What a day it has been! Jasprit Bumrah's wickets of Rassie van der Dussen and Keshav Maharaj completely tilted this game in India's favour. Just when it looked like South Africa were putting on a brave show in an attempt to take the match right to the end and even scrape for a draw, Bumrah struck twice to ensure that India had all the advantage going into the fifth day. Dean Elgar battled for more than three hours for a gritty half-century and he remains unbeaten, seeing his teammates fall at the other end. South Africa have now lost four wickets and they would need Elgar to do a lot of work on the final day as well if they are to get something out of this match. As of now, India are clear favourites with 211 runs to defend and six wickets to get on the final day. Earlier, India managed to score 174 runs in their second innings with them losing nine wickets in the day. And disappointingly, Virat Kohli ended 2021 without an international hundred. That's it from the live blog!
India vs South Africa 1st Test 2021 Highlights, Day 4: Dean Elgar Stands Tall but Jasprit Bumrah Puts India in Firm Control
India and South Africa are taking on each other at the SuperSport Park in Centurion in the 1st Test 2021. Day 4 will be quite interesting for both teams as India has come down to bat for the second innings and lost one wicket already in the form of Mayank Agarwal. The Indian opener made his way to the pavilion on the score of 4 runs.
OUT! Jasprit Bumrah gets the better of Keshav Maharaj on the very last delivery of the day. A vintage Bumrah yorker snuck through Maharaj's defenses and rattled the stumps. India have surely increased their chances of winning by a lot with two late wickets.
FIFTY! South African skipper Dean Elgar has reached his half-century and it has been a very good innings. He has looked solid at one end and has kept his side in the game despite wickets falling at the other end. He would now aim to finish unbeaten today.
OUT! A stubborn 11-run knock by Rassie van der Dussen has come to an end and Jasprit Bumrah, bowled a beautiful delivery to get rid of him. Bumrah bowled an incoming delivery and van der Dussen, misjudges and offers no shot, only to see the ball crashing on to the off-stump. India have once again strengthened their grip on the game with this wicket.
Dean Elgar is fighting it out in the middle for South Africa at the moment. The Indian bowling has been on point but he looks to be in good form. His partner, Rassie van der Dussen too seems to be settling himself. South Africa have lost two wickets but they are surely making India toil hard for the remaining eight.
Rassie van der Dussen is partnering captain Dean Elgar at the moment now and the duo would hope to ensure that no more damage is done. Keegan Petersen's dismissal did peg them back following a steady rebuild after Aiden Markram was sent back and South Africa would expect the Elgar-van der Dussen stand remain undefeated at the crease at the end of the day.
OUT! Mohammed Siraj strikes and he has removed Keegan Petersen. The right-hander, while trying to play a flick, edged one to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps and India have a second wicket. They would be elated at the moment and Siraj once again pulls off a Cristiano Ronaldo 'SIUUU' celebration! South Africa, once again under pressure.
South Africa would be happy with the way they have carried on so far after Aiden Markram's dismissal. They would plan on not losing any more wickets today and make India work hard for the remainder of this match. At the moment, they are doing well in countering the challenge by the Indian bowlers.
South Africa would be happy with the way they have carried on so far after Aiden Markram's dismissal. They would plan on not losing any more wickets today and make India work hard for the remainder of this match. At the moment, they are doing well in countering the challenge by the Indian bowlers.
The tea break has been taken and South Africa have managed to somewhat rebuild this run-chase with skipper Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen trying to keep the Proteas in this game. India still are in control and one wicket at this stage would once again strengthen their grip on this game.
India have got the start that they exactly wanted. With a huge total on board, they have put South Africa under pressure right away with a big wicket of Aiden Markram. It was Mohammed Shami, who snared a five-wicket haul in the first innings, who drew first blood in this innings. India are well and truly in control of the game.
OUT! India have a great start and it is Mohammed Shami once again, who has turned out to be too hot for South Africa to handle. Aiden Markram, trying to leave the delivery late, ended up knocking it back to his stumps and the visitors are on fire in Centurion.
Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar are out there in the middle for the Proteas in this massive run chase. India would aim for some quick wickets once again in this innings as this Test match is slowly turning out to be an interesting contest.
OUT! Well, that's it then. India have been bowled out for 174 and they end up having set a 305-run target for South Africa to chase with one and half days remaining. Marco Jansen joined Kagiso Rabada as he too had a four-wicket haul with the dismissal of Mohammed Siraj.
OUT! Well, that's it then. India have been bowled out for 174 and they end up having set a 305-run target for South Africa to chase with one and half days remaining. Marco Jansen joined Kagiso Rabada as he too had a four-wicket haul with the dismissal of Mohammed Siraj.
OUT! Kagiso Rabada has another and this time, he has dismissed Mohammed Shami. The tail-ender who had just come out to bat some time ago, edges one to Wiaan Mulder, who took a good catch. One wicket left for South Africa to get.
OUT! Kagiso Rabada has another and it is the irregular bounce that had Rishabh Pant. The left-hander, while trying to play the pull shot, edges one and as there was irregular bounce, it was miscued and Lungi Ngidi took a good catch.
OUT! Kagiso Rabada has struck and dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin. The right-hander appeared to have made contact with the ball through his arm-guard following which it ballooned up and Keegan Petersen took the catch. Ashwin reviewed the decision and replays showed that the ball had made contact with the gloves first and then the arm-guard. India are seven down now with a lead of more than 275 runs.
OUT! Marco Jansen has delivered South Africa another wicket and this is of Ajinkya Rahane, who was looking to score quick runs. Rahane top edges one while trying to play a pull shot and miscues it, only to be caught by Rassie van der Dussen. India are losing their way all of a sudden but still lead by 241 runs.
OUT! Lungi Ngidi has struck and removed Cheteshwar Pujara. After surviving a reprieve earlier on when Kagiso Rabada dropped his catch, he has now edged one to Quinton de Kock at the back while attempting to flick a delivery. India have lost two wickets in quick session and this session is turning out to be an interesting one.
India and South Africa are taking on each other at the SuperSport Park in Centurion in the 1st Test 2021. Day 4 will be quite interesting for both teams as India has come down to bat for the second innings and lost one wicket already in the form of Mayank Agarwal. The Indian opener made his way to the pavilion on the score of 4 runs. All thanks to the stunning delivery by Marco Jensen, In this article, we shall bring to you the live updates of the game. But before that, let's have quick look at how day 3 panned out for the teams. Mohammed Shami Reaches 200 Test Wickets: Ravi Shastri, Wasim Jaffer and Others React to Indian Pacer Achieving Historic Milestone During IND vs SA 1st Test (Check Posts).
As of now, India leads the game by 146 runs and at stumps, KL Rahul and Shardul Thakur were batting on the score of five and four runs respectively. Talking about day 3 it belonged to the paces. Lungi Ngidi scrapped six wickets whereas Indian stalwart got a five-wicket haul. After day 2 getting washed away without a ball being bowled, the visitors notched up 372 runs on the board with KL Rahul being the highest run-scorer with 123 runs. On day 3, wickets collapsed like a pack of cards.
Now day 4 will be quite interesting both teams will be looking to give their best. On one hand, where India will be looking to put their best foot forward in terms of putting the maximum number of runs, the SA bowlers will dish out their best of attack.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2021 01:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).