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SA resist, take India by surprise

VISAKHAPATNAM:Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock struck commanding hundreds to author South Africa’s spectacular fightback before Ravichandran Ashwin wrested back India’s control with a five-wicket haul on the third day of the opening Test.

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Visakhapatnam, October 4 

Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock struck commanding hundreds to author South Africa’s spectacular fightback before Ravichandran Ashwin wrested back India’s control with a five-wicket haul on the third day of the opening Test. 

Elgar was out for 160 after completing his 12th hundred in Tests while Quinton de Kock made 111 as South Africa reached 385/8 at close, 117 runs behind the hosts’ first innings score of 502/7 declared.

Late in the day, Ashwin, who had picked up two wickets on Day 2, completed his 27th five-wicket haul in Tests with figures of 5/128 to put the hosts back on top. After South Africa resumed on a precarious 39/3, India would have expected their spin duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to produce quick wickets but their only success in the first session came from fast bowler Ishant Sharma. Temba Bavuma was out leg before for 18 to the lanky paceman who got the delivery to curl back in viciously and hit the batsman’s pad, reducing the touring side to 63/4.

Massive deficit 

A massive first innings deficit stared in South Africa’s face but the 32-year-old Elgar had other ideas. The left-handed batsman added 115 for the fifth wicket with captain Faf du Plessis to launch South Africa’s rearguard action in the morning before going on to compile a counter-punching stand of 164 for the sixth with de Kock to keep India at bay.

Elgar displayed nimble footwork against the spinners and was not afraid to take the aerial route to score runs as he hit 18 fours and four sixes in his knock. He reached his century in style by hitting Ashwin over the midwicket boundary with a slog sweep and followed it up with an emotional celebration. Elgar had a lucky escape when wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, making a comeback to the Indian side after an injury-induced lengthy absence, failed to hold on to a catch on 74 off Jadeja. He was finally dismissed when Cheteshwar Pujara completed a smart running catch to give Jadeja his 200th wicket in Tests. 

Missed opportunity 

India also missed an opportunity to dismiss de Kock for seven with Rohit Sharma flooring a sharp chance at close in off spinner Hanuma Vihari. The wicketkeeper-batsman made full use of the reprieve, producing the fireworks with a stroke-filled innings during which he hit 16 fours and two sixes. The 26-year-old hit one of those sixes off Ashwin to bring up his fifth Test hundred but the off-spinner had his revenge when he disturbed his wickets with a straight delivery.

Du Plessis looked fluent at the crease and used the sweep shot well to neutralise the spinners, hitting eight fours and a six in his innings of 55 before he was caught by Pujara at leg slip off Ashwin, who also dismissed Vernon Philander. — Reuters

Playing in India is very tough: Elgar 

The third day of the first Test between undoubtedly belonged to Proteas opener Dean Elgar, who hit a brilliant 287-ball 160 on a wicket that not only provided Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja turn, but the odd ball also jumped after hitting the crack. Elgar said it is tough to bat in Indian conditions and he learnt from the experience he had on his last tour with the team. “Playing in India is very tough. The last time I was here, I was very inexperienced,” he said. “In those four years, I have grown a lot as a cricketer. I have played county cricket, which has helped.” Asked what he tried differently this time around, Elgar said: “If you want to use our last series in India, we shouldn’t use that because of the wickets. You need to defend well against the spinners, because then you give yourself the best chance of attacking. County cricket with Surrey has helped a lot. Playing spin is something I have been conscious of, and you will face a lot of spin when coming to India. I think you have to find your strengths.” “Hitting the ball in the air — that’s a strength of mine,” he said when asked about his attacking mindset. “Thankfully, it worked out in this game.” — IANS

Scoreboard

INDIA 502/7 DECL.

South Africa (Overnight: 39/3) 

D Elgar c Pujara b Jadeja 160

A  Markram b Ashwin 5

T de Bruyn c Saha b Ashwin 4

D Piedt b Jadeja 0

T Bavuma lbw b Ishant 18

F du Plessis c Pujara b Ashwin 55

Q de Kock b Ashwin 111

S Muthusamy not out 12

V Philander b Ashwin 0

K Maharaj not out 3

Extras: (b 8, lb 4, nb 5) 17

Total:  (8 wickets; 118 overs) 385

FOW:  1-14, 2-31, 3-34, 4-63, 5-178, 6-342, 7-370, 8-376 

Bowling

Ishant Sharma 14-2-44-1

Mohammed Shami 15-3-40-0

Ravichandran Ashwin 41-11-128-5

Ravindra Jadeja 37-4-116-2

Hanuma Vihari 9-1-38-0

Rohit Sharma 2-1-7-0

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