/ 21 December 2013

Big task ahead for Proteas

AB de Villers.
AB de Villers.

South Africa were on 138 for two, still requiring 320 runs from a minimum of 90 overs on Sunday, and Petersen and Faf du Plessis (10) were both not out at the close of play. Mohammed Shami was the only bowler to take a wicket with figures of 1/30. Set a mammoth 458 to win after India had been bowled out 421 earlier in the day, Petersen and Smith came out and showed intent from the start of their innings.

Petersen, in particular, showed dogged determination as he vastly improved on his previous highest score of his Test career of 39 in the second innings. Late in the day India claimed two vital wickets. Smith, though, brought about his own demise when he was run out after the openers had reached 108. Smith hit the ball straight to Ajinkya Rahane at mid-on, and the fielder reeled off a direct hit to find the captain short of his ground.

After the wicket, Hashim Amla strolled to the middle and continued fight with Petersen. The fight, however, was short-lived as Amla was out bowled by Mohammed Shami as the Proteas fell to 118 for two in the first Test at Wanderers on Saturday. Amla, inexplicably, left the ball and tried to duck under the delivery which ended up taking out his offstump. The rare mode of dismissal also meant Amla was out both times in the Test without offering a shot.

South Africa had earlier navigated half a session to get to tea at 38 for no loss. India had been bowled out midway through the post-lunch session. The visitors went to lunch on 358 for six with a lead of 394 and looked to up the run rate after the interval. It did not go all India's way in the middle session, as Vernon Philander (3/68) picked up two quick wickets. Philander first dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin (7) before removing captain MS Dhoni for 29. Dhoni was out slashing hard and caught at deep point by substitute fielder Dean Elgar on the boundary leaving India on 384/8.

Imran Tahir finally picked up his first wickets of the match to return figures of 2/69, while JP Duminy ended with 2/87. At lunch, Jacques Kallis with a double-strike had reduced India to 358 for six, a lead of 394. Duminy later chipped in with two wickets of his own, as he accounted for both Virat Kohli (96) and Ajinkya Rhana (15). In the absence of Morne Morkel due to injury, Kallis (3/68) stepped up to give South Africa hope on the penultimate day of the match as India's lead steadily increased towards 400.

Philander was at his best, bowling four maidens in a five-over spell, which cost just two runs, but yielded no wickets. Kallis removed the top scorer of the match Cheteshwar Pujara (153) just as another session seemed to be getting away from the Proteas. He later ended the innings of new batsman Rohit Sharma for six as South Africa fought their way back.

Pujara brought up his 150 off 247 balls in the 87th over as the new ball for South Africa did not provide the breakthrough. After reaching his milestone, Pujara attempted a cut off a Kallis delivery and edged through to AB de Villiers for a well-played 153. The wicket brought an end to the third wicket 222-run partnership between Pujara and Kohli. Kallis struck again to remove new batsman Sharma for six as India were left on 325/4.

The Proteas all-rounder produced a brute of a delivery, as the ball kept low and jagged back from well-outside off to clatter into the stumps. Kohli was next to depart for 96 as India fell to 327/5 as he played a cut-shot at a Duminy delivery, but De Villiers gathered the faint edge to send the batsman to the change room.

He just missed out on becoming the first Indian number four batsman to score centuries in each innings of a Test match. With the score on 358, Duminy struck again as he had Rahane caught at first slip by Smith with the second ball of his over. – Sapa