India were 190-4 in their second innings at stumps on the third day of the fourth and final Test against South Africa in New Delhi on Saturday.
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Ajinkya Rahane notched up his fifth Test hundred to guide India to a commendable position on the second day of the inconsequential fourth Test against South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on 4 December.
Jadeja broke the back of the South Africa middle order after Ajinkya Rahane’s stylish knock of 127 put India in command.
Hashim Amla’s (1) terrible series continued as he tried to play square cut when a Jadeja delivery was too close for comfort.
A few minutes later, Rahane (127) struck Abbott straight down the ground and brought up his first Test century at home with a lovely boundary.
The 98 runs he added with Ashwin was also the highest partnership in the spinner-dominated series. But one has to take into account that South Africa lost their most experienced and world class bowler Dale Steyn.
Ashwin, having more than done his job, staying at the crease a little over three hours to make a 140-ball 56, miscued a pull off Abbott to de Villiers at midwicket.
Fast bowler Kyle Abbott shone with the ball for the Proteas as he returned outstanding figures of 5/40 in a miserly 24.5 over stint. Dane Piedt (5) went for a drive and only edged one to Rahane at first slip. If only South Africa were able to do this on a consistent manner.
More than two years down the line, he made it count at Delhi with a century that may have helped setup a 3-0 series win over South Africa.
The carnage began, however, in the evening session as Jadeja took grip.
Jadeja was bowling an excellent spell and it was not long before Amla edged a delivery to Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps.
They thought they had the prized wicket of Kohli after lunch only for the television replay to show the leg-spinner had overstepped, saving the Indian skipper who looked less-than impressed with umpire Oxenford.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan was batting on 31 at the break with Cheteshwar Pujara (14) at the other end.
Obviously, the huge first innings lead and the amount of time left in the game ensured that they could play freely.
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India’s overall lead swelled to 403 against a beleaguered South African team who were skittled for 121 in the first innings and have not gone past 185 in the series. Their partnership happens to be the first hundred-run stand of the series. We should give credit to our bowlers, especially to Umesh (Yadav) and Ishant (Sharma).
