Ajinkya Rahane scored his fifth Test century to lay the foundation for India’s decent first innings score of 334 before South Africa reached 38/1 at tea on the second day of the fourth and final cricket Test here today. For someone who has played some defining innings in his yet young career, Rahane would have wanted to set the record straight, and he went some way in doing that, crafting a masterful unbeaten 89 to deny South Africa the opportunity of running through the Indian line-up. Giving Rahane company was R Ashwin (6) when play was called off slightly early owing to bad light. Saha (1) was bowled by Abbott and India were reduced to 139/7. First hundred of this series and first hundred for Rahane in India. Batting coach Sanjay Bangar said that Rahane had been “hurrying” his innings, an area that had been addressed and rectified. The partnership of 98 runs comes to an end as well. The opener, who had a reprieve when he was caught by A.B.de Villiers off a no-ball from Abbott in the 12th over, was hit on his hand by the same bowler.
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Vijay was caught in the slips by captain Hashim Amla while Dhawan was adjudged lbw, the sharply turning ball hitting his front pad as he tried to defend.
If several of the Indian top-order batsmen could be accused of irresponsible batting, it was a case of exactly the opposite for the South African bowlers.
However legitimate the criticisms of surfaces prepared to suit India’s spin advantage – something that England could face when they tour India a year from now – the impact on the form of South Africa’s batsmen may be significant, even if the pitch at Kingsmead in Durban on Boxing Day will be very different. To his scary, the ball popped up after rebounding off the thigh of forward short-leg fielder Temba Bavuma. India were reduced to 66-3 in no time and it was upto the experienced duo of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane to steady the ship. Shrugging off his disappointing show in the series previously, he added 58 runs in the final session of the day to remain unbeaten on 89, which is also the highest score by a batsman on either side in this series.
He was dismissed by leg-spinner Imran Tahir. Running between wickets isn’t quite his forte – he ambled along the track at one point and turned around to find Rahane breaking into a smile.
India won the first test at Mohali by 104 runs, and the third at Nagpur by 124 runs.
The turn was really slow which offered Kohli and Rahane enough time to adjust and play their strokes.
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Top-ranked South Africa made three changes, selecting batsman Bavuma, Abbott and Piedt at the expense of Stiaan van Zyl, Kagiso Rabada and Simon Harmer.
