[TEST MATCH OVER- INDIA WINS BY INNINGS AND 137 RUNS]
Until next time, this is Shivansh Gupta bidding bye. CIAO!
That's all from us here at Sportstar today. Thank you so much for joining us. I will see you again on the 19th for the third and final Test match in Ranchi. Our reporter Ayan Acharya will be there and special mentions to our reporter Shayan Acharya for bringing all the action from Pune.
India has set a new world record of most consecutive series wins at home. Since 2013, the host has won 11 test series. Incredible!
----------------------END OF TEST MATCH| INDIA WINS------------------
SOUTH AFRICA 189/10 | 3:05 PM
Overs-67.2
Nortje 0(0)
Maharaj 22(65, 3x4) lbw b Jadeja
Coming to the ball, Jadeja bowled a quicker one that rammed into Maharaj's pads, who tried play it down to mid-wicket off the backfoot. Umpire instantly gave it out and Maharaj reviewed. Replay shows the dismissal was plumb AND INDIA WINS !
APPEAL FOR LBW AND GIVEN OUT! INDIA TAKES AN UNASSAILABLE 2-0 LEAD IN THE SERIES!
SOUTH AFRICA 189/9 | 2:58 PM
Overs-67
Maharaj 2(63)
NEW BATSMAN IN- NO.11 ANRICH NORTJE WALKS IN TO BAT
Rabada 4(5, 1x4) ct Rohit b Yadav
NINE DOWN! Umesh Yadav strikes twice in the same over. His second scalp is Rabada, who after hitting a glorious boundary earlier in the over, edges the last over of the over to Rohit Sharma at second sleep.
SOUTH AFRICA 189/8 | 2:56 PM
Overs-66.5
Maharaj 2(63), Rabada 4(4)
NEW BATSMAN IN: Kagiso Rabada walks in to bat
Philander 37(72) c W Saha b U Yadav 37(72, 3x4, 2x6)
BREAKTHROUGH! Umesh Yadav breaks the 56-run partnership between Philander and Maharaj. Umesh Yadav drags one down the leg side and Philander was keen on playing it down the leg side. However, in what looked like a lazy shot, he tried to guide the ball down with one hand and ended up nicking the ball. Another comfortable grab by Saha. India is two wickets away from sealing the series.
----------------------START OF SESSION 3, DAY 4------------------
----------------------END OF SESSION 2, DAY 4------------------
SOUTH AFRICA 147/7 | 2:15 PM
Overs-61
Philander 29(55), Maharaj 17(49)
THAT'S TEA! Another session that has belonged to India.
SOUTH AFRICA 147/7 | 1:48 PM
Overs-50
Philander 18(18), Maharaj 3(20)
DROPPED! And Jadeja is not happy. Jadeja pitches it up on the fourth line stump and entices Maharaj to drive at it. Pujara and Rahane were in the slips and the ball flies off the edge and Pujara sticks his left hand out, but cannot hold on!
SOUTH AFRICA 142/7 | 1:35 PM
Overs-46
Philander 17(13), Maharaj 0(1)
BACK-TO-BACK MAXIMUMS! Jadeja paid price for pitching it up to Philander, who thwarted the bowler over his head for consecutive sixes. Well, there's someone who isn't going to hold back.
SOUTH AFRICA 129/7 | 1:30 PM
Overs-45
Philander 4(7), Maharaj (1)
NEW BATSMAN IN: Keshav Maharaj walks in to bat
Muthusamy 9(44, 4x1] c Rohit b Shami
SEVEN DOWN! Muthusamy has to depart and there wasn't much he could have done there. Shami charged in from over the wicket, pitched it short and the ball was angling away. Muthusamy's evasive action was sticking his bat out and the ball found the edge of the blade. A good, sharp catch in the slip cordon by Rohit Sharma.
SOUTH AFRICA 126/6 | 1:12 PM
Overs-44
Muthusamy 9(43)
NEW BATSMAN IN: Vernon Philander walks in to bat
Bavuma 38(63, 4x4, 6x1) c Rahane b Jadeja
GOT HIM! South Africa's last five have outscored its top five. So if India thinks it can make lightwork of the tail, then it could've another thing coming. However, Jadeja has now got rid of Bavuma thanks to a fine catch by Rahane and India is now four wickets away from clinching the series.
SOUTH AFRICA 79/5 | 12:20 PM
Overs-29
Bavuma 3(15), de Kock 0(4)
New Batsman in- Senuram Muthusamy
de Kock 5 (19, 1x4) b Jadeja
BOWLED HIM! Jadeja strikes on the second ball after lunch as he cleans Quinton de Kock up. WHAT WAS THAT FROM THE BATSMAN? de Kock takes a wild swing at a ball angling in to play across the line on one knee and ends up dragging the ball onto his stumps. This is very careless cricket from the Proteas. India just five wickets away from the win, unless Proteas can cover the deficit of 247 and score further to set the host a target.
SOUTH AFRICA 74/4 | 12:15 PM
Overs-28
Bavuma 2(14), de Kock 5(8)
FOUR! The first boundary of the session comes off de Kock blade. Ashwin finds the edge, but the ball races down to the fence.
Welcome back for the afternoon session of day four. Ashwin to de Kock in the first over of the match.
----------------------START OF SESSION 2, DAY 4------------------
----------------------END OF SESSION 1, DAY 4------------------
SOUTH AFRICA 74/4 | 11:35 AM
Overs-27
Bavuma 2(14), de Kock 1(2)
THAT'S LUNCH! Bavuma negotiates a tossed up ball from Jadeja safely and it's time for the first break of the day.
SOUTH AFRICA 72/4 | 11:30 AM
Overs-26
Bavuma 1(9), de Kock 0(1)
New batsman in- Wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock joins Bavuma at the crease.
Elgar 48 (72. 8x4) ct Yadav b Ashwin
ANOTHER FUMBLE AND ANOTHER WICKET DOWN! Ashwin strikes in second consecutive over as Elgar mistimes a lofted shot to long-off and is caught by Yadav. The fielder did well to cover good ground to get to the ball and then fumbled the ball twice before holding on to it. Elgar will be disappointed with that shot. Tried to go over long-on and ended up throwing his wickets on 48. Ashwin has dismissed Elgar for the sixth time in Tests.
SOUTH AFRICA 70/3 | 11:28 AM
Overs-2
Bavuma 0(3)
New batsman in- Temba Bavuma walks in to bat
du Plessis 5(54) ct Saha b Ashwin
FUMBLE, FUMBLE, FUMBLE AND CAUGHT! Saha, take a bow! Ashwin bowls a quicker one and beats Faf's bat. The ball grazes the inside edge and falls into Saha's laps. He fumbles the ball, then fumbles it again. The ball was about to hit the ground when he lunges forward to knock it up and then a full stretch dive forward. Pardon me if I haven't done justice to the description, it was just that sort of a catch. Ashwin has now removed Faf for the third time this series.
SOUTH AFRICA 60/2 | 10:58 AM
Overs-18
Elgar 38(53), Faf du Plessis 5 (35)
UMPIRE'S CALL TO THE RESCUE! Faf du Plessis survives! Ashwin's off-spinner thuds into du Plessis' pads, who failed to get any bat on ball while sweeping. Umpires gave it not-out and Kohli reviewed it. The replay shows that there was no bat involved and the ball was going on to hit the stumps. However, it was the impact that came to the batsman's rescue.
SOUTH AFRICA 49/2 | 10:35 AM
Overs-12
Elgar 33(37), Faf du Plessis 4 (15)
A decent start by the bowler, as he concedes two singles in the first over. There was a short loud for leg before wicket against Faf, but the umpires is unmoved.
CHANGE IN BOWLING: R. Ashwin is brought into the attack.
SOUTH AFRICA 47/2 | 10:26 AM
Overs-11
Elgar 32(36), Faf du Plessis 3 (10)
FOUR! But Elgar isn't going to hold back as he hits Shami for three boundaries in his first over. The first was is hit to the deep backward point region, more like edged. The next ones were more convincing though. Elgar drives one through extra-cover for four and then a check drive past the mid-off region. Now, Elgar is getting comfortable. Ominous signs for India or too early to say?
Shami with a short delivery that Elgar somehow manages to evade. That might have ruffled his feathers there.
CHANGE IN BOWLING: Mohammad Shami is introduced.
SOUTH AFRICA 22/2 | 10:02 AM
Overs-6
Elgar 9(14), Faf du Plessis 0 (2)
New batsman in- Faf du Plessis decides to promote himself up the order ahead of Bavuma.
Theunis de Bruyn 8(18, 2x4) ct Saha b Yadav
SCREAMER FROM SAHA! Umesh Yadav completes the double on de Bryun. In the first innings, he found his outside edge that was taken by Saha. This time, he finds the inside edge when the batsman tried to play it down the fine leg. Saha flies to his left and takes a diving single-handed catch. This catch from Saha only bears testament to Kohli's statement that he is currently the best in Tests for India.
SOUTH AFRICA 21/1 | 9:56 AM
Overs-5
Elgar 9(14), de Bruyn 8 (14)
JUST SHORT! Just when I was talking about batsmen finding the edge and surviving, there is one that falls just short of Virat Kohli at third slip. Next ball, the edge flies past the point fielder for a boundary. So, that makes it four boundaries off the edge of the bat, four byes and a solitary single. The runs are there, but the Proteas would like to be more convincing for sure.
Both the bowlers are making the ball talk today and the Proteas batsman are mostly scoring of nicks running past the slip fielders and the gully. Elgar scores his first boundary in the fifth over of the innings when he pokes at an outswinger from Sharma. Umesh Yadav is getting great carry with good away movement from the right-hander, while Ishant Sharma is troubling Elgar coming around the wicket.
SOUTH AFRICA 9/1 | 9:44 AM
Overs-2
Elgar 1(2), de Bruyn 8 (8)
Another boundary. This time, the ball flies off the edge of the bat past the gully and the slip cordon to the third man fence. The runs are coming, but in a streaky manner.
DROPPED! by Kohli! Yes, you don't often see them together! Umesh is getting vicious away movement from the right-hander and he manages to get the edge of the bat, but only for keeper Kohli to let his through his hands. The ball ran away to the boundary.
RISKY! A nervous Elgar plays the ball to point and calls for a quick single, but it was his partner who was running to the danger end. Had the throw hit the stump, he would be on his way back.
Umesh Yadav is sharing the new ball Sharma.
SOUTH AFRICA 0/1 | 9:37 AM
Overs-1
Elgar 0(0), de Bruyn 1 (4)
He starts with a wicket-maiden. What a start!
New Batsman in - Theunis de Bruyn.
Markram 0 (2) lbw b
HE'S GONE SECOND BALL! This time, Sharma finds the batsman's pads with a peach of an inswinger and the umpire raises his finger. The ball rammed into the pads as Markram was late to bring his bat down. He is gone for a duck. Markram was in two minds there and when he tried to signal the review. he was too late. The reply shows that the ball was missing the leg stump and was bouncing over it. Interesting! Anyway, Proteas one down already.
HE STARTS WITH A STINGER! Sharma pitches it just short of good length and Markram shoulders armed to that one. The ball swung in sharply and caught both the keeper and the batsman were caught by surprise.
----------------------START OF SESSION 1, DAY 4------------------
INDIA ENFORCES FOLLOW-ON: The cliffhanger has finally come to an end as Virat Kohli and co. ask Proteas to come out and bat again.
WEATHER UPDATE: No chances of rain today as the Indian team and South African openers walk out on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Pune.
PITCH REPORT| Sunil Gavaskar: "There is nothing to really worry about on the pitch even though a few cracks have opened up. India has to enforce the follow-on. They have five bowlers, so the workload is distributed, and there is always the threat of sudden rain. Plus the pitch being not that difficult means you might need more time to get 10 wickets."
Bharat Arun : "I think they (pacers) have been exceptional over the last two years. They have risen up to the occasion and done a very good job. Each one's strengths are different, Umesh is good with the new ball and Shami is good with both (Old and new). The wicket has been pretty placid and their tail batted well yesterday. There is some wear and tear. Depending on what kind of rough, we decide about spinners choosing ends. Ultimately, yes we do decide earlier but the decision is taken on the field mostly. The bowlers are pretty prepared and they have had sufficient rest, so they are ready to go."
=============================
DAY THREE REPORT
When Keshav Maharaj walked in to bat at the Maharashtra Cricket Association International Stadium on Saturday afternoon, South Africa had just lost its eighth wicket.
Minutes ago, captain and the team’s most experienced batsman, Faf du Plessis -- who played a knock of 64 -- was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin. With just 162 runs on the board, it looked evident that the Proteas’ end was near.
The Indian bowlers, by then, had firm control over the game and only a miracle could have saved the day for South Africa.
The 28-year-old Maharaj -- who suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the game and had to undergo a series of scans -- however, looked unperturbed.
DAY THREE | SCORECARD | COMMENTARY
He quietly took his guard, allowed himself to settle down and then paired with Vernon Philander to forge a long 109-run partnership for the ninth wicket, before India eventually bowled out South Africa for 275 at the end of third day.
Maharaj brought up his first Test half-century, playing a solid knock of 72 before being caught by Rohit Sharma off Ashwin at the fag end of the day.
Philander, too, ensured that his slow but steady unbeaten knock of 44 not only frustrated the Indian bowlers, but also helped his team show some resilience.
Even though South Africa is still 326 runs behind India’s mammoth first innings score of 601-5 declared -- and a possibility of India imposing a follow-on remains -- the Maharaj-Philander partnership did come as a morale booster for the visiting side, which struggled with the willow.
On a track that has sort of been a mystery over the last couple of days, it was not an easy task to bat on for 43 overs, especially against Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
But the two kept their cool and ensured that if the first two sessions belonged to Mohammad Shami, Ashwin -- who claimed four wickets -- and Jadeja, the last session would be dominated by them.
And that was clear in their approach. With no hurry, the two batted at ease as the Indian bowlers struggled to find a breakthrough.
However, the story was entirely different in the morning. Resuming the day at the overnight score of 36-3, South Africa soon lost two wickets of Anrich Nortje and Theunis de Bruyn -- who had to walk back, courtesy an acrobatic catch from Wriddhiman Saha off Umesh Yadav.
Du Plessis and Quinton de Kock stitched a 75-run stand to put some fight, but that was not enough as de Kock was cleaned up by Ashwin for 31, just when he looked all set for a big knock.
In the post lunch session, Jadeja and Ashwin took control as Senuran Muthsamy (7) was trapped before by the former, while Ashwin finally sent du Plessis packing.
Just like the 13,000 odd fans who had come in, the Indian team also thought that it was a matter of time to bundle out the struggling Proteas in the first innings, but Maharaj and Philander had other plans.
You can watch the match on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD in English commentary and Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD in Hindi commentary. You can also watch the live streaming on Hotstar .
Comments
SHARE