Image Credit- AP
Dean Elgar’s play and miss is a shot that batters need
to become proficient in. especially if they hope to lead the innings. It turns
out to be a difference maker as well as a lifesaver. South Africa is dominating
the Boxing Day Test just by virtue of having him out there undefeated.
India were terrible, especially right after lunch when
they started with their third-choice fast bowler and a debutant. The eight
overs yielded nearly twice as many runs (42) as the 16 overs before them (49)
and it was already too late for Rohit Sharma to understand his error.
India could be pleased with their 245 points, helped
by a magnificent century from KL Rahul. With each and every delivery, their
elite fast bowlers were setting up opportunities. Eight of the first thirty
fake shots came on pitched up balls, making twelve of the first thirty generate
false shots. In the middle of this examination, Aiden Markram fell.
However, Elgar didn’t. as a result of his lack of
ball-push. He didn’t do any better than his partner; he was frequently squared
up and occasionally took body punches. However, what made him so successful was
his refusal to take the offered seam movement. He was happy to appear ugly in
the process of executing his plan, as long as it resulted in him scoring 140
runs off 211 balls in his last Test series.
Elgar’s moment arrived a little later, as he concluded
a significant set with a pull shot in front of square leg. Now that he has
played a Test match at home, he will finish his career with a century on each
ground. It’s debatable whether that’s what made him jump up, pound the air, and
shout indifferently.
After lunch, South Africa scored 145 runs. Since the
beginning of 2018, that is more than they have ever scored in one Test cricket
session. They preyed on the backup bowlers for India. In the afternoon, a total
that was 49 for 1 grew into 194 for 3 in just 33 overs, leaving Prasidh and
Shardul Thakur nursing a combined economy rate of 5.2.
The SuperSport Park pitch is still difficult to bat
on, but India might yet be able to turn this around. In 14 overs, they will get
access to a new ball, and when they do it correctly, they have demonstrated
that they are a formidable opponent.
Tony de Zorzi was taken by Bumrah, ending a
partnership of 93 runs at the second wicket. Nine balls later, he added another
wicket, that of Keegan Petersen. Late in the day, India struck twice more,
which may have stung them a little because it demonstrated how difficult it was
to forge alliances in Centurion. They are currently officially playing
catch-up, down by 11 runs when the South Africans come on, having let them off
the hook too frequently and too readily.