South Africa vs India 2018: Indian bowlers' inspired spell in the morning session is SK Play of the Day
After day 3 was washed away by incessant rain, the Indian team took the field on Day 4 with a lot of intensity on a surface which was spiced up owing to moisture which might have accumulated due to the covers.
The Indian pace contingent consisting of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami extracted the best possible assistance from the surface as they did not float up half-volleys, but utilised the pitch by hitting the surface on back of a length and this yielded dividends for the visitors.
Shami hit his stride right from the get-go as he induced a false stroke from Hashim Amla. The ball was pitched back of a length and moved away off the seam, Amla much like the first innings went after it without moving his feet and this allowed the ball to fly off the edge towards gully where Rohit Sharma dived low and in front of him to snap up the catch. Although the umpires asked the third umpire to determine the authenticity of the catch, India were an elated bunch.
Kagiso Rabada, the nightwatchman struggled to cope with Shami's seam and swing on offer and after playing and missing on a number of occasions, he eventually nicked a ball on off stump to Kohli at second slip.
Faf du Plessis joined AB de Villiers in the centre, but the going was tough for the batsmen as the Indian bowlers did not take the feet off the gas; Jasprit Bumrah bowled an absolute peach on off stump, the ball took off from a length and Faf had nowhere to go, the ball kissed his glove and nestled in the hands of Wriddhiman Saha.
The pressure was now getting to the hosts as Quinton de Kock never looked settled at the crease, he got a couple of streaky boundaries towards third man, but then an in-ducker from Bumrah was just too good for him as he was not only cut into half, but the ball shaved his inside edge through to Saha. The on-field umpire was not convinced and Kohli went up for the review and ultraedge confirmed India's belief.
South Africa were reduced to 92 for six and were pushed to a corner.
However, trouble did not end for the hosts just there as Vernon Philander followed suit as he was pinned in front of the stumps by a Mohammed Shami ball.
Keshav Maharaj walked in and played a number of strokes for his 15 before Bhuvneshwar Kumar took him out with a perfect outswinger as the right-hander offered a feeble bat only to edge it to Saha.
Morne Morkel always fancies playing his strokes, but he was snared out by a brilliant bumper by Bhuvneshwar; Saha galloping forward to complete his 10th catch of the match.
South Africa were now at 130 for nine, and they led by 207 runs.
AB de Villiers kept playing his stroke, but in order to accumulate as much as possible, he went for one stroke too many as he looked to hoick Bumrah over deep mid-wicket, but found Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the boundary.
The hosts bundled out for 130, India now need 208 runs to complete the win.