India vs South Africa highlights 1st Test Day 4: Proteas 11/1 at end of day’s play, India need 9 wickets to win

India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 4 highlights: Ravindra Jadeja provided the first breakthrough for India, dismissing opener Dean Elgar for 2. South Africa are one wicket down in 395-run chase. Umpires decided to call stumps on Day 4 with South Africa on 11/1. India declared the innings at 323/4, Proteas have a target of 395 to chase in the Test. Earlier, Rohit Sharma slammed a historic ton to help India score a mammoth total in the second innings. Sharma was helped by Ajinkya Rahane who scored 81, while quickfire innings from Ravindra Jadeja, Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli added to India’s cause.. Follow India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 4:

17: 15 hrs IST

Stumps

The umpires have decided to call stumps on Day 4 of the first Test due to bad light. There were four overs remaining in the day’s play but umpires were not confident in the lights and decided call stumps. South Africa reach 11/1 at the end of day’s play.

17:00 hrs IST

OUT!

GONE! Ravindra Jadeja has trapped Dean Elgar! BIG WICKET. He departs for 2. South Africa 4/1. Big blow to Proteas in the run-chase.

16:52 hrs IST

South Africa innings - begin

Spinners Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin are into the attack. Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram are opening the innings for Proteas.

16:38 hrs IST

India declare innings

India have declared the innings at 323/4, Proteas have a target of 395 to chase in the Test. This is a huge total. India will be in command if they get a wicket or two before stumps.

16:35 hrs IST

India on verge of 400

India have a lead of 389 and are inching closer to 400. This would be a mammoth total for Proteas to change. Fantastic stuff from India.

16:17 hrs IST

GONE!

Ravindra Jadeja’s cameo comes to an end. He departs after scoring a brisk 40. He is cleaned up by Rabada. IND 286/4.

15:45 hrs IST

GONE!

Rohit Sharma’s brilliant innings comes to an end as he is stumped in Keshav Maharaj’s over. He departs for 127. IND 239/3. Here comes Virat Kohli.

15:26 hrs IST

Rohit Sharma hundred!

Rohit Sharma gets another hundred and this is the first time a cricketer has scored ton in both the innings in their first Test as an opener.

15:18 hrs IST

GONE!

Pujara has been trapped by Philander. The umpire has gone straight up. But Pujara reviews. It was a clear cut dismissal. Waste of a review from India. Pujara departs for 81. IND 190/2

15:05 hrs IST

Final session

Back after Tea - Vernon Philander has the ball and Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma are out in the middle. India would look for solid, quick 20 overs and give themselves a few overs before stumps to get a wicket or two.

14:40 hrs IST

DRS Check

Pujara has been trapped on the pads. South Africa go for a review. But the impact was umpire’s call who has given it a not out.

That would be Tea. India reach 175/1 at Tea, with a lead of 246 runs. Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma in the middle.

14:15 hrs IST

Rabada into the attack

India have accelerated tremendously in the last one hour. Every over is seeing at least one boundary or two. Here comes Rabada to provide a breakthrough.

14:00 hrs IST

FIFTY!

Cheteshwar Pujara brings up his half century in style. The batsman had a hard time in West Indies and could not get runs in the first innings. This will relieve some pressure.

13:30 hrs IST

Out? No it’s a six

What drama at Vizag! Rohit Sharma had almost gone off the field thinking that he had been dismissed but replays showed Muthusamy had stepped on the boundary ropes before releasing the ball in the long on boundary. Rohit lives to fight another day and guess what? It’s also a six. The South Africans are dejected but none more than Dan Piedt, he thought he had finally had his man, finally Rohit had mistimed one. He sure did not get all of it but Muthusamy at long on just got his calculations wrong and stepped on the ropes.

13:20 hrs IST

Pujara accelerates

Cheteshwar Pujara is on the move. The harsh words from Rohit Sharma may have done wonders for Pujara. he has suddenly shift gears and hit two back to back boundaries.

13:15 hrs IST

Fifty for Rohit

There’s the fifty for Rohit Sharma. After a mammoth 176 in the first innings, Rohit follows it up with a sparkling half -century off 72 balls. What a time he is having at the top of the order.

 

13:10 hrs IST

Another missed opportunity

Straight through! de Kock is not having the best of days behind the stumps. After dropping Pujara a few overs he lets one pass when the India No.3 was half-way down the pitch. An easy stumping opportunity missed, Dane Piedt must be kicking himself. Replays show, there was an inside edge too.

13:00 hrs IST

Drinks break

The umpires have called for a drinks break. Rohit Sharma is looking slightly edgy there, a it frustrated even with the running between the wickets of his partner Chetshwar Pujara.

12:50 hrs IST

Pujara gets a life

DROPPED! De Kock is the culprit! Piedt bowls a quicker delivery through the air around off, Pujara looks to defend but gets an edge towards the keeper who fails to hold on to it. It was a tough catch as it was going quickly. Dane Piedt had almost started celebrating but to his disappointment, the catch was dropped by de Kock

12:38 hrs IST

Rohit takes Piedt on

SIX! FOUR! Rohit Sharma has once again decided that he won’t let Piedt settle into a rhythm. He uses his feet to deposti the ball ten rows back to collect his third six of the innings and then paddles it through the vacant short fine leg area for a boundary. Fifty up for India

12:30 hrs IST

Dane Piedt starts well

‘It’s a different Dane Piedt in the second innings,” says Harsha Bhogle in the commentary box and he is right. The off-spinner has bowled two superb overs. Unlike, in the first innings, he is looking to draw the batsman forward and his lengths have been excellent too. Rohit, on the other hand, is looking to be positive, he tore Piedt apart in the first innings but things might just turn out different this time around. Exciting contest!

12:15 hrs IST

Early intent from Rohit

Where did that come from? Rohit Sharma charges down the track to Vernon Philander on the first over after lunch. It was good length delivery on off, Rohit looked to clear the long off fence but did not time it well enough. The fielder from mid off ran after it to take the catch but it fell well ahead of him. Two runs to India and Rohit.

12:10 hrs IST

Play resumes after lunch

Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara have a job to do. They need to keep the scoreboard moving to keep the pressure on South Africa, it’s easier said than done though on a track which is showing signs of wear tear.

11:31 hrs IST

Lunch at Day 4

The umpires have called for lunch on Day 4 with India t 35 for 1. Rohit Sharma is batting on 25 off 33 balls and Cheteshwar Pujara on 2 off 20 deliveries. India lead by 106 runs with two sessions to play. The pitch has shown signs of wear and tear and a ball keeping low and turning out of the rough every now and then. India would still keep their hopes high of a victory. Exciting couple of sessions coming up.

11:22 hrs IST

Another six from Rohit

SIX| A half tracker from Maharaj and Rohit doesn’t need a second invitation. He rocks back onto the backfoot and pulls hit over the deep mid-wicket boundary for a six, his second of the innings already. India’s lead crosses a hundred with that six.

11:10 hrs IST

Maharaj gets Mayank

OUT! What a ripper from Maharaj! Flight, turn, bounce everything right about that ball and it also gets the outside edge of Mayank Agarwal’s bat. South Africa have removed the double centurion of the match for 7. India lose their first wicket for 21.

Cheteshwar Pujara comes in to bat at No. 3

11:02 hrs IST

Rohit shows intent

SIX! Brilliant from Rohit Sharma. He Slog sweeps this one with ease! Floated outside off by Maharaj, Rohit gets down on one knee and just slogs it over the square leg fence for a maximum. No fielder there so a safe shot as well.

10:58 hrs IST

First runs for Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal is finally off the mark with a drive through deep point. It took him 20 deliveries. But India won’t mind as long as he is out there. He has ability to make up for a slow start when he gets settled.

10:50 hrs IST

India and Rohit off the mark

FOUR! Rohit Sharma is away with a boundary and so are India. What a beautiful shot from Rohit. Maharaj bowls this one shorter and outside off, Rohit rocks back onto the back foot and pulls this through mid-wicket for a boundary.

10:40 hrs IST

India 2nd innings

The Indian openers Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma will look to repeat their first innings effort and give India a good start in the 2nd innings. The objective will be to score as quickly as possible and give South Africa a challenging target.

10:25 hrs IST

South Africa bowled out for 431

OUT! LBW! India have finally got the last wicket and South Africa have been bowled out for 431. Good review from India! Saha was against taking the review but Ashwin convinces the skipper to take it and it turns out to be a good one! Flatter delivery on middle and leg, Rabada looks to defend but gets hit on the front pad. Not out says the umpire. India take the review after some thought. The replays roll in and it clearly shows that there was no bat on it. The Ball Tracker rolls in and it is three reds as it is hitting leg stump. Ashwin gets his seventh. India have taken a lead of 71 runs

10:20 hrs IST

Rabada on the charge

Back to back boundaries for Kagiso Rabada. This is good stuff from South Africa and it has started to get more and more frustrating for India. Some good calculative risk taken by Rabada. On both occasions, he took aerial rout and succeeded.

10:15 hrs IST

Rabada survives

NOT OUT! ! Flatter delivery on middle and leg, Rabada looks to defend it off the back foot but gets hit on the pads. The Indian players appeal for an LBW but nothing from the umpire. Ashwin convinces Kohli to go for the review. The replays roll in and Ultra Edge shows no bat. The Ball Tracker rolls in and it is umpire’s call as it was clipping the top off leg stump. India do not lose the review

10:10 hrs IST

Change of ends

Change of ends for Ashwin. So just the one over for Ishant Sharma, now it will be spin from both ends. The trusted hands of Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin have a job to do. They have to pick the last South African wicket as quickly as possible.

10:00 hrs IST

Bowling change

Ishant Sharma comes into the attack. Virat Kohli is desperate to get the final wicket now, you can almost sense the anxiousness in the Indian captain.

9:52 hrs IST

Ashwin gets his 6th

OUT! Ashwin strikes! Excellent captaincy from Kohli! He put the fielder there right for that shot. Flighted delivery on middle, Maharaj comes down the track and tries to loft it over the long on fielder for a maximum but does not time it well. Mayank Agarwal settles under it at long on and takes a simple catch. Sixth wicket for Ashwin. The deficit is now 106 runs.

9:45 hrs IST

India start well

Mohammed Shami and Ashwin have been brilliant this morning. Shami, who appeared to be in some discomfort yesterday, has been on the mark right from ball 1. He has run in and kept the batsmen honest.

9:30 hrs IST

The players make their way in

Right then the players have made their way out into the centre. India would look wrap up the South Africa innings as quickly as possible and get a lead of over a 100 runs, which will help them when they a set a target.

9:20 hrs IST

Ashwin on verge of record

R Ashwin needs only 3 wickets to equal Muralitharan’s world record for being the fastest to 350 Test wicket. He doesn’t have a chance to do it this innings as South Africa only have 2 wickets remaining but he sure can do it in the second innings.

09:10 hrs IST

Jadeja beats stalwarts of Indian cricket to Test milestone

Jadeja, playing his 44th Test, takes the second spot in the list of quickest to 200 wickets behind Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner achieved the feat in his 37th Test. Following Ashwin and Jadeja on the list are Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble and Bhagwath Chandrasekhar who reached the milestone of 200 wickets in 46, 47 and 48 Tests, respectively. Jadeja also became quickest left-arm bowler to scalp 200 wickets in the longest format.

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09:00 hrs IST

R Ashwin revels on home turf as India retain initiative

“I am elated to be back. There is nothing like picking up a five wicket haul for your country,” Ashwin said after the day’s play. “This place is very special for me but I enjoyed a five wicket haul for Nottingham too. One is not too lesser than the other. For me it is about playing the game and I have realised that the joy of the game has to be back in my heart. I have made sure that I enjoy the game where ever I go and play. Most people who spoke to me said you looked really happy. I don’t know if they were guessing, but I feel genuinely happy to be back.”

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08:50 hrs IST

Best hundred I’ve had for South Africa: Elgar

“We knew it was going to be hard work. A lot of stern messages were given out this morning in the huddle,” Elgar said after the day’s play. “It’s tough playing Test cricket in India. They are always coming at you. But I felt with previous experiences of playing against them that if you allow yourself time, you give yourself a bit of opportunity with your defensive game, your attacking game will come naturally and you will be able to get into the position that you are now.”

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08:40 hrs IST

Quick gun Ashwin still unsure of place

Emerging from a puff of dust, the spinning ball slipped through the gap between a driving bat and Vernon Philander’s pads and thumped into the top of the middle stump. It was with this classic off spinner’s dismissal that Ravichandran Ashwin clapped his way to his 21st Test five-wicket haul on home soil, picked up in his very first Test appearance since December last year.

The Philander wicket was of great significance to Ashwin’s legacy too; he is now just three wickets away from reaching the landmark of 350 Test wickets. If he scalps those in the ongoing Visakhapatnam Test itself—and there is no reason why he shouldn’t— Ashwin will be tied-fastest to the milestone (66 Tests), on par with the greatest wicket-taker of them all, Muttiah Muralitharan, and 11 Tests quicker than the Indian record-holder for the same feat, Anil Kumble.

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08:25 hrs IST

Hello and welcome

Hello and welcome to our live blog on Day 4 of the first Test between India and South Africa. As things stand, the match is hanging in balance at the moment, with South Africa trailing by 117 runs and two wickets in hand. India will look to get on to bat quickly and put on a total somewhere close to 350, so that they can have an entire day tomorrow to bowl out the Proteas. But for now, it seems that the match could be heading to a draw.