NEW DELHI: South Africa were five for one in the 20 minutes they got to bat before lunch in reply to the victory target of 481 on day four of the fourth and final Test being played at Feroz Shah Kotla ground here today.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin drew first blood as he dismissed opener Dean Elgar (4), who got an outside edge to be caught by Rahane at slips. Earlier, riding on star batsman Ajinkya Rahane’s (100) second ton of the match, India set a victory target of 481 runs for South Africa in the morning session of the day.
Skipper Virat Kohli declared just after Rahane completed his century when the Indian total reached 267 for five with Wriddhiman Saha giving the Mumbai batter company at the crease on 23. Earlier, resuming the day at 190 for four, Kohli (88) and Rahane started the day on a cautious note but the Delhi batsman could add only five runs to his overnight score as he was trapped infront on a Kyle Abbott’s delivery. Kohli’s 165-ball knock composed of 10 hits to the fence. Kohli and Rahane’s fourth-wicket stand yielded 154 runs, which bailed India out from a precarious 57 for four.
The fall of Kohli brought Saha to the crease and he batted well to forge an unbeaten 56-run stand for the fifth wicket with the 27-year-old Rahane. Rahane’s gritty unbeaten 100 came off 206 balls which included eight fours and three massive sixes. For the visitors, Morne Morkel was the pick of the bowlers yesterday with three wickets while leg-spinner Imran Tahir took one wicket. Abbott got the only wicket to fall today.
India 1st innings 334
South Africa 1st innings 121
India 2nd innings
Murali Vijay c Vilas b Morkel 3 Shikhar Dhawan b Morkel 21 Rohit Sharma b Morkel 0 Cheteshwar Pujara b Tahir 28 Virat Kohli lbw b Abbott 88 Ajinkya Rahane not out 100 Wriddhiman Saha not out 23 Extras (lb 2, nb 2) 4 Total (in 100.1 overs) 267 for 5 declared Fall of wickets 1-4 (Vijay, 4.6 ov), 2-8 (RG Sharma, 6.1 ov), 3-53 (Dhawan, 28.6 ov), 4-57 (Pujara, 31.1 ov), 5-211 (Kohli, 85.4 ov) Bowling: Morkel 21-6-51-3, Abbott 22-9-47-1, Piedt 18-1-53-0, Tahir 26.1-4-74-1, Elgar 13-1-40-0
South Africa 2nd innings
Dean Elgar c Rahane b Ashwin 4 Temba Bavuma batting 1 Hashim Amla batting 0 Extras 0 Total (in 5 overs) 5 for 1 Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Elgar, 3.6 ov)
Bowling: Sharma 2-2-0-0, Ashwin 2-1-5-1, Jadeja 1-1-0-0 (agencies)
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