South African coach still optimistic

"You have to keep believing. Though you may be foolish to put money on South Africa to win this game, if we can do something special with the ball, bowl them out for 120 and chase 320, then we are in the game. We know we are a long way behind, but we are optimistic," Domingo said.

South African coach Russell Domingo (right) expects a fightback from his team.

South African coach Russell Domingo was optimistic about making a possible comeback from his team in the fourth and final Test even after they were bundled out for 121 in the first innings.

“You have to keep believing. Though you may be foolish to put money on South Africa to win this game, if we can do something special with the ball, bowl them out for 120 and chase 320, then we are in the game. We know we are a long way behind, but we are optimistic,” Domingo said.

According to the coach, South Africa's batting failure on a decent track at the Feroze Shah Kotla here was a mix of below-par showing from their batsmen and good bowling by the home bowlers.

Domingo said the sustained effort of the Indian bowlers helped the hosts. “We haven’t had any good partnerships, or any good starts. Every time something did look like it might develop, someone found a way to get out, or someone bowled a great delivery. So it is not lack of effort or lack of commitment, it just hasn’t worked for us.”

He added: “It has been a long tour, but that is no excuse. There is a lot of pride in that change-room and a lot of hurt players after the performance we put up today.”