South Africa inched closer to a series victory on day four of the second Test at Centurion after reducing India to 35-3, chasing 287 on a deteriorating pitch.
With India’s main man Virat Kohli back in the hut and the ball keeping low, the target seems out of India’s reach going into day five.
Here, we look at the things we learned.
INDIA IN A CATCH-22 SITUATION
The visitors scored 35 runs in 23 overs by stumps and need to make 252 in the final day. They can’t take too many risks pushing the scoring rate as they might end up losing wickets in a bunch and that would deny them an opportunity to at least save the game. But if they block everything, the Proteas will have the freedom to experiment throughout day five and rotate the bowlers whichever way they want. The dismissal of Kohli has meant India don’t have a batsman who can score freely and put the pressure on the opposition.
Unfortunately it's all over. Kohli gone, India gone .
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 16, 2018
PARTHIV PATEL AHEAD OF ROHIT SHARMA
The Indian management’s decision to send Parthiv ahead of Rohit proved two things – the wicket-keeper is resilient enough to handle hostile bowling and Rohit can’t be relied upon to deliver in the toughest of situations. Not only has the under-pressure batsman kept a proven performer like Ajinkya Rahane out of the team, it was Parthiv who was asked to weather the storm before stumps on day four. If a pure middle-order batsman can’t be relied upon to do the job and save the series, why is he there in the first place?
The one thing I have noticed with Parthiv over the years ago is that he never shies away. Opened against Shoaib etc in Pakistan, now coming higher up the order here
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 16, 2018
DE VILLIERS THE GAME-CHANGER
South Africa have a lethal bowling attack but in both Tests, it was AB de Villiers who proved to be the game-changer during the most critical moments. The star batsman made a quickfire 65 after the hosts were 12-3 in the first Test and followed that up with 35 in the second that helped take the target beyond 200. In the Centurion Test, with the Proteas 3-2 in the second essay, he negated the new ball bowlers and ended up scoring 80 off 121 balls on an up-and-down wicket. His spark in three critical innings ensured the Proteas stayed just ahead of India.
The equation for this series has been simple. SA - ABDV = India. He’s different gravy. Props too to Dean Elgar. That 141-run stand. #SAvIND
— Dileep Premachandran (@SpiceBoxofEarth) January 16, 2018
TOP MARKS FOR SHAMI
India’s fielders have let the bowlers down but the pacers maintained their intensity. Mohammed Shami conjured three wickets out of nothing, first getting the ball to jump on a free flowing De Villiers before getting Dean Elgar on the pull shot and catching the outside edge of a clueless Quinton de Kock. Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma too maintained pace and pressure on the fourth day, giving India an outside chance of squaring the series. The Indians can draw some strength from the performances of the pace attack that looks good enough to rattle any opposition anywhere.
Earlier India's bane overseas was the inability to take 20 wickets...Indian bowlers have done it twice in two games. #SAvIND
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 16, 2018
