South Africa end Day 4 of the 1st Test at 94/4 in pursuit of 305 against India

[sam_ahm]

India in total control here and should win easily. Good clinical stuff.

What surprised me is the total lack of intent from South Africa, certainly a shadow of a team that once was. They were literally playing banking on rain to come time tomorrow and save them. That's hilarious.

No way they can bat out 5 sessions, at least they could have attacked Ashwin and Thakur and tried to put some pressure on India esp when Dussen and Elgar were having a partnership going. The ball had gone a bit older as well but no intent at all.

Makes me wonder what strategy Boucher has? His job might well be on the line here. Lost to Pakistan, failed to make semis of T20WC and now losing a home series to India.

 

[dildilpak]

If weather permits an entire session tomorrow, India can easily wrap this match up.

 

[MP2011]

He is not a tailender. He has some batting ability so maybe they took a chance on him to just block for the remaining day.

True. But Bumrah had other plans, what a delivery that was!

 

[Ab Fan]

Elgar is such a good batsman. Ridiculous assertion that in 2015, the then South African captain picked Elgar over Zubayr Humza based on skin colour. The accusations were clearly lolworthy.

 

[Devadwal]

If weather permits an entire session tomorrow, India can easily wrap this match up.

Don't think rain will come before tea so enough time left to get remaining 6 wickets . tomorrow weather prediction is same as 1st day but 1st day there were no rain at all .

 

[Last Monetarist]

Elgar is such a good batsman. Ridiculous assertion that in 2015, the then South African captain picked Elgar over Zubayr Humza based on skin colour. The accusations were clearly lolworthy.

That wasn't related to Hamza nor Test cricket, the allegation was that de Villiers picked Elgar in an ODI game as a late replacement for JP Duminy when Khaya Zondo was the reserve batsman in the squad.

 

[Msd_7]

Jasprit Bumrah in Test Cricket

Home - 4 wickets

Away - 101 Wickets

 

[Local.Dada]

Jasprit Bumrah in Test Cricket

Home - 4 wickets

Away - 101 Wickets

Does it really matter? Even the 6th and 7th in line Indian spinner can roll over pretty much every team in SC.

We finally have bowlers to knock out the opposition overseas.

Also Umesh should be ahead of Bumrah in the SC. The guy is different beast in sc conditons.

 

[jnaveen1980]

India in total control here and should win easily. Good clinical stuff.

What surprised me is the total lack of intent from South Africa, certainly a shadow of a team that once was. They were literally playing banking on rain to come time tomorrow and save them. That's hilarious.

No way they can bat out 5 sessions, at least they could have attacked Ashwin and Thakur and tried to put some pressure on India esp when Dussen and Elgar were having a partnership going. The ball had gone a bit older as well but no intent at all.

Makes me wonder what strategy Boucher has? His job might well be on the line here. Lost to Pakistan, failed to make semis of T20WC and now losing a home series to India.

No SA was always defensive in Tests even with their best players in the side. They were not enterprising like Australia.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Saffers cooked

 

[sam_ahm]

Elgar is such a good batsman. Ridiculous assertion that in 2015, the then South African captain picked Elgar over Zubayr Humza based on skin colour. The accusations were clearly lolworthy.

That incident has nothing to do with Hamza, it was Khaya Zondo and it wasn't test cricket but ODI game that was spoken about. Hamza's debut itself was in 2018.

 

[Smbhayi]

How many wickets india will take in last session ? My prediction SAF 90/4

Almost correct..

 

[MenInG]

South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada still believes that his side can win the first Test against India despite being reduced to 94 for 4 in chase of a stiff target of 305 on the penultimate day in Centurion on Wednesday. Rabada took four wickets for 42 run to help his team bowl out India for 174 in 50.3 overs in their second innings, leaving the home side 305 runs to secure victory. South Africa still need 211 runs on the final day on Thursday to win the match with six wickets in hand. "Definitely. we have just got to show belief. Strategise overnight and see how to approach this. Every sportsman has got to believe," Rabada said when asked whether South Africa can still win the first Test.

He said skipper Dean Elgar, who was not out on 52 at stumps, would be key to the team's cause on the final day.

"Dean is doing his best for his team, his country and himself. He is leading from the front. He has done it countless times," Rabada said of his captain.

About the possibility of rain on the final day on Thursday, he said, "Yeah, there have been chats on when it is going to rain or when it is not going to...It is a bit of an uncontrollable." Rabada is in awe of Indian pacers who have swung the match in the visiting team's favour.

"They got some quality bowlers. (Mohammed) Shami and (Jasprit) Bumrah are very experienced and (Mohd) Siraj has been bowling well in the recent past," he said.

"They have a good attack, they got pace and they have got skills. They are showing why they are a good attack." Asked about debutant pace colleague Marco Jansen, who took four wickets in the Indian second innings, Rabada said, "He is a phenomenal talent. He is an awkward customer to face. There is swing, bounce and pace coming at you.

"In the (Indian) second innings, he justified his selection...he seems like he wants to learn. He is a hard worker. He is really keen on doing well for his team and himself." On the number of no-balls (17 in the match including six in the Indian second innings), the South African pacer said he would need to work on it before the next game.

"Look, it is not acceptable. It is something I have to work on. The no-balls are controllable and I need to work on it before the next test," he added.

https://sports.ndtv.com/south-afric...-cry-ahead-of-day-5-of-centurion-test-2678763

 

[Amjid Javed]

India will wrap up the game in the 1st session tomorrow.

 

[sweep_shot]

India should go up 1-0, unless rain spoils the party.

 

[wrongun]

Good match so far.

Sa fighting.

I don't see India wrapping this up in a session at all.

This game is going deep. Will be a nailbiter. SA keep finding fight & new players in spite of the thousand difficulties they face with political situations & player losses.

 

[kukkad kamaal]

This will be a draw