Related Links: India Tour of South Africa 2013/14 – Schedule | SA Vs Ind, 2nd Sunfoil Test at Durban – Scorecard
The weather-hit Second and Final Test at Kingsmead in Durban came to life during Sunday evening as India are facing a tough challenge in their second innings. Having conceded a first innings lead of 166, India has lost its openers while eating off 68 runs from the deficit. It is going to be an exciting final day as the young Indian batting line-up will be against the South African pace trio. Already there are signs that India will have to play at their very best as Vernon Philander has moved the ball around quite significantly while Steyn and Morkel are pumped up.
Jacques Kallis
The fourth day’s play saw Jacques Kallis scoring a century in his last Test. The 38-year-old Jacques Kallis scored his 45th Test century which was also the 7th against India. Kallis scored 115 from 316 balls with 13 fours in what is most likely to be the last Test knock of his career. The South African legend got out top edging a slog sweep off Ravindra Jadeja. It was a maiden five-wicket haul for Ravindra Jadeja overseas and it is only his first Test match for the 25-year-old outside India.
Earlier night watchman Dale Steyn almost scored a fifty, falling just six runs short as he nicked a juicy outswinger from Zaheer Khan to the keeper. Robin Petersen came up with a blinder scoring 61 from just 52 balls with 9 fours and a six to accelerate the South African lead. Faf du Plessis chipped in with 43 before he was run out by a direct throw for the second time in a row in this series.
South Africa were bowled out for 500. Ravindra Jadeja claimed career best figures of 6 for 138 but had to toil away for 58.2 overs! India did quite well in dragging the South African innings to 155.2 overs. MS Dhoni’s tactics of holding back on the second new ball for more than 65 overs proved to be a wise decision. The old and soft ball surely slowed down South Africa’s charge of building up a lead.
By the close of play, India batted out 36 overs in gloomy light conditions. Murali Vijay was forced to edge a beauty from Vernon Philander in the 6th over. Shikhar Dhawan, who was yet to score anything good on this tour, worked really hard before he was unlucky to be caught by an airborne Faf du Plessis at short mid wicket. Robin Peterson was the lucky bowler who got Shikhar Dhawan out for 19 (from 87 balls).
Cheteshwar Pujara with 32* (from 90 balls with 4 fours) is in a crucial partnership with Virat Kohli (11* from 26 balls) at stumps on the penultimate day.
