. For the visitors, Jasprit Bumrah will have the first feel of the new ball. Three slips and a gully stand in anticipation. |
| 0.1 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Right on the money. Bumrah runs in from over the wicket and lands it on a length at 142 kph in line of the stumps. Elgar goes back and presents a straight bat face as he keeps it out towards point. |
| 0.2 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Length ball on middle and leg, blocked towards mid-wicket. |
| 0.3 : J Bumrah to Elgar, On a length in line of the stumps, blocked solidly from the crease. |
| Short leg in place. |
| 0.4 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Elgar misses the flick and gets it off the thigh pad towards short leg. |
| 0.5 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Nicely bowled. Back of a length ball around leg, Dean fails to flick it. Gets it off his pads towards the slip cordon. |
| 0.6 : J Bumrah to Elgar, A touch fuller this one, Elgar comes half-forward and defends it. A maiden to begin for Bumrah. |
| Mohammed Shami to run in from the other end. |
| 1.1 : M Shami to Markram, This is hurled on a fuller length outside off, Markram lets it go. |
| 1.2 : M Shami to Markram, Full and outside off, Markram just lets it be. |
| 1.3 : M Shami to A Markram, There is the slowness of the surface on display. Shami lands it on a length outside off at 134 kph. Normally a slap shot to this one would go nicely to the fielder or to the fence. But here, the ball didn't come quickly and Markram ends up mistiming his shot. |
| 1.4 : M Shami to Markram, On a length around off, a hint of movement there. Markram gets solidly behind it and defends. |
| 1.5 : M Shami to Markram, Full outside off, shouldered arms to. Bit of movement on this occasion too. |
| 1.6 : M Shami to Markram, Straight delivery just outside off, Markram points his bat skywards and lets it go. A maiden for Shami as well. |
| 2.1 : J Bumrah to Elgar, That's the line Bumrah! He lands it on a length around off. The pace is 146 kph. Elgar is unsure whether to get forward or stay back. Has a tame poke at that and ends up getting an inside edge through his pads. The ball rolls towards short fine leg and a run is taken. Account opened. |
| 2.2 : J Bumrah to Markram, This is outside off, left alone. |
| 2.3 : J Bumrah to Markram, Well kept, Parthiv. Jasprit strays down the leg side and the ball moves further down the leg side. Markram fails with his flick. Patel dives full stretch and stops a certain boundary. |
| 2.4 : J Bumrah to Markram, Length ball on off, Aiden gets it off the inner half through mid-wicket for one. |
| 2.5 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Nicely punched through mid-wicket. Elgar gets a couple for doing so. |
| 2.6 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Length ball on line of the stumps, defended from the crease. |
| 3.1 : M Shami to Markram, Fuller outside off, Aiden strides forward and lets it go. The ball moved in substantially after passing the batsman. |
| 3.2 : M Shami to Markram, On a length outside off, Markram looks to cut but only manages a bottom edge towards slips. |
| 3.3 : M Shami to Markram, FOUR! How beautifully timed is this one! Shami hurls it on a length outside off, Markram stands tall and punches it through covers. Plenty of real estate there and the ball speeds away to the fence. That's the first boundary of the game and Aiden's blade gets it. |
| 3.4 : M Shami to Markram, FOUR! Shami overcorrects, pays the price. In a bid to bowl straighter, he strays on the pads. Markram keeps his balance and flicks it nonchalantly through mid-wicket. Ishant gives it a chase from mid on but has no chance of cutting that off. A good fast outfield this. |
| 3.5 : M Shami to Markram, AM defends it from within the crease. |
| 3.6 : M Shami to Markram, This is well outside off to make Markram play. 8 runs off this over. |
| 4.1 : J Bumrah to D Elgar, Hurled on a length around off, Elgar guides it to third slip where Rahul fields it. |
| 4.2 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Angled away on a length, Elgar covers his stumps and lets the ball pass. |
| 4.3 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Fuller around off, driven towards mid off. |
| 4.4 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Similar delivery, pushed defensively towards mid off. |
| 4.5 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Back of a length ball angling away, Dean just lets it be. |
| As the camera rolls towards Hashim Amla in the dressing room, Sunil Gavaskar on air says that he is as cool as an ice-berg. Amla would love that to be more than just an adjective given the hot conditions on the ground. |
| 4.6 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Careful Elgar! Similar delivery angling away from Dean, he looks to put bat to that before withdrawing the same. Needn't play at those. |
| 5.1 : M Shami to Markram, Length ball around off, blocked. |
| 0.0 : There is a man at a catching position square on the off side. A close cover-point you can say. |
| 5.2 : M Shami to Markram, Full outside off, left alone. |
| Both batsmen are batting a fraction outside the crease, observes Mike Haysman on air. Perhaps to counter any little movement that is on offer. |
| 5.3 : M Shami to Markram, Markram hangs on the back foot and blocks this one. |
| 5.4 : M Shami to Markram, Another ball on a length, but too wide to make Aiden play. He shoulders arms. |
| 5.5 : M Shami to Markram, Fine shot. Length ball outside off, Markram punches it nicely through point. Almost similar to the ball that fetched him his first boundary. But this time there is protection in the deep and only a brace results as deep backward point runs to his right to cut it off. |
| 5.6 : M Shami to Markram, Fuller on off, defended watchfully. Another over where Shami has conceded a boundary. He hasn't been incisive enough yet. |
| 6.1 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Length ball slanting away, Elgar lets it be unhampered. |
| 6.2 : J Bumrah to Elgar, On a length on the pads, tucked away through backward square leg for one. |
| 6.3 : J Bumrah to Markram, Fuller on off, flicked straight to short mid on who is a touch wider. Wasn't one of those soft flicks as Pandya flinches after stopping that. |
| 6.4 : J Bumrah to Markram, Similar delivery, defended back towards the bowler. |
| 6.5 : J Bumrah to Markram, Well outside off, left alone. |
| 6.6 : J Bumrah to Markram, Brilliant delivery to end the over. On a length around off, it comes back in viciously. Cuts Markram into half and flies to Patel who has to dive well to his left to pouch that. |
| Ishant Sharma is introduced into the attack. Technically he is the most experienced bowler in the side yet he isn't a regular starter. This is his comeback game and he would look to extract some bounce from the surface. |
| 7.1 : I Sharma to Elgar, Starts off with a ball on off and middle, Elgar comes forward and blocks. |
| 7.2 : I Sharma to Elgar, Peach! Angled away from the batter on a length, Elgar has a feel for that but misses. Almost edged that one, similar to the way he had got out in the first innings of the first game. |
| Nice point. Seeing Elgar beaten all ends up on the previous ball, Gavaskar opines that he would have loved Ishant to have taken the new ball straightaway. Although the ball is 7 overs old now, meaning not too old, a newer cherry would have behaved differently out of Sharma's hand, he reckons. |
| 7.3 : I Sharma to Elgar, Elgar taps this length ball towards cover-point and sets across to the other end. |
| 7.4 : I Sharma to Markram, Outside off, left alone. |
| 7.5 : I Sharma to Markram, Fuller in line of the stumps, flicked towards mid-wicket. |
| 7.6 : I Sharma to Markram, This is bowled outside off, left alone by Markram. 140 kph says the speed gun. |
| 8.1 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Bumrah comes round the wicket and serves it on a length outside off. Elgar opens the bat face and plays it past third slip, where Rohit dives but fails to field. Gets a couple. |
| 8.2 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Length outside off, Elgar gets forward and blocks it towards gully. |
| 8.3 : J Bumrah to Elgar, On a length on the pads, Elgar misses the flick and takes a leg bye as the ball rolls towards backward square leg. |
| 8.4 : J Bumrah to Markram, This is outside off, left alone. |
| 8.5 : J Bumrah to Markram, Aiden has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 8.6 : J Bumrah to Markram, Another ball that is well outside off, Markram gets a stride forward and lets it go. |
| 9.1 : I Sharma to Elgar, Length ball around middle and leg, Elgar goes back to defend but gets it off the shoulder of the bat to the vacant short leg region. THAT extra bounce talked about, extracted from Sharma. |
| 9.2 : I Sharma to Elgar, Well bowled again. Angles this fuller delivery away from Elgar. He is forced to play on the length but gets beaten on the outside. Looks to be in nice rhythm does Ishant. |
| 9.3 : I Sharma to Elgar, A bit fuller around off, Elgar gets it off the inner half through square leg for a couple. |
| 9.4 : I Sharma to Elgar, Full on off and middle, blocked back towards the bowler. |
| 9.5 : I Sharma to Elgar, Confused Elgar? He largely seemed assured when he got those heaps of runs last year but here the case is different. Sharma bowls it around the good length area, Elgar is late to lift his bat to let it go. Ends up wearing it on the back glove and the ball dies down on the off side. |
| 9.6 : I Sharma to Elgar, Angled away outside off, Dean lets it be. |
| Change of ends for Mohammed Shami. |
| 10.1 : M Shami to Markram, FOUR! A Gateway of India in Cape Town? Let me explain. This is full and outside off, a hint of movement away from the batter. Markram gets his stride forward and drives it through covers. Bumrah is stationed there and puts in a lousy effort and lets the ball go through his legs. The ball's next destination is the boundary fence. |
| 10.2 : M Shami to A Markram, Now this one is bowled straighter. Aiden gets it off the inner half through square leg and collects two. |
| 10.3 : M Shami to Markram, FOUR! Another glorious shot, not great bowling though. Shami overpitches this outside off, Markram gets ahead and drives it nicely through the vacant cover region for a boundary. |
| 10.4 : M Shami to Markram, Length ball on off, defended from the crease. |
| 10.5 : M Shami to Markram, Markram is seeing the cricket ball well. He stays still and works it away in front of square on the leg side. Rohit from mid-wicket chases it down and saves a run for his side. |
| Good observation. Sanjay Manjrekar analyses Markram's batting. In the first game, Aiden was playing with an angled bat and hence was edging some deliveries to the slip cordon. Here, he is consciously trying to play as well as leave with a straight bat. Nice to see the rectification. |
| 10.6 : M Shami to Elgar, Length ball on the stumps, defended towards square leg. 13 runs of Shami's comeback over. |
| 11.1 : I Sharma to Markram, Bowled outside off, left alone. |
| 11.2 : I Sharma to Markram, Hurled straight outside off, AM leaves it alone. |
| 11.3 : I Sharma to Markram, Edged but safe. Markram looks to defend this one but gets an outside edge to third slip on the bounce. |
| 11.4 : I Sharma to Markram, Good running. Markram taps this towards mid-wicket and gets to the other end quickly. |
| 11.5 : I Sharma to D Elgar, Length ball angling away, Elgar gets a soft outside edge towards fourth slip. Sharma is continuing to probe away without much success. |
| 11.6 : I Sharma to Elgar, Well away from the off stump, Elgar lets it be. |
| Hardik Pandya into the attack now. He looked impressive in the first Test and with India desperate for a wicket, Pandya would look to make his mark right away. |
| 12.1 : H Pandya to Markram, Begins with a ball well outside off, Markram doesn't bother putting bat to that. |
| 12.2 : H Pandya to Markram, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 12.3 : H Pandya to Markram, Full outside off, Markram gets his front foot forward and lets it go. Patel was moving to his left to collect it on the initial angle but has to adjust to the late movement to his right. |
| 12.4 : H Pandya to Markram, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| With Parthiv Patel in the side today for Wriddhiman Saha, the comparisons between the two are inevitable. Sanjay Manjrekar on air opines that he isn't a big fan of the former. Harsha Bhogle does well to remind us all that the left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman had made his debut early in the last decade. He has improved his glovework yet remains only a second choice. Back then, Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni were preferred over him and now it is Saha. In the end, Bhogle quips wittily - However good o |
| 12.5 : H Pandya to Markram, This one is defended from the crease. |
| 12.6 : H Pandya to Markram, Another ball on a length, blocked from the crease. Pandya begins with a maiden. |
| 13.1 : I Sharma to D Elgar, Almost! Elgar is surviving with those inside edges that he is getting constantly. Looks to defend this full length ball but ends up getting an inside edge that just passes next to the leg stick. |
| 13.2 : I Sharma to Elgar, Length ball outside off, left alone. |
| 13.3 : I Sharma to Elgar, DE has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 13.4 : I Sharma to Elgar, Bouncer but not well directed. It is bowled down the leg side and Elgar watches it sail to the keeper. |
| 13.5 : I Sharma to Elgar, Length ball, tapped in front of covers for one. |
| 13.6 : I Sharma to Markram, Fuller on off, defended with a straight bat from the crease. No maidens yet but Ishant's figures at this point read 4-0-5-0. Probing spell. |
| Time for the first drinks break in the game. The Protea openers have done well to negotiate this first hour. No real help for the seamers and that Shami was indisciplined didn't help the Indians. Bumrah bowled well but Ishant was the more probing of the seamers on show so far. Can he draw first blood soon? Hope the break rejuvenates them. Markram has looked assured in his stay out there while Elgar has been a touch tentative. How long will they carry on? |
| 14.1 : H Pandya to Elgar, A huge appeal but an ambitious one! Pandya bowls it on the pads, Elgar misses the flick and gets hit on the pads. Hardik makes a huge appeal but the umpire shakes his head. It has surely pitched outside leg. |
| 14.2 : H Pandya to Elgar, Better line! He bowls it on a length outside off, Elgar lunges forward and defends it. |
| 14.3 : H Pandya to Elgar, In the channel outside off, Elgar watchfully lets it be. No movement for Pandya till now. |
| 14.4 : H Pandya to Elgar, Excellently bowled! Pandya bowls it closer to the off pole this time also gets the ball to bounce a touch extra. Elgar makes a good leave and also does well to take his gloves out of the way. |
| 14.5 : H Pandya to Elgar, This time Pandya bowls it wide outside off, wanting Elgar too play a loose shot. He resists and lets it be. |
| 14.6 : H Pandya to Elgar, Attacks the stumps this time, he also gets it to nip away after pitching. Elgar tries to defend but gets an outside edge towards covers. A good over by Pandya, a maiden. |
| 15.1 : I Sharma to Markram, Ishant continues hitting the length around off, Markram camps back and blocks it towards covers. |
| 15.2 : I Sharma to Markram, Lovely stuff from Ishant! He is really started off well here. He comes running in and first angles it into the batsman. Gets it to shape after pitching it on off, Markram tries to defend it with minimal foot movement but gets beaten. |
| 15.3 : I Sharma to Markram, This time he bowls the inswinger on middle, Markram works it towards wide mid on for a run. |
| 15.4 : I Sharma to Elgar, Fuller in length outside off, the sucker ball. Elgar shoulders his arms to it. |
| 15.5 : I Sharma to Elgar, The change of angle almost does the trick! Sharma bowls it fuller outside off, swinging away further. Elgar is drawn into the shot as he goes after it away from his body but gets beaten. Lucky he did not edge that. |
| 15.6 : I Sharma to Elgar, Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| Michael Holding on air mentions this wicket is not as green as the last one and he would have picked Bhuvneshwar Kumar over Jasprit Bumrah as the former could have got more out of the wicket. |
| 16.1 : H Pandya to Markram, Full and way outside off, the batsman has no interest in playing those. Would have been called a wide in a one day game. |
| 16.2 : H Pandya to Markram, Again bowls it wide outside off. Markram points his bat skywards and lets it be. |
| 16.3 : H Pandya to Markram, Once again Pandya does not make the batsman play as he bowls it way outside off. |
| 16.4 : H Pandya to Markram, Fourth leave in a row! Pandya bowled a really good last over but this has been a poor one. He bowls it way outside off, Markram opts not to play at it. |
| 16.5 : H Pandya to Markram, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 16.6 : H Pandya to Markram, A decent delivery to end the over! Pandya bowls it fuller around off, gets it to shape away. Markram first thinks of playing at it but then leaves it. Third maiden in a row for Pandya but this wasn't a threatening one. |
| 17.1 : I Sharma to Elgar, Lands it on a length around off, Elgar is solid in defense. |
| 17.2 : I Sharma to Elgar, Tucks it with the angle to mid-wicket. |
| 17.3 : I Sharma to Elgar, Good length on off, Elgar, awkwardly tucks it to mid-wicket. It has been a scratchy innings by him till now. |
| 17.4 : I Sharma to Elgar, Good length but outside off, Elgar need not play at it. |
| 17.5 : I Sharma to Elgar, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 17.6 : I Sharma to Elgar, Changes his angle and goes over the wicket but bowls it way outside off. The batsman need not play at those. |
| 18.1 : H Pandya to Markram, Just ahead of a length on off, Markram defends it towards covers. |
| 18.2 : H Pandya to Markram, Some excitement there! Pandya bends his back and bowls it short. He gets good bounce from the surface. Markram tries to pull but he misses and Patel behind jumps and collects it well. There is a muted appeal from the Indians but is is cut short by the umpire. |
| 18.3 : H Pandya to Markram, First runs off Pandya! He angles it on middle, Markram shuffles in and flicks it towards mid-wicket for a run. |
| 18.4 : H Pandya to Elgar, FOUR! First boundary for Elgar! It has come in the 19th over. He gets a full ball outside off, Elgar square drives it for a boundary. |
| 18.5 : H Pandya to Elgar, Good length on off, angling away from the batsman. Elgar defends it towards gully. |
| 18.6 : H Pandya to Elgar, Good length on off, defended towards covers. |
| Spin for the first time today! Ravichandran Ashwin is into the attack. |
| 19.1 : R Ashwin to Markram, Some turn there for Ashwin! He tosses it up on off, gets it to turn back in sharply. Markram adjusts and works it towards square leg. Encouraging sings here for the off spinner. |
| 19.2 : R Ashwin to Markram, Ashwin gives it a little more air this time on off, no turn on this ball. Markram prods forward and blocks it. |
| 19.3 : R Ashwin to Markram, Errs in line and bowls this one down the leg side. Markram lets it be. |
| 19.4 : R Ashwin to Markram, Pushes it through on off, AM defends it off the back foot. |
| 19.5 : R Ashwin to Markram, Works it to mid-wicket with the turn. |
| 19.6 : R Ashwin to Markram, Slower through the air on leg stump, turning away. Markram tries to flick but he seems to have missed it. There shouts of catch it but the keeper fails to collect it. Replays later on show there was no edge there. |
| Jasprit Bumrah is back into the attack. |
| 20.1 : J Bumrah to Elgar, Back of a length on off, DE defends it off the back foot. |
| 20.2 : J Bumrah to Elgar, FOUR! In the air...but it has been misjudged! Poor from Vijay, India needed him to take this as they are in a desperate need of a wicket. Bumrah bangs it short on middle, Elgar takes on the challenge of pulling, he connects well but fails to keep it down. The ball flies towards Murali at deep square leg who comes running in and then fails to recover, he stretches his hand out in an attempt to catch it but it goes over him and once bounce over the fence. |
| 20.3 : J Bumrah to Elgar, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 20.4 : J Bumrah to Markram, FOUR! Beautiful shot! Bumrah lands it on a length but errs in line as he bowls it on the pads. Markram uses his wrists and flicks it through mid-wicket to fetch himself a boundary. This also brings up the 50-run stand between the two. |
| 20.5 : J Bumrah to Markram, FOUR! Bad ball and dispatched! Bumrah has not got it right here. He bowls it short outside off, offers a lot of width. Markram cashes in on it as he cuts it through covers for a boundary. |
| 20.6 : J Bumrah to Markram, The batsman rocks onto the backfoot and punches the ball. 13 runs from the over. |
| 21.1 : R Ashwin to Elgar, Works it to mid-wicket with the angle. |
| 21.2 : R Ashwin to Elgar, Tosses it up on middle, Elgar defends it solidly. |
| 21.3 : R Ashwin to Elgar, Floats it outside off, Elgar lets it be. |
| 21.4 : R Ashwin to Elgar, NOT OUT! Beautiful bowling by Ashwin! He slows it up and bowls it outside off, he gets some purchase off the wicket as it turns away. Elgar goes for an expansive drive away from his body but is beaten by the bounce. Saha takes it and whips the bails off. They appeal and the umpire goes upstairs. Replays show Elgar never lifted his feet. |
| 21.5 : R Ashwin to Elgar, Flatter on middle, Elgar defends it off the back foot. |
| 21.6 : R Ashwin to Elgar, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 22.1 : J Bumrah to Markram, A good start to the over by Bumrah. He bowls it on a length around off, Makram defends it solidly. |
| 22.2 : J Bumrah to Markram, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 22.3 : J Bumrah to Markram, FOUR! Errs in line and bowls it on the pads, Markram is too good to miss out there. He flicks it through backward square leg and the ball races away. He moves on to 39. |
| 22.4 : J Bumrah to Markram, Back of a length on off, Markram pushes it to covers. |
| 22.5 : J Bumrah to Markram, Good length outside off, Markram need not play at it. |
| 22.6 : J Bumrah to Markram, Angles it into the batsman. Markram tucks it away to keep strike in the next over. |
| 23.1 : R Ashwin to Markram, Tosses it up on middle, Markram works it to mid-wicket. |
| 23.2 : R Ashwin to Markram, Works it around the corner for a run. |
| 23.3 : R Ashwin to Elgar, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| Review time! An appeal for a caught behind against Elgar has been given not out. Kohli is pretty sure about it and he reviews it. Ashwin though is not so confident. |
| 23.4 : R Ashwin to Elgar, Not out! India lose a review! Ashwin tosses it up on off, gets it to turn away sharply. Elgar lunges forward in defense but he seems to have missed it. The Indians appeals and the umpire shakes his head. Kohli without consulting anybody, he straight away signaled for a 'T'. They go upstairs and the replays show there is nothing on Snicko and hence the on-field call stays. Ashwin never seemed confident there nor did Parthiv, it was Kohli who felt there was an edge and he |
| 23.5 : R Ashwin to Elgar, Tosses it up on middle, Elgar defends it off the front foot. |
| 23.6 : R Ashwin to Elgar, Works it uppishly but away from the short leg fielder and towards square leg for a run. |
| Hardik Pandya is back into the attack. |
| 24.1 : H Pandya to Elgar, Fuller on middle, Elgar flicks it through square leg for a run. |
| 24.2 : H Pandya to Markram, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| Experience speaks! Sunil Gavaskar reckons that Murali Vijay should have done better at short leg on 23.4. Vijay was standing with his feet on either side of the crease. Gavaskar says that the fielder should either be entirely behind the crease or entirely out of the crease. Especially when a spinner is bowling, he should be well out of the crease as seldom does the ball go aerially to the left of short leg. |
| 24.3 : H Pandya to A Markram, Full ball on the stumps, driven to mid on. |
| 24.4 : H Pandya to A Markram, FOUR! Markram has been driving well since morning and he has done it to perfection again! Pandya bowls it full on off, Markram leans into it and drives it past the diving mid off fielder for a boundary. He moves onto 45. |
| 24.5 : H Pandya to Markram, FOUR! Markram is one shot of his half ton! Back-to-back boundaries for him. Pandya bangs it short at 136 kph. Markram gets into the position and pulls it with disdain through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 24.6 : H Pandya to A Markram, FIFTY FOR MARKRAM! His second in Tests. He works it down to fine leg for a run to bring up the milestone. He raises his bat to acknowledge the applause from the crowd. Also his parents in the stand are happy about it. He would look to make it big now. |
| 25.1 : R Ashwin to Markram, Tosses it up on off, Markram defends it off the front foot. |
| 25.2 : R Ashwin to Markram, Works it with the spin towards mid-wicket. |
| 25.3 : R Ashwin to Markram, Floats it on off, turning back in. Markram clips it to mid-wicket. |
| 25.4 : R Ashwin to Markram, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 25.5 : R Ashwin to Markram, Flatter on off, Markram defends it onto the ground. |
| 25.6 : R Ashwin to Markram, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| Ishant Sharma to bowl, what could be the last over before lunch. |
| 26.1 : I Sharma to D Elgar, Length ball on off, Elgar tries to defend but gets an outside edge which goes along the ground to third slip. |
| 26.2 : I Sharma to Elgar, Good length outside off, the batsman lets it be. |
| Virat Kohli at third slip has come in pretty close. Maybe because of the slowness of the wicket he feels the edges would not carry and hence has walked in a step or two. |
| 26.3 : I Sharma to Elgar, FOUR! Lovely! Nothing wrong with the delivery there. Ishant bowls it on middle, on a shorter length. Elgar reads the length early and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 26.4 : I Sharma to Elgar, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. They pick up a single. |
| 26.5 : I Sharma to Markram, Almost drags it on! Back of a length on off, Markram tries to defend but gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 26.6 : I Sharma to Markram, Back of a length on off, Markram defends it towards covers for a quick run. THAT WILL BE LUNCH ON DAY 1! |
| So, a wicketless session for South Africa! They will be pleased with their position heading into the break after winning the toss. Their openers have ground it out there with Markram scoring his second half ton in Tests. Elgar did look scratchy at the start but he too has managed to survive and now he is getting into his groove. |
| The bowlers were a little wayward. Shami could not get his lengths right and is going at almost six per over. Ishant did manage to keep it tight but did not have luck on his side. Ashwin has looked the most threatening of the Indian bowlers as he has got good purchase out of the surface. The away side now will look to take a few early wickets after the break, whereas South Africa will want to continue from where they left off. Join us for the second session in a while. |
| ... Day 1, Session 2 ... |
| We are back for the second session. Elgar and Markram will resume their innings. Ravichandran Ashwin will start the session for India. He has got purchase out of the surface and he will look to provide the breakthrough. Can he do it? Let's see. |
| 27.1 : R Ashwin to Markram, Starts off with a tossed up delivery on off, Markram defends it onto the ground. |
| 27.2 : R Ashwin to Markram, Gives it air on middle, Markram lunges forward in defense. |
| 27.3 : R Ashwin to Markram, Flatter on off, turning back in. Markram pushes it towards covers and sets off for a run but is sent back by his partner. |
| 27.4 : R Ashwin to Markram, Drags his length back on middle, Markram works it around the corner for the first run off this session. |
| 27.5 : R Ashwin to Elgar, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 27.6 : R Ashwin to Elgar, FOUR! Up and over! Elgar makes good use of his feet, gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it over the bowler's head for a boundary. |
| Ishant Sharma will bowl from the other end. He has two slips in place. |
| 28.1 : I Sharma to A Markram, Shorter in length outside off, Markram cuts it through point for a run. That came right off the middle, just shows how well Markram is seeing the ball out there. |
| 28.2 : I Sharma to Elgar, Back of a length on off, angling away. Elgar camps back and defends it. |
| 28.3 : I Sharma to Elgar, Fuller in length outside off, Elgar lets it be. |
| 28.4 : I Sharma to Elgar, Punched off the backfoot by the batsman. |
| Michael Holding on air mentions Ashwin is getting the ball to turn. So he should be pitching it outside the off stump and then get it to turn into the right-handed batsman. He instead is bowling it too straight and hence the ball is turning down the leg side. |
| 28.5 : I Sharma to D Elgar, Good fielding by the captain! Ishant bowls it on a length around off, gets it to shape away. Elgar tries to defend but gets an outside edge towards Kohli at third slip who dives to his left and stops it. There was no third man in place, he stops a certain boundary. |
| 28.6 : I Sharma to Elgar, On the pads, Elgar flicks it through square leg for a run. |
| 29.1 : R Ashwin to D Elgar, Driven through the covers by the batsman. |
| 29.2 : R Ashwin to Elgar, Tosses it up on off, Elgar defends it onto the ground. |
| 29.3 : R Ashwin to Elgar, OUT! CAUGHT! What a catch! Elgar would consider himself very unfortunate here. He uses his feet as he tries to get to the pitch of the ball. Ashwin sees it and shortens his length on off. Elgar adjusts and pushes it uppishly through the off side. The ball goes onto hit Vijay on his chest at silly point. He does well to keep his eyes on the ball and grabs it on the second attempt. A much-needed wicket here for India and it is Ashwin who provides it, though a lot of credit |
| Hashim Amla walks out to the middle. |
| 29.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, Floats it up on off, Amla defends it solidly. |
| 29.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, Wide down the leg side, No trouble at all for the batsman. |
| 29.6 : R Ashwin to H Amla, Almost another! Ashwin gives it air on off. It tuns back in sharply. Amla tries to defend but gets an inside edge which lobs on the pitch. Vijay puts in a full stretch dive but can't get to it. |
| 30.1 : I Sharma to Markram, Good length on off, Markram defends it off the front foot. |
| 30.2 : I Sharma to Markram, Worked with the angle towards mid-wicket. |
| 30.3 : I Sharma to Markram, Lands it on a length around off, Markram is solid in defense. |
| 30.4 : I Sharma to Markram, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 30.5 : I Sharma to Markram, 1 run. |
| 30.6 : I Sharma to Amla, This one is down the leg side and the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 31.1 : R Ashwin to Markram, Dances down the track and defends it. |
| 31.2 : R Ashwin to Markram, Ashwin tosses it up but ends up bowling too full on middle, Markram whips it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 31.3 : R Ashwin to Amla, Flatter on off, Amla rocks back and defends it. |
| 31.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 31.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, Slower through the air on off, gets some extra bounce on that one. The ball hits Amla high on the bat as he tries to defend it. Ashwin is really asking questions here. |
| 31.6 : R Ashwin to Amla, Gives it a lot of air on middle, the ball turns back in. Amla tries to drive but gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 32.1 : I Sharma to Markram, FOUR! Poor by Ishant! He bowls it on the pads, a gift for Markram who flicks it down to fine leg to fetch himself a boundary. |
| 32.2 : I Sharma to Markram, Back to the probing line! He lands it on a length on off, Markram defends it solidly. |
| 32.3 : I Sharma to Markram, Again, on a length around off. Markram defends it towards mid off. Ishant has been very disciplined today. The batsman though have done very well to play him watchfully and put away the rare bad balls he is bowling. |
| 32.4 : I Sharma to Markram, Flicks the ball towards mid-wicket with the angle for a run. |
| 32.5 : I Sharma to Amla, Fuller in length on off, shapes back in late. Amla defends it off the front foot. |
| 32.6 : I Sharma to Amla, Trying to wrap Amla on his pads as he is walking across. Ishant bowls an inswinger on middle. Amla is up for the task as he gets his bat down in time and defends it. |
| 33.1 : R Ashwin to Markram, Flatter on off, Markram rocks back and defends it. |
| 33.2 : R Ashwin to Markram, Tosses it up on off, Markram plants his front foot ahead and defends it. |
| 33.3 : R Ashwin to Markram, Works it with the spin towards leg slip. |
| 33.4 : R Ashwin to A Markram, A rare poor delivery by Ashwin, he bowls it shorter in length outside off, Markram fails to put it away as he cuts it straight to point. |
| 33.5 : R Ashwin to Markram, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 33.6 : R Ashwin to Markram, Gives it a nice loop on middle, Markram defends it off the front foot. |
| Jasprit Bumrah is back into the attack. |
| 34.1 : J Bumrah to Amla, On a length on middle, skids off the surface. Amla tries to flick but is beaten by pace. The ball hits him on the thigh pad and goes towards point for a leg bye. |
| 34.2 : J Bumrah to Markram, On a length around off, jags back in also comes faster off the surface. Markram tries to defend by hoping but he gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 34.3 : J Bumrah to Markram, Goes around the wicket and bangs it in short. Markram sees it early and pulls it down towards fine leg for a run. The fielder there slips as he tries throw and ends up throwing a wayward one. There is no one backing up and the Indians concede an extra run. |
| 34.4 : J Bumrah to Markram, A bouncer! Way down the leg side. |
| 34.5 : J Bumrah to Markram, On the pads, Markram works it towards deep square leg to change strike. |
| 34.6 : J Bumrah to Amla, Amla is off the mark after 12 deliveries! He gets a ball on his pads which he flicks to deep square leg for an easy single. |
| 35.1 : R Ashwin to Amla, FOUR! TOP SHOT! This might well be the release shot for Hashim Amla. Ashwin bowls it short outside off, Amla pushes it through covers for a boundary. The 100 is also up for South Africa. |
| 35.2 : R Ashwin to Amla, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 35.3 : R Ashwin to Amla, Tosses it up on middle, Amla plays it to mid-wicket. |
| 35.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, Floats it up on off, Amla prods forward and blocks it. |
| 35.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, Works it with the spin towards mid-wicket for a run. |
| 35.6 : R Ashwin to Markram, Gives it air on off, gets it to turn back in. Markram tries to defend but gets an inside edge, through backward square leg for a run. |
| 36.1 : J Bumrah to Markram, Bangs it in short on off, Markram hops and taps it towards point for a quick run. |
| 36.2 : J Bumrah to Amla, FOUR! WOW! The shot which indicates he is back in form? Bumrah bowls it on the pads, Amla works it past mid on where Ashwin puts in a lazy effort to stop the ball. It beats his dive and races to the fence. Jonty Rhodes on air mentions he had put in that dive, just to impress his captain. |
| 36.3 : J Bumrah to Amla, Short and wide outside off, Amla tries to cut but is beaten by the extra bounce. Poor there from Amla he need not go after those. |
| 36.4 : J Bumrah to Amla, Better from the veteran. Bumrah bowls it on a length outside off, Amla lets it be. |
| 36.5 : J Bumrah to Amla, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 36.6 : J Bumrah to Amla, Amla defends it off the back foot. |
| 37.1 : R Ashwin to Markram, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 37.2 : R Ashwin to Markram, Tosses it up on off, Markram defends it solidly. |
| 37.3 : R Ashwin to Markram, FOUR! A rare bad ball by Ashwin and Markram takes full toll of it. Ashwin bowls this one very full on middle, Markram makes it into a low full toss and sweeps it through square leg for a boundary. |
| 37.4 : R Ashwin to Markram, Works it with the spin towards mid-wicket. |
| 37.5 : R Ashwin to Markram, Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. |
| 37.6 : R Ashwin to Markram, Floats it on middle, Markram whips it through mid-wicket to keep strike. |
| 38.1 : J Bumrah to Markram, Back of a length on off, Markram stands tall and punches it through covers for a couple. |
| 38.2 : J Bumrah to Markram, A short ball, Bumrah gets tennis-ball like bounce on this one. Markram mistimes his cut through point for a run. |
| 38.3 : J Bumrah to Markram, The batsman plays a pull shot to this short delivery. |
| 38.4 : J Bumrah to Markram, Another short ball on middle, a cross-seam delivery. Markram is early onto his pull and it goes off the toe-end towards mid on. |
| 38.5 : Bumrah to A Markram, FOUR! Fortune favours the brave! Bumrah bowls a foruth bumper in a row. Markram tries to pull but gets a top edge which goes over the keeper for a boundary. |
| 38.6 : J Bumrah to Markram, Another bouncer but too high. The batsman evades it. |
| 39.1 : R Ashwin to Amla, FOUR! these two might have decided to take on Ashwin here. He comes down the track and lofts it over mid on for a boundary. |
| 39.2 : R Ashwin to Amla, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 39.3 : R Ashwin to Amla, DROPPED! A very tough chance but an excellent effort by Pandya. Ashwin floats it up on off, gets it to turn back in. Amla tries to drive but gets it off the inner half, uppishly to the left of Pandya at short mid-wicket. He puts in a full length dive and tries to catch it with one hand. He gets a hand to it but can't hang on as the ball rolls towards mid on. India would have hoped for that to stick as it would have been a huge wicket. |
| 39.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 39.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, Works it to mid-wicket with the spin for a run. |
| 39.6 : R Ashwin to Markram, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| Mohammed Shami is back into the attack. He was poor in the first session. Can he get it right here? |
| 40.1 : M Shami to Amla, Good length on off, Amla defends it solidly. |
| 40.2 : M Shami to Amla, Bouncer on middle, Amla ducks under it. |
| 40.3 : M Shami to Amla, Back of a length on off, Amla defends it off the back foot and onto the ground. The ball after bouncing, rolls back towards the stumps. Hashim shows good awareness as he kicks it away. |
| 40.4 : M Shami to Amla, FOUR! Nicely played! Shami lands it on a length around off, offers a little width. It is enough for Amla as he guides it down towards the third man fence. |
| 40.5 : M Shami to Amla, Length outside off, Amla opts not to play at it. |
| 40.6 : M Shami to Amla, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 41.1 : R Ashwin to Markram, Floats it on off, Markram defends it by pressing forward. |
| 41.2 : R Ashwin to Markram, FOUR! Short and outside off, not a good ball to bowl with only two men on the off side. Markram rocks back and punches it through covers. Pujara from point, gives it a chase, puts in a dive but all in vain. |
| 41.3 : R Ashwin to Markram, Works it with the spin through square leg for a run. 50-run stand between the two comes up with that run. |
| 41.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 41.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, Tosses it up on middle, Amla uses his wrists to whip it but finds mid-wicket. |
| 41.6 : R Ashwin to Amla, Quicker outside off, Amla lets it be. |
| 42.1 : M Shami to Markram, FOUR! Shami has been very poor today! He bangs a short ball outside off, Markram jumps and cuts it over cover-point for a boundary. He is a tall lad and he making great use of his height here. |
| 42.2 : M Shami to Markram, Better by Shami but he hasn't hit this length on consistent basis. He bowls it on a length around off, Amla defends it solidly. |
| 42.3 : M Shami to Markram, Goes wide of the crease and angles it into the pads, Markam works it around the corner for an easy run. |
| 42.4 : M Shami to Amla, Bowls it in the zone outside off, Amla shoulders his arms to it. |
| 42.5 : M Shami to Amla, Fuller in length on middle, Amla is half-forward as he defends it. |
| 42.6 : M Shami to Amla, Bowls the sucker ball outside off, Amla resists and leaves it through to the keeper. |
| DRINKS! South Africa despite losing Elgar early have continued piling on the runs. The Indians got off to the perfect start after the break as they got rid of Elgar early but they could not capitalize as the pair of Amla and Markam have stitched a 50-run stand. |
| 43.1 : R Ashwin to Markram, Floated around off, defended towards short leg. |
| 43.2 : R Ashwin to Markram, FOUR! Occasionally Ashwin slips a not-so-good ball and the Proteas are too good to miss out. This is flatter and shorter outside off, Markram is too good to miss out. He slaps it powerfully through covers, beating the man in the deep. Collects a boundary and moves to 92. |
| There is a deep point in place. However, that does not please Michael Holding one bit. He would love to see a 5-4 off side field but not such a defensive one. |
| 43.3 : R Ashwin to Markram, Aiden has played it towards mid-wicket. One run added to the total. |
| 43.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, Amla lunges forward in defense to this one. |
| 43.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, Straighter one outside off, Amla covers his sticks and lets it go. |
| 43.6 : R Ashwin to Amla, Floated full around off, Amla sweeps it straight to square leg. |
| 44.1 : M Shami to Markram, This one is punched off the back foot to covers. |
| 44.2 : M Shami to Markram, In line of the off stump, blocked off the back foot. |
| 44.3 : M Shami to Markram, Fuller outside off, driven straight to point. |
| 44.4 : M Shami to Markram, Banged short around off, Markram ducks to let that pass. |
| 44.5 : M Shami to Markram, Shami is mixing it well in this over. Slips this one fuller on off, Aiden defends this one hurriedly. |
| 44.6 : M Shami to Markram, Length delivery on off, defended from the crease towards point. A maiden for Shami. |
| 45.1 : R Ashwin to Amla, Flatter around off at 89 kph, Amla hangs back and clips it to mid-wicket. |
| 45.2 : R Ashwin to Amla, Again. Ashwin bowls this on a shorter length outside off. The lack of pace on the track means that Amla has ample time to go back, punch this through covers and come back for two runs. |
| 45.3 : R Ashwin to Amla, Flatter on the pads, worked away round the corner. |
| 45.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, Served on off, whipped away to mid-wicket. |
| 45.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 45.6 : R Ashwin to Amla, This one is flicked away past short leg for nothing. |
| 46.1 : M Shami to A Markram, Fuller ball angling in on middle and leg, driven straight to the man at mid on. |
| 46.2 : M Shami to A Markram, This is on a length outside off, Aiden slaps it through cover-point and gets to the other end. The figure against his name says 94. |
| 46.3 : M Shami to Amla, Fuller and wider outside off, the ball swings away a touch. Nothing doing, says Amla as he watches it sail to the keeper. Swing? Hmmm... |
| 46.4 : M Shami to Amla, Slanting in from outside off, it comes in a touch after pitching. Amla does well to counter it with a straight bat defense. |
| 46.5 : M Shami to Amla, Straight and full on off, Amla stays solid in defense. |
| What happened, Shami? Heat getting on to him? After he bowled the previous one, he got down on his haunches, clinching his head. It is very hot out there indeed, say the on-air commentators. |
| 46.6 : M Shami to Amla, Length ball on off, Amla looks to force it through the off side. But all he manages to do is an inside edge onto his front pad. |
| Well.... Shami is seen walking off now. |
| 47.1 : R Ashwin to Markram, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 47.2 : R Ashwin to Markram, Tossed up outside off, blocked off the front foot onto the ground. |
| DRS time! Aiden Markram feels he isn't gone in the 90s again... Is ruled out caught behind and he opts to challenge the call. |
| 47.3 : R Ashwin to Markram, OUT! Aiden Markram has to depart on 94. He was dismissed on his debut innings on 97 and here is another one. Ashwin floats this outside off, Markram looks to defend, thinking the ball to spin in. But the ball goes straight on and takes a thin outside edge. Parthiv Patel takes that and begins celebrating and so do the Indians. The umpire agrees. However, Markram feels he hasn't nicked it, like all the batters in the 90s feel. Hence he opts for the DRS. Snicko though, br |
| Mr. 360, AB de Villiers strides out to the middle next. He played a couple of wonderful knocks in the previous game to take it away from the opposition. Let's see how he fares today. |
| 47.4 : R Ashwin to Villiers, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 47.5 : R Ashwin to Villiers, This one is flicked away towards mid-wicket. |
| 47.6 : R Ashwin to Villiers, FOUR! No, no, no, shouts Kohli from first slip as he sees Ashwin bowls this a touch short. Allows de Villiers enough time to go back and cut it through point to open his account with a boundary. |
| Ishant Sharma back on now. Good moves this from Kohli as he looks to attack from both ends now. |
| 48.1 : I Sharma to Amla, Sharma sprays this down the leg side, Amla misses the flick. |
| 48.2 : I Sharma to Amla, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 48.3 : I Sharma to Amla, This one is played defensively towards mid-wicket. |
| 48.4 : I Sharma to Amla, Fuller around off, defended off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 48.5 : I Sharma to Amla, FOUR! Shot! Amla stands exposing the stumps and wants Ishant to bowl in the line of the stumps. Sharma does so on a fuller length. Immediately the Mighty Hash shuffles across and clips it through mid-wicket and helps himself to a boundary. |
| 48.6 : I Sharma to Amla, This is outside off, left alone. |
| 49.1 : R Ashwin to Villiers, Outside off on a shorter length, ABD goes back and glides it through backward point for a couple. |
| 49.2 : R Ashwin to Villiers, Floated on off, defended to the leg side. |
| 49.3 : R Ashwin to Villiers, This one is flicked round the corner for one. |
| 49.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, Tossed up on off, Hashim displays the forward defense. |
| 49.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, FOUR! Ever seen a wonderful wristy stroke? Watch this. Ashwin flights this one around off, Amla gets half-forward and just whips it in front of square on the leg side. Shouts of 'catch it' can be heard. No one to do that and the ball races away to the fence. He moves to 29 now. |
| 49.6 : R Ashwin to Amla, Amla hits it in the same region but now there is a fielder in the deep. One run added to the tally. |
| 50.1 : I Sharma to Amla, Outside off, Amla shoulders arms. |
| 50.2 : I Sharma to Amla, DROPPED! Definitely but not an easy one for sure. Sharma angles this in to Amla, he looks to collect easy runs by tickling that away. But he ends up nicking it and Patel messes the chance that came his way. He goes at it with both hands and fails to cling on to that. Costly, very costly. Gavaskar on air rightly reckons that Amla isn't one you should be giving another life. What's more, a run results as well. |
| 50.3 : I Sharma to Villiers, This is outside off, de Villiers lets it go. |
| 50.4 : I Sharma to Villiers, On the pads, flicked away to mid-wicket. |
| 50.5 : I Sharma to Villiers, De Villiers gets to the other end by turning it through mid-wicket. |
| 50.6 : I Sharma to Amla, Length ball on off, kept out towards mid-wicket for nothing. |
| 51.1 : R Ashwin to Villiers, FOUR! Never a quiet moment when AB's on show! Ashwin tosses it up outside off, de Villers gets out the reverse sweep. Makes good connection and the ball races away to the third man fence. |
| 51.2 : R Ashwin to Villiers, Floated around off, defended towards short leg. |
| 51.3 : R Ashwin to Villiers, This one is outside off, driven through mid off for one. |
| 51.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, On the pads, clipped to square leg. |
| 51.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, Amla goes back to this one and keeps it out watchfully. |
| 51.6 : R Ashwin to Amla, Floated full around middle, bunted with a straight bat. |
| 52.1 : I Sharma to Villiers, Fuller ball aiming at the off stump, de Villiers gets his bat down nicely and defends it to the off side. |
| 52.2 : I Sharma to Villiers, Angling into the batter on a length, ABD misses the flick and gets rapped on the knee-roll. The ball rolls towards the keeper. |
| 52.3 : I Sharma to Villiers, Length ball just around off, de Villiers hangs back and defends it towards the bowler. |
| 52.4 : I Sharma to Villiers, Full ball slanting in, defended towards mid-wicket. |
| 52.5 : I Sharma to Villiers, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 52.6 : I Sharma to Villiers, On a length angling in, AB nudges it to fine leg for one. |
| Hardik Pandya to have a burst before Tea. The partial reason could be that Ashwin had bowled 17 overs non-stop from this end. Looking at the track and the conditions, India would want their premier spinner to bowl more post the break. |
| 53.1 : H Pandya to Villiers, Played to the point region by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 53.2 : H Pandya to Amla, This one is defended from the crease by HA. |
| 53.3 : H Pandya to Amla, Well outside off, left alone. |
| 53.4 : H Pandya to Amla, Full on off, defended from the crease. |
| 53.5 : H Pandya to Amla, Amla looks to turn it to the on side but is a touch early into the shot. Gets a soft leading edge towards the bowler. |
| 53.6 : H Pandya to Amla, Length ball outside off, punched through point for a single. |
| Jasprit Bumrah to have bowl now. |
| 54.1 : J Bumrah to Amla, This one is kept out from the crease with a straight bat face. |
| 54.2 : J Bumrah to Amla, Length ball outside off, punched towards covers. |
| 54.3 : J Bumrah to Amla, This delivery is clipped down to fine leg for one. |
| 54.4 : J Bumrah to Villiers, How many times have we seen this today? A batter almost chopping it on. Bumrah lands it on a length outside off, angling in to AB. He looks to defend but gets an inside edge. The ball bounces just over the stumps. Elgar was also a beneficiary of such happenings earleri in the morning. |
| 54.5 : J Bumrah to Villiers, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| Interesting. As Bumrah completes his bowling action, his right hand ends up being between his legs. The on-air commentators joke that in times when he gets tired and doesn't have a control on his arm, it could hit him on the unmentionable part. |
| 54.6 : J Bumrah to Villiers, This is outside off, driven to covers. |
| 55.1 : H Pandya to Amla, Slanting in on the pads, played away to fine leg for one. |
| 55.2 : H Pandya to Villiers, Four leg byes! No, not the ideal line from Pandya this. He strays on the pads and delivers it on a length. De Villiers just misses the clip and gets it off his pads. The ball races away fine to the fence. 100 runs in this session now. |
| 55.3 : H Pandya to Villiers, Driven through mid off by the batsman. |
| 55.4 : H Pandya to Villiers, This is played through point for one. |
| 55.5 : H Pandya to Amla, Hashim works this down to fine leg and gets to the other end. |
| Last ball before Tea... |
| 55.6 : H Pandya to Villiers, Back of a length ball outside off, de Villiers spots that and lets it be. That's TEA, DAY 1! |
| If the first session was a goods train, this one was an express train. Runs have come at over 3.50 an over in this period and thus, in spite of the couple of wickets taken, South Africa will savour the tea. It was a session of missed opportunities for them. They missed out having a 100-run opening stand by just 15 runs and then Markram missed out on his ton by a mere 6 runs. |
| Talking about missed chances, India weren't far either. They missed a couple of chances, potentially costly ones. Panyda and Patel were the generous folks who granted a couple of lives to Amla. Although Pandya's one was one that sticks, the gloveman's miss was a one that shouldn't have been. Amla was on 14 and 30 respectively when he made those offerings. Now he is slowly ticking on 35. |
| What do we have in store for the final passage of play for the day? For starters, we should be having 34 overs to play. Whether that span will see an Indian fightback or a Protean surge, we'll wait and watch. Do join us shortly. |
| ... Day 1, Session 3 ... |
| We are back for what should be a longish session. The track seems to be good for more runs and there's hardly any misbehavior there. Ashwin is extracting some spin and we can gear ourselves up to watch the tweaker bowl for long. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers are out in the middle now. Jasprit Bumrah will kick off the proceedings with the ball. |
| 56.1 : J Bumrah to Amla, FOUR! Short, wide, punished. Amla gets a nice snack to go with the tea break. Bumrah bowls a nothing ball, Amla just stands tall and cracks it through cover-point for a boundary. Not a soul moved. |
| 56.2 : J Bumrah to Amla, Bowled from wide of the crease, Hashim blocks. |
| 56.3 : J Bumrah to Amla, Length ball outside off, Amla mistimes his punch to the covers. |
| 56.4 : J Bumrah to Amla, Fuller in line of the stumps, kept out towards mid-wicket. |
| 56.5 : J Bumrah to Amla, Length ball on off, defended from the crease. |
| 56.6 : J Bumrah to Amla, Slanting in full on off, Amla strides forward and presents a straight bat to block. Good 5 balls after the boundary ball. |
| Ravichandran Ashwin back on. |
| 57.1 : R Ashwin to Villiers, Floated in line of the stumps, defended with a straight bat face. |
| 57.2 : R Ashwin to Villiers, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 57.3 : R Ashwin to Villiers, Flatter on the stumps, punched back towards the bowler. |
| 57.4 : R Ashwin to Villiers, Loopy ball around middle, defended. |
| 57.5 : R Ashwin to Villiers, This one is worked off the pads for one run. |
| 57.6 : R Ashwin to Amla, Amla keeps this one out from the crease. |
| 58.1 : J Bumrah to Villiers, Full length ball outside off, de Villiers guides towards gully on the bounce. There is a shy at the striker's end but misses. |
| 58.2 : J Bumrah to Villiers, Length ball, turned away through square leg for one. |
| 58.3 : J Bumrah to Amla, This is outside off, left alone. |
| 58.4 : J Bumrah to H Amla, FOUR! Clever yet streaky. Bumrah lands it on a length outside off, Amla hangs back and looks to guide it to third man. But he ends up getting a thick outside edge through the slip cordon. Not the desired way but the desired result. |
| 58.5 : J Bumrah to Amla, This is well outside off, Amla plays inside the line and lets it be. |
| 58.6 : J Bumrah to Amla, Another inside edge! Around off, Amla looks to play that but gets an inside edge past the leg stump. |
| 59.1 : R Ashwin to Villiers, Floated around middle and leg, defended from the crease. |
| 59.2 : R Ashwin to Villiers, This one is eased through mid-wicket for one. |
| 59.3 : R Ashwin to Amla, Flighted a bit more in line of the stumps, there is some extra bounce on that as well. Amla looks to keep it out but gets it high off the bat. |
| 59.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, This has been negotiated with a straight bat defense. |
| 59.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, HA has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 59.6 : R Ashwin to Amla, Another one in line of the stumps, bunted onto the ground. |
| 60.1 : J Bumrah to Villiers, Fuller on off, knocked to mid-wicket for nothing. |
| 60.2 : J Bumrah to Villiers, Length ball angling in, de Villiers gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 60.3 : J Bumrah to Villiers, This one is defended off the inner half to the leg side. |
| 60.4 : J Bumrah to Villiers, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 60.5 : J Bumrah to Villiers, Ouch! Poor Patel. Bumrah dishes out a juicy full toss outside off that catches even de Villiers by surprise. He looks to drive but misses. Parthiv gets a bad bounce as the ball climbs a bit more and hits him on the chest. It is painful indeed. |
| 60.6 : J Bumrah to Villiers, Fuller on off, driven back. |
| 61.1 : R Ashwin to Amla, FOUR! Nice use of the feet and good timing on that. Ashwin floats it around off and middle, Amla gets down the track, takes it on the full and pushes it back down the ground. No chance for mid off and it is a boundary that takes Amla to 47. |
| 61.2 : R Ashwin to Amla, Flatter on the stumps, defended. |
| 61.3 : R Ashwin to Amla, 50-run stand between Amla and de Villiers. Third such stand for as many wickets for South Africa. Amla gets the milestone by pushing it through covers. |
| 61.4 : R Ashwin to Villiers, This one is turned towards mid-wicket for nothing. |
| 61.5 : R Ashwin to Villiers, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 61.6 : R Ashwin to Villiers, Worked away through square leg for one. |
| Ishant Sharma is brought back. |
| 62.1 : I Sharma to Villiers, Well outside off, Amla lets it be unhindered. |
| 62.2 : I Sharma to Villiers, Full on off, driven to mid off. |
| Kepler Wessels reckons there may be reverse swing on offer. He observes that Ishant Sharma is seen holding the ball in his left hand as he runs into bowl. |
| 62.3 : I Sharma to Villiers, Outside off, left alone. |
| 62.4 : I Sharma to Villiers, OUT! Finally Ishant Sharma is rewarded. He was bowling probing lines today without much success. Now he gets the fruit for his efforts. Sometimes, you bowl peaches and yet fail to get the desired wicket and on other days, your not-so-good balls reward you. It has been the latter with Ishant here. He delivers this on a length that is a touch short, well outside off, AB de Villiers could have well watched it sail through to Patel. But he opts to slap it away and pays th |
| Skipper Faf du Plessis is the next batter in. This isn't the happiest hunting ground for him and the conditions seem good for him to change the record for good. |
| 62.5 : I Sharma to Plessis, This is well outside off, the Protea skipper just lets it be. |
| 62.6 : I Sharma to Plessis, Edged but safe! Du Plessis gets an outside edge to this one that goes on the bounce to gully. |
| 63.1 : R Ashwin to Amla, Floated full in line of the stumps, defended from the crease. |
| 63.2 : R Ashwin to Amla, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 63.3 : R Ashwin to Amla, Amla lunges forward to block this one watchfully. |
| 63.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, FOUR! Nicely driven. Tossed up ball outside off, Amla gets to the pitch of the ball and drives it through covers. Destination boundary line for the ball there. It is not just another boundary. That brings up Amla's 50, his 36th in the longest format. This would help him shake off his poor run of form. Well played, Hash! |
| 63.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, Forward defence displayed to this one in line of the stumps. |
| 63.6 : R Ashwin to Amla, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 64.1 : I Sharma to Plessis, Length ball outside off, left alone. |
| 64.2 : I Sharma to Plessis, Banged short outside off, du Plessis looks to pull but aborts the idea. |
| 64.3 : I Sharma to Plessis, Well done Pujara. This ball is driven square on the off side, Cheteshwar dives and makes a half-stop. A run results and Faf gets off the mark. |
| 64.4 : I Sharma to Amla, FOUR! Short ball on off, pulled away nicely through backward square leg. The ball speeds away to the fence in no time. |
| 64.5 : I Sharma to Amla, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 64.6 : I Sharma to Amla, Full on off, defended off the front foot. |
| 65.1 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Floated around off, worked away towards mid-wicket for no run. |
| 65.2 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Just short! Ashwin serves it around middle and leg, spinning in. Du Plessis looks to work it to the on side but the ball lands just short of Pujara at leg gully. |
| 65.3 : R Ashwin to Plessis, This one is defended towards short leg. |
| 65.4 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Lots of chatter around the bat as de Plessis blocks this towards short leg. Trust Indians to be on the money when their spinners have a part to play. |
| 65.5 : R Ashwin to Plessis, This one is turned towards mid-wicket. |
| 65.6 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| Mohammed Shami is brought back to bowl. Wonder how good he is feeling as he had walked off just before tea. Perhaps there is reverse swing on offer and hence Kohli has gone to Shami here. Also, the Indians are seen throwing the ball on the bounce, in order to scuff up on side which will aid reverse swing. |
| 66.1 : M Shami to Amla, Outside off, left alone. |
| 66.2 : M Shami to Amla, Careful! Amla flashes at one wide outside off, but misses. He has lost his wicket twice in the previous game attempting a similar shot and he would do well to be careful. |
| 66.3 : M Shami to Amla, This is well outside off, left alone. |
| 66.4 : M Shami to Amla, Fuller on the stumps, pushed towards mid-wicket. |
| 66.5 : M Shami to H Amla, FOUR! Much better! Shami bowls this on a length outside off, Amla moves across a bit and slaps it through cover-point. Such has been the timing that the ball speeds away to the fence, beating the man in the deep who was running to his right. |
| 66.6 : M Shami to Amla, Played to the point region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 67.1 : R Ashwin to Amla, Hashim has flicked the ball off his pads. |
| 67.2 : R Ashwin to Amla, Floated on the stumps, driven back towards the bowler. |
| 67.3 : R Ashwin to Amla, FOUR! Lovely, lovely stroke! Ashwin gives more air to this one and serves it full outside off. Amla gets to the pitch of the ball and drives it nicely through covers for a boundary. |
| 67.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, Flatter outside off, cut through point for one. |
| 67.5 : R Ashwin to Plessis, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 67.6 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Du Plessis gets forward and smothers this one into the ground. |
| 68.1 : M Shami to Amla, In line of the stumps, blocked from the crease. |
| 68.2 : M Shami to Amla, Good effort from Vijay! Amla works this one towards mid-wicket where the fielder puts in the dive. Doesn't stop it cleanly but prevents a run. |
| 68.3 : M Shami to Amla, Just outside off, pushed through point for one. |
| 68.4 : M Shami to du Plessis, FOUR! Oh Ishant! Pollock says that he's put in a big effort there. Shami overpitches this one on the stumps, du Plessis drives it down the ground. Sharma gets to his left, puts in the slide but fails to stop the ball. A boundary it is. |
| 68.5 : M Shami to Plessis, Defended off the back foot towards covers. |
| 68.6 : M Shami to Plessis, This is a slower off-cutter on off, digged out towards gully. 125 kph shows the speedometer. |
| 69.1 : R Ashwin to Amla, Floated full on off, pushes it towards mid-wicket. |
| 69.2 : R Ashwin to Amla, Outside off, defended towards covers. |
| 69.3 : R Ashwin to H Amla, This ball is eased towards mid on. |
| 69.4 : R Ashwin to Amla, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 69.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, In line of the stumps, Amla gets ahead and bunts it. |
| 69.6 : R Ashwin to Amla, Now a run taken after playing it through mid-wicket. |
| 70.1 : M Shami to Amla, Short ball again, pulled to the man at deep square leg for one. |
| 70.2 : M Shami to du Plessis, Another back of a length ball on off, pulled away through square leg with a cross bat for a single. |
| 70.3 : M Shami to Amla, After a couple of short balls, Shami pitches it full on middle and leg. Amla drives it down towards mid on. |
| 70.4 : M Shami to Amla, Amla has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 70.5 : M Shami to Amla, Fuller on off, pushed defensively towards mid off. This was delivered at 140 kph. |
| 70.6 : M Shami to Amla, Good running. This is fuller around off, Amla gets ahead and taps it towards covers. He does so with his bat and pad close together and gets to the other end. |
| 71.1 : R Ashwin to Amla, Low full toss on the stumps, whipped away towards wide mid on for one. |
| 71.2 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Comes round the wicket to Faf and bowls it around middle and leg. He goes back and works it past short leg for one. |
| 71.3 : R Ashwin to Amla, This one is worked away to mid-wicket. |
| 71.4 : R Ashwin to H Amla, FOUR! The frequency with which Ashwin has dished out bad balls today is not good for anybody's liking. He throws this wide outside off, allows Amla to exploit the off side. He does so gleefully and drives it through covers for a boundary. |
| 71.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, Flatter outside off, Amla just lets it be. |
| 71.6 : R Ashwin to Amla, HA has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| Hardik Pandya back on. |
| 72.1 : H Pandya to Plessis, Length ball in line of the stumps, defended towards mid-wicket. |
| 72.2 : H Pandya to Plessis, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 72.3 : H Pandya to Plessis, Angled down the leg side, du Plessis misses the flick. |
| 72.4 : H Pandya to Plessis, Outside off, defended towards covers. |
| 72.5 : H Pandya to Plessis, On the pads, flicked away round the corner for one. |
| 72.6 : H Pandya to Amla, This length ball is glided to third man for one. |
| Double change. Jasprit Bumrah has the ball in hand now. |
| 73.1 : J Bumrah to Amla, Full length ball outside off, Amla plays it with soft hands towards point and moves to 77. |
| 73.2 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Length ball outside off on a shorter side, punched towards covers. |
| 73.3 : J Bumrah to Plessis, This one stayed low, as per the batter's reaction. Length ball a touch on the fuller side. Du Plessis crouches low as he defends this. |
| 73.4 : J Bumrah to Plessis, FDP shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 73.5 : J Bumrah to Plessis, On a length outside off, pushed defensively towards mid off. |
| 73.6 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Another ball outside off, Faf shoulders arms. |
| 74.1 : H Pandya to Amla, This is fuller outside off, Amla doesn't play at that. |
| 74.2 : H Pandya to Amla, Full ball aiming at the off stick, Amla gets behind the line and defends this. |
| 74.3 : H Pandya to Amla, Pandya goes wider of the crease and slants this in on a length. Amla works this through square leg for one. |
| 74.4 : H Pandya to Plessis, This one is worked down the leg side for one. |
| Wise heads! Shaun Pollock asks Michael Holding whether India should take the second new ball immediately when it's due (5 overs after this one). The latter opines that if a wicket doesn't fall, they should. Wonder if that's the only view. Would India risk taking it and then giving runs at a fair clip, as we know the new ball to travel across the surface pretty quickly. |
| 74.5 : H Pandya to H Amla, Just outside off, pushed through point for a single. Amla moves to 79 now. |
| 74.6 : H Pandya to Plessis, This ball is defended off the front foot watchfully. |
| 75.1 : J Bumrah to Amla, Played to the point region by the batsman. |
| 75.2 : J Bumrah to Amla, Angled in full on off, defended solidly by Amla. |
| 75.3 : J Bumrah to Amla, Similar ball on off, Amla presents a straight bat face to keep it out. |
| 75.4 : J Bumrah to Amla, Hash gets an inside edge and the ball hits him on the pads. |
| 75.5 : J Bumrah to Amla, This is angled in and the ball stays low. Amla plays it with an angled bat towards mid-wicket. |
| 75.6 : J Bumrah to Amla, Length ball outside off, Amla just lets it be. |
| Time for drinks! South Africa are successfully keeping the Indians at bay. Although they are failing to convert their 50-runs stands to something substantial, the runs are flowing slowly. Amla is on course to get to yet another Test hundred. The visitors are desperately in need of a breakthrough and who will Kohli turn to? The only solace for them will be that the Proteas aren't running away with the game at this stage as their run rate is pretty low. |
| 76.1 : H Pandya to Plessis, A wide ball outside off, it was very wide. The batsman is not interested to play at it. |
| 76.2 : H Pandya to Plessis, Angles it into the batsman. Faf works it towards square leg and refuses a run. |
| 76.3 : H Pandya to Plessis, Back of a length on off, du Plessis pushes it to mid off. |
| 76.4 : H Pandya to du Plessis, Lands it on a length around off, just where Pandya should be bowling. The batsman is solid in defense. |
| 76.5 : H Pandya to Plessis, Shorter in length outside off, Faf was looking to pull initially but the ball stays a touch low. He adjusts and defends it. This certainly is not a wicket on which you can trust the bounce. |
| 76.6 : H Pandya to Plessis, Good length on off, defends it towards covers. |
| Ravichandran Ashwin is back into the attack. |
| 77.1 : R Ashwin to Amla, Tosses it up outside off, Amla goes back and works it to short leg. |
| 77.2 : R Ashwin to Amla, Once again he attacks the stumps, Amla rocks back and tucks it around the corner for a single. |
| 77.3 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Comes around the wicket and floats it full outside off, Faf lunges forward and defends it. |
| 77.4 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Once again, an example of why the bounce cannot be trusted! Ashwin bowls a flighted ball on off, Faf goes back to defend it but the ball bounces a touch extra. Surprises du Plessis. The ball takes the inside edge and hits him on the body and onto the ground as he tries to defend. |
| 77.5 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Gives it air on middle, tucked to mid-wicket. |
| 77.6 : R Ashwin to Plessis, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 78.1 : H Pandya to Amla, Goes wide of the crease and angles it into the pads of the batsman. He flicks it to square leg. |
| 78.2 : H Pandya to Amla, A knuckle ball but a full toss on off, Amla mistimes his drive to mid on. He will be disappointed there as he should have put that away. |
| 78.3 : H Pandya to Amla, Length ball outside off, Amla lets it be. |
| 78.4 : H Pandya to Amla, Once again bowls it on the pads, Amla works it around the corner for a run. |
| 78.5 : H Pandya to Plessis, Better length! Pandya bowls it on off and lands it on a length. Faf is solid in defense. |
| 78.6 : H Pandya to du Plessis, Driven towards the mid on region. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| The on-air commentators make a fair point. Even though Ashwin has bowled one-third of the overs bowled by India today they still have a slow over-rate. Maybe the fast bowlers are taking their time and bowling due to the heat. |
| 79.1 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Tosses it up on off, Faf defends it. |
| 79.2 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Comes down the track and drives it to mid on. |
| 79.3 : R Ashwin to Plessis, The batsman dances down the track but decides to defend it. |
| 79.4 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Again uses his feet and takes it on the full. The batsman drives it down to long on for a run. |
| 79.5 : R Ashwin to Amla, Works it to deep mid-wicket for a run. Amla moves onto 82. |
| 79.6 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Slower through the air, du Plessis plants his front foot ahead and flicks it around the corner for a run. |
| The second new ball is now available. The question is will India take it immediately? |
| 80.1 : H Pandya to Plessis, The continue with the old ball. Pandya bowls it just short of a length on off, pushed to covers. |
| 80.2 : H Pandya to Plessis, Length ball on off, du Plessis drives it on the up to covers. |
| 80.3 : H Pandya to Plessis, A stifled appeal! Hardik comes running in and angles it into the batsman. The ball skids off the surface. Faf jumps as he tries to flick but misses to get hit on the thigh pad. The players appeal but the umpire is not interested. |
| 80.4 : H Pandya to Plessis, Lands it on middle, with the shinier side on the inside. The ball shapes in sharply, the batsman works it towards square leg for a run. |
| Is Amla a goner? There is a direct hit at the non-striker's end and Amla is the man in question. Looking at Amla's body language he seems to be short. Brilliant work by Pandya and he is quite confident. |
| 80.5 : H Pandya to Amla, OUT! Amla is gone! A huge wicket for India courtesy a run out. Brilliant work by Hardik Pandya, great athleticism shown there by the youngster. He bangs it in short on middle, gets good bounce on that. Amla plays it quite well as he gets on top of the bounce and tucks it besides the pitch on the leg side. Du Plessis calls him for a run and Amla responds. Pandya runs quickly towards the ball, picks it up, swivels and BANG, he scores a direct hit at the non-striker's end a |
| Quinton de Kock walks out to the middle. |
| 80.6 : H Pandya to Plessis, FOUR! Strekay but Faf won't mind. Pandya lands it on a length around off, de Plessis tries to defend but gets an inside edge through fine leg for a boundary. |
| 81.1 : R Ashwin to de Kock, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! |
| 0.0 : Vernon Philander walks out at no. 7. |
| 81.2 : R Ashwin to Philander, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 81.3 : R Ashwin to Philander, Works it to mid-wicket with the spin. |
| 81.4 : R Ashwin to Philander, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 81.5 : R Ashwin to Philander, Tosses it up on off, Philander defends it. |
| 81.6 : R Ashwin to Philander, Almost another chance. Philander flicks the ball with the turn, off the middle, uppishly towards short leg. He tries to catch it but is late to react and the ball hits him and falls onto the ground. |
| 82.1 : H Pandya to Plessis, Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 82.2 : H Pandya to Plessis, Shorter in length on off, Faf defends it off the back foot. |
| 82.3 : H Pandya to Plessis, Good length on off, the batsman defends it. |
| 82.4 : H Pandya to Plessis, Full and outside off, Plessis shoulders his arms to it. |
| 82.5 : H Pandya to Plessis, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 82.6 : H Pandya to Philander, OUT! Confusion and a run out! Second of the innings! |
| Keshav Maharaj strides out. |
| 83.1 : R Ashwin to Plessis, 1 run. |
| 83.2 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, Worked with the spin towards mid-wicket. |
| 83.3 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 83.4 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, Bowls it down the leg side, Maharaj works it to fine leg. |
| 83.5 : R Ashwin to K Maharaj, FOUR! Off the mark in style! Ashwin tosses it up on off but bowls it too full. Maharaj drives it straight down the ground for a boundary. |
| 83.6 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, Wide down the leg side, No trouble at all for the batsman. |
| 84.1 : H Pandya to Plessis, Back of a length on off, Faf defends it solidly. |
| 84.2 : H Pandya to Plessis, Off cutter, Faf tries to flick but misses to get beaten on the inside. |
| 84.3 : H Pandya to Plessis, Good length on off, Faf defends it solidly. |
| 84.4 : H Pandya to Plessis, Bowls it down the leg side, Faf works it to square leg. |
| 84.5 : H Pandya to du Plessis, FOUR! Caressed! Full and on off, du Plessis leans into it and drives it through covers for a boundary. |
| 84.6 : H Pandya to Plessis, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 85.1 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 0.0 : Hardik Pandya is seen walking off the field. the reason is still unknown though. That might be the day for him? Let's see. |
| 85.2 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, Tosses it up on off, Maharaj works it towards mid-wicket. |
| 85.3 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, Once again played with the turn to mid-wicket. |
| 85.4 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, JUST SHORT! Ashwin floats it on leg stump, Maharaj works it around the corner but fails to keep it down. It goes towards Rahul at leg slip who goes down to catch it but the ball falls just short. Rahul though was up early, he has to stay low if he needs to catch these. |
| 85.5 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 85.6 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| Jasprit Bumrah back into the attack. |
| 86.1 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Back of a length on off, Faf mistimes his punch to covers. |
| 86.2 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Just short of a length on off, Faf defends it off the back foot. |
| So India have decided to take the second new ball. 22 balls left in a day. They will hope to get one more with the new cherry. |
| 86.3 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 86.4 : J Bumrah to Plessis, On the pads, the batsman flicks it through square leg for a run. |
| 86.5 : Bumrah to Maharaj, A big appeal! A full ball on middle and leg. Maharaj tries to flick by planting his front foot across. He misses and the ball hits him on the pads. The players appeal but the umpire shakes his head. Going down leg! |
| 86.6 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Full and outside off, Keshav drives it through point for a run. |
| 87.1 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, Flatter on off, Maharaj defends it onto the ground. |
| 87.2 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, FOUR! What just happened there? Has Jadeja, the sub not picked it? Ashwin drags his length back on middle, Maharaj goes back and pulls it uppishly towards deep mid-wicket. Jadeja there seems to have not picked it as the ball goes over his head and on the bounce into the fence. Virat Kohli is not a happy man there nor is Ashwin. |
| 87.3 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 87.4 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, Quicker on the stumps, Maharaj defends it off the back foot. |
| 87.5 : Ashwin to Maharaj, HOWZAT! A huge appeal again! It is all happening out there. Ashwin tosses this one up on middle, it turns back in. Maharaj tries to defend but it goes off something, maybe the pads to the right of Kohli who runs and completes a catch and appeals. The umpire though shakes his head. The Indians have a chat but then opt not to review. Good they did not as replays later on show that it was only pad. They also did appeal for an LBW but it was sliding down leg. |
| 87.6 : R Ashwin to Maharaj, DROPPED! A very, very tough chance though. Ashwin floats it on middle, Maharaj works it towards short leg. Who tries to catch but the ball comes and hits him as he is late to react. |
| Ishant Sharma to bowl the penultimate over of the day. |
| 88.1 : I Sharma to Plessis, Wide outside off, the batsman lets it be. |
| 88.2 : I Sharma to Plessis, On a length outside off, Faf opts not to play at it. |
| 88.3 : I Sharma to Plessis, Third leave in a row! He bowls it outside off, Faf shoulders his arms to it. Ishant is wasting the new ball here. |
| 88.4 : I Sharma to Plessis, Another delivery outside off, Faf need not play at it. |
| 88.5 : I Sharma to du Plessis, Fuller in length on off, Faf eases it to mid off. |
| 88.6 : I Sharma to Plessis, Excellent length to finish! He bowls it on off, Faf defends it off the front foot. |
| Jasprit Bumrah to bowl the final over of the day. |
| 89.1 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, NO BALL! A bouncer which the batsman spots early and ducks under it. Bumrah, though, has overstepped. |
| J Bumrah to Maharaj, Another bumper and the Maharaj does well to evade it. |
| 89.2 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Another short ball, aimed at the rib cage of the batsman. He does well to tuck it around the corner for a run. |
| 89.3 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Length ball around off, nipping back in. Faf awkwardly defends it towards mid on. |
| 89.4 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Another delivery similar to the last one. Faf once again, in a similar manner plays it towards mid-wicket. Two more balls to survive today. |
| 89.5 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Angles it on the pads, Faf tries to tickle it fine but misses as the ball hits him on the thigh pad. It rolls towards short fine leg for a leg bye. Maharaj to face the last ball. |
| 89.6 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Maharaj survives! Bumrah goes for a yorker but ends up bowling a high full toss on off. Maharaj defends it solidly. THAT IS STUMPS ON DAY 1! |
| What an absorbing day of cricket! India have managed to fight their way back into the game in the last session, in which 34 overs were bowled, 87 runs were scored and 4 wickets were taken. It all started with Ishant Sharma knocking over de Villiers after the break. Amla and du Plessis did look like steadying the ship but a piece of brilliance in the field by Pandya saw the former being run out 18 short of a ton. Also, two quick wickets after that have seen the match hang in the balance heading i |
| Earlier in the day, after winning the toss, South Africa were cruising along till the last hour of play with Markram missing out on a ton by 6 runs. They looked set to post a big first innings score before wickets fell in heaps towards the end. Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers for the Indians with three wickets. He was well supported by Ishant Sharma who kept it tight. South Africa still have their captain out there and they would hope for him to take them to a respectable total. India, on the |
| ... Day 2, Session 1 ... |
| We head into day 2 of the first Test between South Africa and India with both the teams even stevens. A late fightback by India has seen momentum shift towards them. They will look to carry the same forward today and try and bundle out the remaining South African batters as early as they can. |
| On the other hand, the home side has Faf du Plessis, its skipper, out in the middle. It would hope, he, along with the rest, can take it somewhere close to 400. There is, uneven bounce on the wicket but it is still a good surface to bat on. We had an enthralling day of cricket yesterday and we can hope for the same today. Stay tuned for all the action. |
| Shaun Pollock and Graeme Smith say there is no breeze and the sun is baking down. Opine the wicket is difficult to score if you land it on a length. Inform there is a grassy patch from which the bowlers can extract some bounce. Feel the area where the bowlers end their followthrough will start opening up in the days ahead which is advantage to Ashwin. End by saying it is a hard wicket and there isn't much wear and tear on it. |
| Bright sunshine welcomes us in Centurion and we are all set for the action to begin. The Indian side is seen in a huddle and the players now make their way out to the middle. Faf du Plessis and Keshav Maharaj will resume from where they left off yesterday. Ishant Sharma will start the proceedings for India. He has two slips and a gully in place. Here we go... |
| 90.1 : I Sharma to Plessis, Action straightaway! Ishant lands it on a length around off, gets it to jag back in sharply. It also bounces a touch more. Faf plants his front foot across and tries to leave it but the ball hits him high on the back pad. The Indian fielders get quite excited but Ishant does not appeal. |
| 90.2 : I Sharma to Plessis, Good length outside off, this one does not shape in after pitching. Du Plessis makes a comfortable leave. |
| 90.3 : I Sharma to Plessis, Another length ball outside off, Faf is not interested in playing at it. |
| 90.4 : I Sharma to Plessis, Well bowled! He bowls a yorker on middle, Faf digs it out to mid on. |
| 90.5 : I Sharma to Plessis, Another inswinger from outside off, du Plessis makes a good leave. |
| 90.6 : I Sharma to Plessis, First run for South Africa! Ishant bowls it on a length around off, Faf defends it towards point for a quick run. He will keep strike in the next over. A good over by Ishant. He got some movement there which will encourage him. |
| Jasprit Bumrah will bowl from the other end. |
| 91.1 : J Bumrah to Plessis, That has stayed low! Signs of the wicket being uneven straightaway! Bumrah comes running in and angles it into the batsman. The ball stays a touch low. Faf du Plessis adjusts well and flicks it towards square leg for a run. |
| 91.2 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Shorter in length around off, Maharaj pushes it to covers. |
| 91.3 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Good length outside off, Maharaj lets it be. |
| 91.4 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Back of a length outside off, Maharaj tries to force it through the off side but gets an inside edge onto his pads. He is playing away from his body, not something he should do. |
| 91.5 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Short and wide outside off, Maharaj goes after it, away from his body to get beaten. Again, no foot movement. |
| 91.6 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Nicely bowled! He goes wide of the crease and angles it into the batsman. He gets it to shape away after pitching. Maharaj first thinks of playing at it but then pulls his bat away. |
| 92.1 : I Sharma to Plessis, Once again on a probing length outside off, Ishant was so disciplined yesterday, bowling the same line. Faf does not fiddle with it and lets it through. |
| 92.2 : I Sharma to Plessis, Keeping it tight outside off, Faf opts not to play at it. |
| 92.3 : I Sharma to Plessis, Just ahead of a length, wanting the batsman to drive. Du Plessis does so but straight to the fielder. |
| 92.4 : I Sharma to Plessis, Short, aimed at the body of the batsman. Faf easily helps it on its way towards fine leg for a run. |
| 92.5 : I Sharma to Maharaj, Good length outside off, Maharaj lets it be. Ishant has bowled well but he has to make the batsman play a little more. For now he is bowling quite wide outside off. |
| 92.6 : I Sharma to Maharaj, And again, he bowls it wide outside off, Maharaj need not play at those. |
| A huge shout for LBW against Faf and the umpire shakes his head. Virat Kohli, after taking his time opts to review. Height can be an issue here as Faf is on his toes as he is playing that. |
| 93.1 : J Bumrah to Plessis, NOT OUT! Yes, it is going over. India have lost both their reviews now. Bumrah comes running in and bowls it on off, he gets some inward movement. Faf is undone by it as he tries to flick. He misses and the ball hits him high on the pads. Bumrah appeals, he actually is pleading as he feels he has got his man. The umpire though stays put. After a long chat Kohli finally decides to review. Replays roll in and there is no bat involved but the ball is bouncing over the stu |
| 93.2 : J Bumrah to du Plessis, On a length around off, Faf tries to defend but it goes off the inside edge towards fine leg for a run. |
| 93.3 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 93.4 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Back of a length on off, pushed to covers. |
| 93.5 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Shorter in length on middle, Maharaj tucks it towards mid-wicket for a run. |
| 93.6 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Once again the inswinging ball is creating problems for du Plessis! Bumrah bowls it on a length around off, it comes back in sharply. Faf gets an inside edge onto his pads as he tries to defend. |
| 94.1 : I Sharma to Maharaj, Nice shot! Maharaj is showing he can hold a bat here. Ishant bangs it in a little short outside off, Maharaj punches it through covers for a couple. |
| 94.2 : I Sharma to Maharaj, Back of a length on off, pushed to covers. |
| 94.3 : I Sharma to Maharaj, Fuller this time, this is where Ishant should be bowling. Maharaj though drives it back towards mid off. |
| 94.4 : I Sharma to Maharaj, Once again he bowls it very wide outside off, not hitting consistent lines. Maharaj leaves it. |
| 94.5 : I Sharma to Maharaj, Another one which beats the edge! On a length outside off, Maharaj goes after it loosely but gets beaten. |
| 94.6 : I Sharma to Maharaj, Bouncer! The surprise delivery, Maharaj though is not surprised as he ducks under it. |
| 95.1 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Bumrah goes wide of the crease and angles it around off. Faf keeps his eyes on the ball and leaves it. |
| 95.2 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Excellent effort by Shami! He has not had a good time with the ball but he saves a certain boundary there. Faf is gutted as run scoring has not been easy. He drives the full ball towards mid off where Shami dives to his left and makes an excellent stop. |
| 95.3 : J Bumrah to Plessis, OUCH! That has hit Faf on the box. Bumrah once again lands it on a length around off, it jags back in. Du Plessis tries to defend but is done in by the inswing and the ball hits him on the box. He initially shows some pain but he is fine now. A tough lad! |
| 95.4 : J Bumrah to Plessis, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 95.5 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Fuller in length on off, pushed to covers. |
| 95.6 : J Bumrah to Plessis, Wide enough for the batsman to not play at it. |
| 96.1 : I Sharma to Maharaj, Fuller in length on off, Maharaj defends it solidly. |
| 96.2 : I Sharma to Maharaj, Full outside off, the batsman lets it be. |
| 96.3 : I Sharma to Maharaj, FOUR! Excellent shot! Ishant offers width outside off once again but this time bowls it a touch shorter. Maharaj slaps it through cover-point, there was a fielder in the deep but he had no chance. |
| 96.4 : I Sharma to Maharaj, A bumper on middle, Maharaj ducks under it. |
| 96.5 : I Sharma to Maharaj, A good delivery to finish the over! Sharma angles it into the batsman from wide of the crease, gets it to shape away. Maharaj tries to defend but is beaten by the away movement. |
| 96.6 : I Sharma to Maharaj, That too is a quality shot but only for a run! Ishant bowls it on a length on off, Maharaj, on the up, drives it through covers for an easy run. |
| 97.1 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Catch it is the call but there is no edge! Bumrah serves a full ball outside off, wanting Maharaj to go after it. He reaches out in an attempt to drive but gets beaten. |
| 97.2 : J Bumrah to K Maharaj, Another fuller length ball, angling into the batsman. Maharaj tries to defend with his pad close. It strikes both and the players appeal but the umpire shakes his head. The question here is what did it hit first? Replays are not conclusive nevertheless the umpire feels it is bat first. |
| 97.3 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 97.4 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, Another short ball on middle, Keshav ducks under it. |
| 97.5 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, A full toss outside off, he might be going for a yorker which he is known to bowl. He does not quite get it right. Maharaj tries to drive but does not connect. |
| 97.6 : J Bumrah to Maharaj, A yorker this time on middle, Maharaj may have expected it as he digs it out to mid on. |
| Mohammed Shami is into the attack. |
| 98.1 : M Shami to Plessis, A good start by him! He bowls a fuller ball on middle, no swing on offer though. Faf times it to mid on. |
| 98.2 : M Shami to Plessis, Back of a length on middle, Faf works it around the corner to change strike. |
| 98.3 : M Shami to Maharaj, Just ahead of a length on off, defended towards covers. |
| 98.4 : M Shami to Maharaj, Back of a length outside off, Maharaj first thinks of going after it but then pulls out of the shot. |
| 98.5 : Shami to Maharaj, OUT! GONE! 100th Test wicket for Shami! He was poor yesterday but strikes in his first over today. Excellent delivery! Shami lands it on a length around off, it moves away ever so slightly, enough to take the edge as Maharaj tries to defend. Patel behind the stumps does the rest. The delivery was too good for a lower-order batsman to negotiate as it was on the fifth stump line which forces the batsman to play and Shami also got some extra bounce there. |
| Kagiso Rabada comes into bat. |
| 98.6 : M Shami to Rabada, The batsman gets an inside edge and the ball hits him on the pads. |
| Ravichandran Ashwin is into the attack. |
| 99.1 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Flatter on off, Faf defends it off the back foot. |
| 99.2 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Faf comes down the track and tries to flick he misses and the ball hits him on the pads. |
| 99.3 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Worked to mid-wicket with the turn. |
| 99.4 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 99.5 : R Ashwin to Plessis, The batsman tries flicking a ball that is down the leg side. |
| 99.6 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Floats it on off, Faf defends it off the front foot. |
| 100.1 : M Shami to Rabada, Bouncer on middle, Rabada watches it go through to the keeper. |
| 100.2 : M Shami to Rabada, Good bowling! He has found his rhythm today. Shami lands it on a length around off, angles it away from the batsman. Rabada hangs his bat out but gets beaten. |
| 100.3 : M Shami to Rabada, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 100.4 : M Shami to Rabada, Another testing delivery! Shami changes the angle this time and comes around the wicket. He lands it on off and gets it to shape away. Rabada pokes it it and gets beaten. |
| 100.5 : M Shami to Rabada, Fuller in length on middle, Rabada drives it towards Ishant who misfields and concedes a run. Sloppy from the tall fast bowler, I think all that bowling and the heat might have taken a toll on him as he was lazy in going down. |
| 100.6 : M Shami to Plessis, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 101.1 : R Ashwin to Rabada, Another appeal but the umpire this time too shakes his head! Ashwin bowls a straighter one on middle, Rabada plays for the turn but is beaten on the inside as the ball hits the pads. The players appeal but the umpire once again shakes his head. Might be sliding down leg. |
| 101.2 : R Ashwin to Rabada, BEATEN! Ashwin is bringing all his variation in play here! He tosses this one up on off, gets it to turn away. Rabada this time does not play for the spin and gets beaten. |
| 101.3 : R Ashwin to Rabada, Ohhhh! Ashwin has started off really well, he is causing all sorts of problems for the left-hander. He bowls this one flatter on middle, it turns away from the batsman. Rabada goes on the back foot and tries to defend but is beaten to get hit high on the pads. |
| 101.4 : R Ashwin to Rabada, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 101.5 : R Ashwin to Rabada, Slower through the air outside off, Rabada lets it be. |
| 101.6 : R Ashwin to Rabada, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 102.1 : M Shami to du Plessis, FOUR! TOP CLASS! Not a very bad delivery but Faf has timed that to perfection. Shami bowls it a touch fuller, not that full though. Du Plessis drives it on the up, past the diving mid off fielder for a boundary. |
| 102.2 : M Shami to Plessis, A good comeback by Shami! He bowls it on a length around off, the nall takes off after pitching. Faf does really well to take his gloves out of the way. |
| 102.3 : M Shami to Plessis, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 102.4 : M Shami to Plessis, On the pads, a poor ball by Shami. Faf fails to flick and gets hit on the pads. The ball rolls towards fine leg for an easy leg bye. |
| 102.5 : M Shami to Rabada, Comes around the wicket, from the angle he got Rabada in the first game. He bowls it on middle, Kagiso drives to mid on. |
| 102.6 : M Shami to Rabada, Wide enough for the batsman to not play at it. |
| 103.1 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Tosses it up on middle, workes it to square leg for a run. |
| 103.2 : R Ashwin to Rabada, Floats it up on middle, Rabada defends it off the front foot. |
| 103.3 : R Ashwin to Rabada, EDGED AND DROPPED! The poor catching in the slip cordon continues! The skipper is the man in fault here. Ashwin bowls a flighted delivery on off, it turns away. Rabada tries to defend but gets an outside edge which goes low and to the right of Kohli. He sticks one hand out and tries to grab it but fails to do so and the ball goes down towards third man. Meanwhile the batsman pick up a brace. |
| 103.4 : R Ashwin to Rabada, In the air... and dropped again! Ashwin might be tearing his hair out here. Rabada who has been struggling against the off spinner tries to take him on. He comes down the track and tries to go big but the ball turns away and he ends up slicing it in the air towards cover-point. There are two fielders converging for it, one from point and the other from covers. There is no calling between the two. Pandya who gets to the ball first from the latter position, gets two hand |
| 103.5 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Ashwin floats it outside off, Faf tries to sweep but gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 103.6 : R Ashwin to Plessis, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| Drinks! |
| 104.1 : M Shami to Rabada, On a length, angling away from Rabada, he glides it to third man for one. |
| 104.2 : M Shami to Plessis, This one is punched towards covers. |
| 104.3 : M Shami to Plessis, Jaffa! This is almost similar to the one that got Maharaj. Landing on off, moving away just a touch. Du Plessis is squared up in his defense but does well to not edge that. |
| 104.4 : M Shami to Plessis, FOUR! Much better. Length ball just outside off, du Plessis hangs back and punches this one. The ball goes through the vacant cover region and rolls away to the fence. |
| 104.5 : M Shami to Plessis, Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. |
| 104.6 : M Shami to Plessis, This one is worked away through square leg to retain strike. |
| 105.1 : R Ashwin to Plessis, On the pads, flicked towards short leg. |
| 105.2 : R Ashwin to Plessis, FOUR! Du Plessis is intent to not let Ashwin settle. Sees this ball tossed up, gets down and takes out the sweep shot. Makes good connection as the ball races away to the square leg fence. There were fielders in the deep but it was near none of them. |
| 105.3 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Flatter ball is Ash's response. Flicked towards mid-wicket. |
| 105.4 : R Ashwin to Plessis, FDP has flicked the ball off his pads. |
| 105.5 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Worked away off his pads through square leg for one. |
| 105.6 : R Ashwin to Rabada, Seems to be the carrom ball, Rabada misses the flick and gets hit high on the pads. |
| Hardik Pandya to run in with the ball now. 14-4-37-0 read his figures. |
| 106.1 : H Pandya to Plessis, Length ball angling in, flicked away for a single. |
| 106.2 : H Pandya to Rabada, Well outside off, left alone. |
| 106.3 : H Pandya to Rabada, Edged but safe! On a length outside off, Rabada has a feel for that. The ball takes the outside edge but lands just short of Kohli's right at first slip and goes towards the third man fence. Two runs taken before Virat retrieves it. Perhaps, Patel could have gone for that catch as he had better chance of reaching it and hence taking it. |
| 106.4 : H Pandya to Rabada, Played to the point region by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 106.5 : H Pandya to du Plessis, FOUR! Rohit Sharma should have done better feels Pandya there. He delivers it on a fuller length around off, du Plessis looks to hit it with a straight bat. But the ball goes off the outer edge, passes Sharma at short point who dives but fails to stop that. Once that happens a boundary it is. |
| 106.6 : H Pandya to Plessis, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 107.1 : R Ashwin to Rabada, This one is worked towards square leg. |
| 107.2 : R Ashwin to Rabada, Nice loop on that one and there is significant spin as well. Draws Rabada forward in defense and goes the other way to just tease the lower order bat. |
| 107.3 : R Ashwin to Rabada, Flatter ball angling in, worked away through square leg for a couple. |
| 107.4 : R Ashwin to Rabada, Blocked towards mid-wicket from the crease. |
| 107.5 : R Ashwin to Rabada, Kagiso lunges forwards bunts this delivery around off. |
| 107.6 : R Ashwin to Rabada, Once again Rabada comes forward to block but the ball spins away past the outside edge. |
| 108.1 : H Pandya to Plessis, The skipper is leading the battle for South Africa. Gets to his 17th Test fifty, his second in the series. A nice harmless ball to get there as he gets a length ball on the pads. Works it away through square leg for a couple. Good grafting knock from Faf du Plessis. |
| 108.2 : H Pandya to Plessis, Once again du Plessis works this through backward square leg for two more. |
| 108.3 : H Pandya to Plessis, Faf is early into his flick and ends up getting a soft leading edge down the track. |
| 108.4 : H Pandya to Plessis, Tapped towards point for a single. |
| 108.5 : H Pandya to Rabada, On a length around off, Rabada stays in the crease and defends. |
| 108.6 : H Pandya to Rabada, Hardik comes round the wicket and bowls it fuller on off, defended with a stride forward. |
| 109.1 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Dropped? Looked so! Ashwin comes over the wicket and floats it just outside off. Du Plessis looks to keep it out but seems to have edged it to Patel. The keeper fumbles and eventually grasses it. Replays fail to spot an edge there and Parthiv can breathe easy. |
| 109.2 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Painful? Maybe. Du Plessis gets down and plays the sweep. It goes off short leg's shin pad towards backward square leg. |
| 109.3 : R Ashwin to Plessis, This time he dances down the track and keeps it out towards mid-wicket. |
| 109.4 : R Ashwin to Plessis, This time du Plessis sweeps this past Vijay at short leg for one. |
| 109.5 : R Ashwin to Rabada, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| 109.6 : R Ashwin to Plessis, FOUR! Poor ball, punished. Ashwin bowls a carrom ball outside off, it turns away a touch. But the length is short and that allows du Plessis ample time to go back and cut it through backward point for a boundary. |
| Ishant Sharma back for another spell. 20-3-41-1 are his current figures. |
| 110.1 : I Sharma to Rabada, Well outside off, left alone. |
| 110.2 : I Sharma to Rabada, Fuller on off, defended from the crease. |
| 110.3 : I Sharma to Rabada, OUT! Hardik Pandya makes amends to the earlier chance that he gave to Kagiso Rabada. A look at the way he has taken this one would make us feel that he has done more than well. Ishant Sharma bowls it short, Rabada goes for the pull irrespective of the fact that there is a man there. Pandya runs in and takes it with a dive forward. But he knows that Rabada shouldn't have stayed in the middle for as long as he did. Hence, he does not celebrate but only flings the ball aw |
| The next batter in for South Africa is Morne Morkel. |
| 110.4 : I Sharma to Morkel, Fuller ball outside off, Morkel lets it go. |
| 110.5 : I Sharma to Morkel, Length ball outside off, pushed towards point. |
| 110.6 : I Sharma to Morkel, Banged short on the stumps, ducked under by Morne. Wicket maiden from Ishant. |
| 111.1 : R Ashwin to Plessis, FOUR! Intentions crystal clear! Ashwin tosses up this carrom ball from round the wicket in line of the stumps. Faf du Plessis gets down the track and slogs this wide of the player at long on. Gets a boundary for doing so. |
| 111.2 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Ash comes back over the wicket and bowls it flatter outside off. Du Plessis blocks. |
| 111.3 : R Ashwin to Plessis, This is punched off the back foot towards mid off. |
| 111.4 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Floated outside off, driven to covers. |
| 111.5 : R Ashwin to Plessis, Ashwin switches sides and delivers it on the pads. FDP comes down and blocks. |
| 111.6 : R Ashwin to Plessis, This ball is turned towards mid-wicket. |
| 112.1 : I Sharma to Morkel, FOUR! This is the shot of the match, reckons Shaun Pollock on air. Yes, it is a nice one but not so much so that a tag such as this be attached to it. Sharma lands it on a length around middle and leg, Morkel hops up and flicks it through mid-wicket. Such is the timing on that the ball speeds away to the fence. |
| 112.2 : I Sharma to Morkel, Ahh! This is the tailender Morkel that we know. Sees width on offer on this length ball and looks to free his arms with a slash. Misses the ball by just. Immediately raises his hand in apology to his skipper at the other end. |
| 112.3 : I Sharma to Morkel, Sharma comes round the wicket and bowls it on a length angling in. Morne works it away to deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 112.4 : I Sharma to Plessis, OUT! Knocked him over! Brilliant sight for a fast bowler - the woodwork disturbed! Despair for Faf, delight for Ishant. Sharma runs in from over the wicket and angles it into du Plessis on a fuller length. On another day and any other situation, du Plessis would have defended this. But now, he looks to go with the drive on the up. Misses the ball as it sneaks in through the gap between bat and pad and disturbs the middle stump. Sharma shouts in delight as he picks up |
| Lungi Ngidi, the debutant, is the last man in for South Africa. How good is he with the bat? Entertainment time? |
| 112.5 : I Sharma to Ngidi, Beaten on the inside in the first ball that he faces. Length ball just around off, Ngidi looks to block but gets beaten. |
| 112.6 : I Sharma to Ngidi, This one is defended towards covers. |
| 113.1 : R Ashwin to Morkel, Floated outside off, Morkel misses the ball as he gets down to defend. |
| 113.2 : R Ashwin to Morkel, A touch shorter outside off Morkel pats it to cover-point and sets off for a run. Pandya gets there and hurls a throw at the striker's end but misses the direct hit. Patel also fails to collect it and whip the bails off. A run results. |
| Couple of men deep on the leg side. |
| 113.3 : R Ashwin to Ngidi, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 113.4 : R Ashwin to L Ngidi, First run for Ngidi in white-dress cricket. He works it through mid on for a single. |
| 113.5 : R Ashwin to Morkel, OUT! That's it! Ashwin has four to his name. It is a matter of when, when a left-hander lower order batsman is at the crease against the off spinner. Tossed up ball around off, Morkel gets down and looks to go big. All he does is, he manages to slice it high up in the air to deep covers where Vijay takes it easily. SOUTH AFRICA 335 ALL OUT! |
| We are hearing that India will have to survive one over before Lunch. The players in the South African dressing room also stood up and were confused about the way forward, before the confirmation came. |
| India have done exactly what they sought out to do this morning - bowl the opposition out quickly. Only du Plessis really was the last thorn and he was the second-last man gone. But before departing, he got to another half century and added a good 42 runs with Rabada at the other end. That stand was furthered due to the catches of the latter that India dropped on consecutive balls. |
| A glance at the Proteas' scorecard suggests a lot of starts left unconverted. As many as three batters got scores over 50 but failed to convert them into a triple figure one. They had 5 partnerships over 40, none went on to get a century. The visiting bowlers fared well, with Ashwin and Ishant doing well. They picked up 7 wickets between them to contain the opposition. |
| India will have to survive a tricky over before the break. Will be interesting to see if Vijay and Rahul go out unbeaten. Another thing eagerly watched will be how South Africa start with the new ball. Stay with us to find out what happens. |
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