Advertisement
Inevitable whitewash on the cards for Proteas
South Africa’s miserable tour of India continued its downward spiral as they stumbled to 132 for eight at the close of play in their follow on innings after being dismissed for 162 on the third day of the third test at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi on Monday.
The tourists are still 203 runs in arrears and appear certain to lose by an innings for the second successive test, the first time that has happened since 1936.
Theunis de Bruyn, batting in the second innings as a concussion replacement for Dean Elgar, will resume on the fourth morning on a top score of 30 in the company of Anrich Nortje on five not out.
The tourists lost 16 wickets in the day having resumed in the morning on nine for two and lasted just 50 overs before being dismissed first time around.
A stylish half-century from Zubayr Hamza and a stand of 91 with Temba Bavuma did little to stem South Africa’s plunge towards another defeat as Faf du Plessis (1) received an unplayable delivery from Yadav (3-40) which deviated off a crack to hit the top of off stump before a fourth-wicket partnership which offered genuine hope of a fightback.
Hamza played some classic straight and cover drives collecting 10 fours and a six in making 62 from only 79 balls before a delivery from left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2-19) kept low and skidded on to hit leg stump.
“It was a day of firsts - I was pleased to score my first half-century for South Africa but also disappointed not to be able capitalise on the opportunity,” Hamza said after the day's play.
“It was also the first time I have ever been dismissed twice in a day so obviously it’s been very disappointing and a tough day for the guys.
“To have been almost bowled out twice in less than two days of batting is pretty poor from our side. It’s been tough…we’ve failed to build partnerships and their bowlers have been relentless and disciplined,” a forthright Hamza admitted.
COMPOSED LINDE
Bavuma then walked past a delivery from debutant left-arm spinner Shabhaz Nadeem (2-22) and was comfortably stumped for 32 from 72 deliveries (5x4) before wicketkeeper Klaasen watched helplessly as a Jadeja delivery ripped past the outside edge to hit the top of off stump.
Debutant George Linde was just the third man to reach double figures with a composed 37 from 81 balls (3x4, 1x6) before an expansive drive was caught by Rohit Sharma at second slip off a thick outside edge.
Dane Piedt (4) and Nortje (4) were both trapped lbw by deliveries which kept ominously low and South Africa’s plight was encapsulated by the embarrassing run out of Kagiso Rabada (0) who forgot the traditional adage about not running on a misfield.
There was never any doubt about enforcing the follow on and the Indian bowling attack wasted no time in reducing the tourists to 36 for five.
Quinton de Kock (5) and Hamza (0) were both clean bowled by straight deliveries from Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami before Du Plessis (4) was trapped lbw by Shami. The South African captain compounded his misery by wasting a review on a decision which was plum.
DISMISSED TWICE IN A DAY
Temba Bavuma (0) was then dismissed for the second time in under three hours when a straightforward edge was taken by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, giving Shami figures of 9-5-10-3.
Elgar (16 not out) was struck on the helmet by a Yadav bouncer three balls before the scheduled tea break and was almost immediately ruled out of the test according to ICC concussion protocols.
Linde (27) and Piedt (23) pushed the total past 100 but there was no respectability or consolation.
A sixth test century – and maiden double – for opener Rohit Sharma (212) and Ajinkya Rahane’s 11th century (115) saw India pile up 497 for nine before the declaration at tea on day two.
“We’ve struggled with our defence and they’ve bowled attacking lines which has been key for them. We just haven’t been good enough to keep those good balls out. All credit to them – their bowlers have beaten our batsmen,” Hamza said.
“Not for one second did we underestimate the Indian seamers, we just haven’t been good enough in our defensive work against them. Maybe we should have prepared more mentally to face their faster bowlers as well as their spinners,” Hamza concluded.
INDIA: Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shahbaz Nadeem, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami
SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar, Quinton de Kock, Zubayr Hamza, Faf du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), George Linde, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
Advertisement