STATS HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsIndia, with a lead of 146 at the start of day four with nine wickets in hands, were truly in control. KL Rahul and Shardul Thakur, the overnight batsmen, looking for a steady start, were struck with an early blow. Thakur edged one to Wiaan Mulder off Kagiso Rabada in the 13th over of the innings and seventh of the day. Throughout the day, India lost wickets in regular intervals, but each of them was able to make small contributions. Rishabh Pant was the highest scorer with 34 from 34 balls. The 35-run partnership with Ravi Ashwin for the seventh wicket came in just 38 balls, not a big one, but a crucial one. All-in-all, India were dismissed for 174 with a lead of 304.
Chasing a massive total, South Africa’s opening partnership let them down once again as Aiden Markram was dismissed in the second over. Keegan Petersen looked good once again, but was undone by a beauty from Mohammad Siraj. Dean Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen’s gritty partnership of 40 for the third wicket came to an end after Jasprit Bumrah got one to nip back into Dussen. The night-watchman Keshav Maharaj, was cleaned up in the penultimate ball of the day with a Bumrah special Yorker. India once again head into the day with an advantage. Here are a few notable stats from day four:
India’s big advantage in SA
After bundling out South Africa for their lowest score in Centurion, a big lead was around the corner. By gaining a 130-run lead at the end of second innings, India extended it more by adding 174 runs in the third innings. This was the fifth time in the Proteas country that India had gained a 250+ lead. To their glory, India have never lost when they have attained a lead of 250+ in South Africa, they have won two and drawn two. To emboss more, in the history of Test cricket only two teams have chased a target of 250+ against India. Australia in 1977 in Perth chased 339 and West Indies in 1987 in Delhi had chased 276.
Jansen makes a mark on debut
The nervousness of playing the first international match might have hampered Marco Jansen’s bowling in the first innings. But, in the second innings, he was much better. He picked up a wicket of the first ball he bowled in the second inning – Mayank Agarwal – and was on a hat-trick. In the second session of the day, once again, in the first ball of the session he dismissed Kohli and followed it up by the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane. In the Test, Jansen had five wickets to his name and had conceded 124 runs. Only three other left-arm pacers have picked up five wickets in their debut match against India in Tests. John Lever (10/70) in 1976, Sam Gannon (7/161) in 1977 and Alan Mullally (5/103) in 1999.
Shami loves the sound of timbers
In his 201-wicket career, Shami has bagged 58 wickets through bowled, only Kapil Dev with 88 has more than him among Indian pacers. However, the frequency of him getting a wicket through this mode of dismissal is higher than Kapil. In fact, among Indian bowlers who have bagged 150+ wickets in Tests, his 28.9 percent of wickets through this mode is the highest for a bowler. Umesh Yadav is behind him with 26.9 percent (42 wickets out of 156).
Dean Elgar’s resistance
Despite beating past the edge numerous times in this innings, Elgar refused to budge and stood tall for South Africa. After suffering an early exit in the first innings, the skipper is unbeaten on 52 at stumps on day four. His half-century was the first for a South African in the fourth innings since Faf du Plessis’s 66 in Manchester against England in 2017. At home, the last 50+ score by a skipper in the fourth innings dates back to 2011, when Graeme Smith had remained unbeaten on 101 against Australia in Cape Town.
Bumrah’s quick century in away/neutral Tests
In his 25-match Test career, Bumrah has played only two games at home, rest have been in away/neutral conditions. Which means, most of his wickets have come in away/neutral conditions. Out of his 105 wickets, only four have been at home and 101 in away matches. The only neutral venue match was the final of ICC World Test Championship 2019-21 cycle. He was wicket-less in that match. By reaching the 100-wicket mark in away/neutral conditions in just 23 matches, Bumrah became the fastest Indian to achieve the feat. BS Chandrashekar had reached it in 25 matches, the quickest then.
