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Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, led India into a commanding position on Day 3, as their half centuries, took the Indian lead to 403 as the hosts finished on 190/4 after day three of the fourth Test against South Africa in New Delhi.
Rahane, up and swinging after the classical ton in the first innings, played yet another patient knock, while Kohli at the other end took the South African attack to the cleaners with controlled yet aggressive batting.
After the dramatic collapse on day 2, South Africa tried to gain the early advantage, as a fired up Morne Morkel took two wickets in as many deliveries, but that was the only bright spot for the visitors, in what was another India dominated day, here at the Feroz Shah Kotla.
Spearheading the attack in the absence of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel has truly risen from the latter’s shadow and has come of his own throughout this Indian tour. Before the peach that he produced today to knock over Rohit Sharma, who had surprisingly come out at no. 3, he bounced Murali Vijay and was lucky to get the decision in his favour, though the ball looked to be brushing his arm-guard.
But the ball that he conjured after the Vijay dismissal would have got even the best batsmen in doldrums as it pitched on middle and off and reversed to beat the dangling Rohit Sharma bat and knock over the off and the middle stump.
More than the way he got out, Sharma’s arrival and no. 3 had befuddled everyone. India, it seems haven’t stopped experimenting with the batting order, which was also done on the Sri Lanka tour. Whether it was for Rohit to go out and get extra runs or not, this experiment didn’t work and raised further eyebrows on Rohit’s batting position and form.
Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara then steadied the ship for a while as the duo led India to lunch at 51/2. After lunch, Morne Morkel was back again as he cleaned Dhawan up with a toe-crushing yorker. Imran Tahir, fresh from his five wicket haul in the last match, then dismissed Pujara, who for the fourth time in the series, missed the line of the delivery and was clean bowled.
But that was that for South Africa, as Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane took over from there and were unbeaten till stumps. Kohli almost got unfortunate again, as he was adjudged caught behind off Imran Tahir, only for the replays to show that it was a no-ball.
But Kohli hadn’t nicked it either, and had it not been a no-ball, he would have been well on his way. That aside, there was complete domination by India after the fall of the fourth wicket, as both Rahane and Kohli, batted freely as well as sensibly thereby streatching the Indian lead to over 400.
Kohli in particular, was brilliant in his back-foot play as he rocked back deep into the crease against the spinners and flicked them through mid-wicket for several boundaries, as he brought up his fifty off just 70 balls. Rahane was patient at first, but slowly gained top-gear, as he completed his half-century off 146 balls.
It wasn’t all India though, as Morne Morkel, who had played the supporting role to Kyle Abbott’s five wickets in the first innings, stepped up himself today, as he constantly troubled every Indian batsman, with his movement in the air. He got a close shave against Rahane, when he thought he had him caught behind but was turned down by the umpire, adding to Morkel’s frustation.
India are now in a commanding position, and it’s only a matter of time when they declare tomorrow. The only question that beckons is how many runs will they set South Africa to chase.
Scorecard:
India won the toss and decided to bat first
IND 1st innings: 334
SA 1st innings: 121
IND 2nd innings:
| Murali Vijay | 3 (15) |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 21 (86) |
| Rohit Sharma | 0 (1) |
| Cheteshwar Pujara | 28 (79) |
| Virat Kohli | 83* (154) |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 52* (152) |
| Total | 190/4 |
Bowling:
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | |
| Morne Morkel | 17 | 29 | 3 |
| Kyle Abbott | 17 | 38 | 0 |
| Dane Piedt | 18 | 53 | 0 |
| Imran Tahir | 21 | 49 | 1 |
| Dean Elgar | 8 | 19 | 0 |
