After being bowled out for 174, the visitors took four for 94 as South Africa needed 211 more runs
Dean Elgar, as determined as he was. It was a statement-making captain.
Southeast, his team continued the fight with a firm defense and distinctive left-handed punches, chasing a challenging 305.
Rassie van der Dussen applied himself, but a shoulder-to-shoulder off Jasprit Bumrah backed off to trouble the stumps.
And in the last over of the day, Bumrah bowled a yorker to nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj.
The Proteas scored an unbeaten 52 at stumps on the fourth day of the first Freedom Test at SuperSport Park here on Wednesday with Elgar at 94 for four.
rain forecast
With rain predicted on the final day, India, approaching victory, need to hit hard in the first hour on Thursday.
The target that India had set was demanding on the surface with speed, lift and seam speed.
Mohammed Shami, bowling with a lovely rhythm, gave Aiden Markram a tough time around the off-stump before the batsman was on the inside side of the stumps, not sure whether to play or leave.
Little Keegan Pietersen, standing on his toes, punched Shami into the point fence, but then, Mohammad Siraj dismissed him with a beauty that left the batsman.
Elgar was firm though. His high backlift was coming down on the ball, he covered Shardul Thakur with precision and timing. When Shami made a mistake along the line, Elgar threw him over mid-wicket.
South Africa’s hopes are pinned on him.
Rabada, Jensen Impressed
In the morning and afternoon, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jensen impressed as India were bowled out for 174 in their second innings.
The rabada is such a natural that it accelerates with the smoothness of a gazelle, fills it with the venom of a mamba and dislodges the ball with the explosiveness of a leopard.
There was speed, lift and speed around the off stump. He scored four runs.
Marco Jansson impressed. He’s tall, his arm is high, and the angle of his left hand gives him a natural bounce.
If he develops the ball to the size of a right hand, he may be a handful. Nippy debutant took four wickets.
In fact, Rabada and Janssen gave very little; Length accuracy supplemented by a line close to the off-stump.
Lungi Ngidi also dismissed KL Rahul with extra bounce and away swing. Rahul, going for the ‘release’ shot, runs into the circle after being tied up.
Unfortunately
Cheteshwar Pujara, dropped over mid-wicket by Rabada, when he flicks Ngidi over the top, rather inadvertently knocks Ngid down the leg side.
The action was amusing. Virat Kohli escapes with a loud outcry while playing around an oncoming delivery from Rabada for the leg-before.
Kohli fell soon after lunch, his indifferent form continuing. This time he was, roughly, drawn to the fire like a moth by a widedish delivery from Jensen over him.
There are problems with Kohli’s batting. He spins around and appears sensitive to balls going inside, he is also uncertain around the off-stump.
Rahane looked in good touch again as he launched Jenson into the square-driving, hooking and cover-driving paceman. However, he was unable to consolidate, failing to put Jensen down.
Left-handed Rishabh Pant, the X-Factor, lashed out at Jansen.
Rabada dismissed R Ashwin with an average lifter, but Pant was unfazed, hammering support seamer Viaan Mulder for the extra cover fence.
Pant’s blistering run-a-ball 34 – he eventually did a pull out to Rabada – was the prime reason India set a target of 300-plus.
Excessive: (B-17 LB-4 NB-6) 27
Total: (All out in 50.3 overs) 174
fall of wickets: 1/12 2/34 3/54 4/79 5/109 6/111 7/146 8/1669/169 10/174
bowling: Kagiso Rabada 17-4-42-4, Lungi Ngidi 10-2-31-2, Marco Jensen 13.3-4-55-4, Wynn Mulder 10-4-25-0.
South Africa 2nd Innings: Aiden Markram b Shami 1 Dean Elgar bat 52 Keegan Pietersen c Pant b Siraj 17 Rasi van der Dussen b Bumrah 11 Keshav Maharaj b Bumrah 8
Excessive: (LB-1 NB-4) 5
Total: (for 4 wickets in 40.5 overs) 94
fall of wickets: 1/1 2/34 3/74 4/94
bowling: Jasprit Bumrah 11.5-2-22-2, Mohammed Shami 9-2-29-1, Mohammad Siraj 11-4-25-1, Shardul Thakur 5-0-11-0, Ravichandran Ashwin 4-1-6-0 .
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