The highly-anticipated India-South Africa series is underway and the Day 4 of the 1st Test Match at SuperSport Park was full of action. In the 2nd innings, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal started off a bit slow. The Men in Blue started Day 4 with the overnight 16/1 after Jansen dismissed Agarwal. Shardul Thakur had come out as the night watchman and Rahul remained at the crease. The middle-order trio of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane failed to convert their good start into a good score as South Africa looked to capitalize on the match.
Indian batting order collapsed yet again
India were bowled out for 174 runs but on the back of the first-innings lead, the visitors set up a good total on the board. Rishabh Pant top-scored for India in the second innings with his 34-run knock as India suffered yet another batting collapse. First innings centurion KL Rahul was dismissed for just 23 runs in the second innings and the middle-order trio of Chesteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane were also unsuccessful in tallying up a good score on the board.
The Proteas came up with a brilliant bowling performance as they resisted the Men in Blue from putting up a good score. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada were excellent with the red ball as they picked four wickets each while Lungi Ngidi picked up a couple of dismissals in the second innings.
South Africa aims to win the match
The Indian players were all charged up after the Tea as South Africa came out in the middle to chase down a total of 305 runs. Mohammed Shami made the breakthrough as he removed Markram in his first over and has been terrific till now in both innings. The hosts were eyeing to put up score slowly but steadily. However, Mohammed Siraj piled up pressure and dismissed Keegan Peterson.
Jasprit Bumrah returned to the attack and he straightaway got the crucial wicket of Rassie van der Dussen to break the gritty stand. The speedster further dismissed Keshav Maharaj to tally his second wicket as South Africa currently stand at 94/4 at Stumps Day 4.
The final day’s play will be quite intriguing as all the three results are possible to happen.
