India vs South Africa, 4th Test, Day 4 Report: Amla's defiance keeps India at bay after Rahane's second ton
Defiance and patience were the tunes of the day, as an immovable Hashim Amla held the fort for South Africa when they finished 72/2, still needing 409 runs to win, on Day 4 of the 4th Test between India and South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.
That was after Ajinkya Rahane had owned the Test match when he completed his second hundred of the game, and thereby entering the elite of list of Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli – all of them having scored a century in both innings of a Test match for India.
The play resumed on Day 4 with India 190/4 in their second innings, and both the overnight batsmen, Kohli and Rahane, looking set to get hundreds. It was not to happen for Kohli though, as he was trapped leg-before by Kyle Abbott.
Rahane, though, continued in a maverick-like manner, punishing the South African bowlers. The upper-cut off a Morne Morkel short ball that sailed all the way was reminiscent of Sachin Tendulkar, and the man felicitated right before the Test match, Virender Sehwag.
Like his first innings, an exemplary use of his feet was on display yet again, as he launched Dean Elgar over long-on for a huge six, after having already slogged Imran Tahir for a maximum.
Immediately after Rahane’s ton, Virat Kohli declared the Indian innings on 267/5, thereby setting the Proteas an improbable 481 runs to win. Out came Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma, but it didn’t take long for India’s frontline spinner – Ravichandran Ashwin – to strike and send Elgar packing.
The partnership between Rahane and Ashwin that had sealed the deal in the first innings for India, was on display again, albeit this time, as a bowler and a fielder. India had got an early breakthrough and were looking to capitalise when an out-of-form Hashim Amla walked out to bat.
Watching him getting out in the first Test shouldering arms to Jadeja, and in his subsequent innings. If one would have thought that he’s already done for the series, he would be scratching heads now. What came next, was resolve, intent, and balls after balls after balls of blocking.
Amla and Bavuma frustrated the Indian bowlers for one-and-a-half sessions as they blocked and defended everything that came in their way. They put up 44 runs in 38.2 overs before Ashwin finally got the better of Bavuma, with a delivery that pitched outside off, and just evaded the defending Bavuma’s bat and crashed into the off-stump.
But Amla was unperturbed, as he kept defending, after being joined by AB de Villiers, who also followed on similar lines. The Indian bowlers tried everything, had almost one close shave every over, but were unable to pick more than two wickets throughout the day.
In a series where as many as 22 wickets have fallen on a day, this is a significant departure from the trend and speaks volumes about SA’s defiance. Either of the two things can be concluded from SA’s approach to the chase.
One, that they’re playing for a draw, and would keep blocking no matter how many balls the Indians bowl them (They have scored 72 runs from 72 overs). Or, they’re just buying time, reading the bowlers, given that there is still a day of cricket left in the Test match.
Either way, the Proteas have guarded their wickets stubbornly, and we’re all set to have a game that finally went into its final day.
Scorecard:
India won the toss and decided to bat first
IND 1st innings: 334
SA 1st innings: 121
IND 2nd innings:
| Murali Vijay | 3 (15) |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 21 (86) |
| Rohit Sharma | 0 (1) |
| Cheteshwar Pujara | 28 (79) |
| Virat Kohli | 88 (165) |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 100* (206) |
| Wriddhiman Saha | 23* (51) |
| Total | 267/5d |
Bowling:
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | |
| Morne Morkel | 21 | 51 | 3 |
| Kyle Abbott | 22 | 47 | 1 |
| Dane Piedt | 18 | 53 | 0 |
| Imran Tahir | 26.1 | 74 | 1 |
| Dean Elgar | 13 | 40 | 0 |
SA 2nd innings:
| Dean Elgar | 4 (17) |
| Temba Bavuma | 34 (117) |
| Hashim Amla | 23* (207) |
| AB de Villiers | 11* (91) |
| Total | 72/2 |
Bowling:
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | |
| Ishant Sharma | 12 | 16 | 0 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 23 | 29 | 2 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 23 | 10 | 0 |
| Umesh Yadav | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| Murali Vijay | 2 | 2 | 0 |