Highlights, India (IND) vs (SA) South Africa, 3rd Test, Day 4 at Johannesburg
Highlights from the 4th day of 3rd Test match between India (Ind) and (SA) South Africa at Wanderers, Johannesburg on Saturday.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: January 27, 2018 09:04 pm IST
India made a brilliant comeback to beat South Africa by 63 runs in the third and final Test at Johannesburg on Saturday. Mohammed Shami was the star bowler for the visiting side as he ran through South Africa's batsmen in the second session. He ended the second innings with figures of 5/28. Needing 241 runs for a win, South Africa were all-out for 177 runs on the fourth day of the Test. Dean Elgar was the lone warrior for his side as the Proteas batsmen fell like a pack of cards in the session post tea. With this win, India lost the series 1-2 after the hosts had wrapped up the series earlier winning the previous two Tests. The hosts were cruising towards victory but the post tea session worked wonders for India. From 124/2 to 177/10, South Africa scripted a mammoth collapse. (SCORECARD)
Earlier, the first session of Day 4 saw South Africa on top after Hashim Amla and Dean Elgar remained unbeaten. They both weathered the initial storm as the Indian pacers failed to get any breakthrough. Both the batsmen stitched a 62-run partnership as the hosts were 67/1 before going for lunch. Amla especially played some sublime shots aided by poor bowling by the Indian bowlers. Elgar also chipped in with his patient knock.
India vs South Africa, Highlights
Okay then! 2-1 to South Africa. Had the Proteas not choked, they would have won 3-0. On the other hand, had India played a warmup game ahead of the series, their batsmen could have fared better and even won the series. Small moments mattered for each side but in the end, India competed hard. However, South Africa were the better side. Will that be the same in the limited overs? Have to say, India hold the edge. The first ODI starts on Thursday, 1st February, 2018 at 1300 local (1100 GMT). We take your leave. You can catch all the action from the final Aus-Eng ODI and the last NZ-Pak T20I. ADIOS! Take Care!
Series-winning captain Faf du Plessis says that India completely outplayed them in this Test. Blames the chances being put down as the reason for the loss. Further degrades the performance as being average, after the one in Centurion. Praises Elgar and Amla for their fight but then is also disappointed that the others could not take the team home. On a larger aspect, Faf is very happy to have won the series 2-1. Says that India are a fantastic team and South Africa have played very well to win the series against a strong team. On the upcoming series, Faf says that India are a very strong one day team and Australia are a very strong Test side but SA would take a lot of positives from this win.
VERNON PHILANDER is the MAN OF THE SERIES. Says that he is happy with his bowling performance. Is proud of his team's batting display though it could not come well in this one. Would have taken a win on his 50th Test but credits India for being a better team. On his immediate future, he says he will take some rest now, then resume training, then play a few domestic games before preparing for the Australia series.
BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR has been named the MAN OF THE MATCH. Says that he is very happy with his bowling performance and also because it came at the right moment. On his batting, he says that he always works hard on that aspect. Adds that the pitch was tough to bat on, there were a few awkward balls but overall it was not a difficult one to play.
Victorious Indian skipper Virat Kohli says that the Indian team needed some character to be shown but his side showed great guts and determination and took it down with a lot of challenge. Says that not many felt that batting first was a great choice but his team proved everyone wrong. On being asked his feeling during the Elgar-Amla stand, Kohli admits that he was a touch nervous, but he expected this from South Africa as they are the home side. But he was also sure that one wicket would change things as new batsmen found it tough to score. Praises his bowlers for not conceding runs. On India's performance this series, he says bowlers were the biggest positive and also admits that the batsmen will look at their faults and improve from those.
The second innings was the one where India played like a team. The batsmen took all the blows from the pitch which had begun to behave treacherously but braved the scenes to pile on a competitive 247. They could have been bowled out for under 200 but the Proteas dropped two catches of Rahane and Bhuvi which shifted the momentum towards the visitors. Those small moments cost South Africa big time. Time for the presentation...
If we go back to what happened on Day 1 of this Test, it seems a long time ago, though it is only 3 days. After electing to bat, India were bundled out for only 187 after 50s from Kohli and Pujara. Seemed a modest total but as they say, never speak till both the teams have batted on it. South Africa followed a similar pattern to that of India's and could only get a lead of 7 with only Amla managing a half century. Jasprit Bumrah was the hero for India, picking up his first 5-wicket haul.
The second innings hero, Mohammed Shami, was the key for India. Only a wicket in the first innings but 5 in the second. He got reverse swing going and the Protea tail was wiped out pretty quickly. Throughout the day, the Indian bowlers toiled hard and eventually, their efforts bore fruit.
A tremendous turnaround. At 124/1 and chasing 241, it seemed an easy victory for the Proteas. The pitch was suddenly looking to behave well but a soft dismissal set things rolling for India. Amla chipped one to short mid-wicket and then, South Africa started to choke. They lost their last 9 wickets for just 53 runs and handed an improbable victory to the visitors.
Magnificent victory for India. Terrific scenes around. Kohli takes a moment to make a bow to the crowd and then sets off to celebrate with his mates. Guess that bow was to silence the partisan Jo'burg crowd which seemed to be supporting only one team today.
OUT! There is a deflection and that ends the game! Ngidi is caught behind. On a good length outside off, Ngidi tries a repeat of the previous stroke and to be honest, nothing is heard initially. The slip cordon goes up in an appeal again but the umpire stays calm. This time, Dinesh Karthik straightaway convinces his skipper to go for the review after taking the catch. Replays indicate a noise and the Snickometer shows a spike when the ball passes the bat. A 63-RUN WIN FOR INDIA!
This time India go for the review! Is this the end of the game?
Excitement for a caught behind but no review. On a length outside off, Ngidi looks to open the face of the bat and run it to third man but misses. The keeper appeals initially and then the entire slip cordon barges in. Kohli thinks about the review but Rahane from gully shakes his head. Nothing on the Snickometer.
A bouncer outside off, Ngidi lets it go.
SIX! Ahh... well, surprising. He decides to go for the boundary rather than the single. A length ball outside off, Elgar heaves it over mid-wicket and clears the ropes with ease! Good shot but that gets the number 11 on strike from the first ball to Shami.
The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
FOUR! Nice shot. On a length outside off, Elgar waits for the ball to come to him and opens the face of the bat to guide it to third man!
That comes back in a long way, Elgar pushes at it but misses.
Outside off, played straight to point.
On middle and leg, pushed back to the bowler.