SA made an impressive feast of what was expected to be a very difficult chase of 240 runs in the final innings of the New Year’s Test in Johannesburg and levelled the three-match series 1-1 with a seven-wicket victory.
Skipper Dean Elgar led his side from the front, playing a resilient knock of 96 not out to shepherd the run-chase as the Proteas overcame India’s grip at the Jo’burg fortress and breached it in fabulous fashion in the end.
Partnerships were the key for the Proteas. After an important top-order stand with Aiden Markram (31), the Proteas skipper had Keegan Pietersen (28), Rassie van der Dussen (40) and Temba Bavuma (23*) carrying the great work forward.
Not only did South Africa stitch vital partnerships along the way, but they also batted at a great tempo through their innings, taking only 67.4 overs to make 243/3 in the final innings despite expectations that the track would go more and more uneven.
What didn’t help India’s cause, however, was the rain as it kept the surface moist and didn’t allow the cracks to open up further, especially with SA getting to use the heavy roller twice.
But it would be unfair to put their win entirely down to easing up of the surface as their batters showed commendable resolve under pressure. Elgar, the ugly but unflappable left-hander, batted like zen and played one of his most significant knocks to take his team through to the winning post.
For once, India’s seamers Jasprit Bumrah (0/70) and Mohammad Shami (1/55) weren’t at their usual consistent best, and while first-innings hero Shardul Thakur (1/47) showed better control, he could never really build inroads as he did on Day 2. On a surface offering him next to nothing, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (1/26) kept an end tight besides taking a crucial wicket. But in the end, a rare poor effort from their main seamers, especially Bumrah, let India down big time.
That isn’t to say, however, that the blame for India’s defeat falls entirely on the bowlers. The batters also failed to put up a collective performance. KL Rahul (50), Cheteshwar Pujara (53), Ajinkya Rahane (58) made fifties in the Test match.
There were priceless forties from Ashwin (46) and Hanuma Vihari (40). But lack of big scores from any one of them and lower-order collapses held India back significantly, with the tourists making only 202 and 266 in either innings.
In their first go with the bat, South Africa took a slender but crucial lead of 27 runs by posting 229 runs. Half-centuries from Petersen (62) and Bavuma (51), plus some important lower-order contributions, allowed the hosts to edge past India and take a lead.
With the ball, South Africa had left-arm seamer Marco Jansen (4/31) being the hero in the first-innings, before he backed his effort with a three-fer (3/67) in the second essay. While never really at his best, lead pacer Kagiso Rabada bowled important spells of 3/64 & 3/77 in the two innings. Lungi Ngidi, who went wicketless in the first half, bagged three wickets in the second innings. Duanne Olivier also chipped in with three crucial breakthroughs in the first half.
With their win, South Africa avoided a series defeat to India for the time being and set up an exciting decider in Cape Town, starting next January 11.
Brief scores
India 202/10 (KL Rahul 50, Ashwin 46; Jansen 4/31) & 266/10 (Rahane 58, Pujara 53; Ngidi 3/43) lost to South Africa 229/10 (Petersen 62, Bavuma 51; Thakur 7/61) & 243/3 (Elgar 96*, van der Dussen 40; Ashwin 1/26) by 7 wickets
