South Africa 256 for 5 (Elgar 140*, Bedingham 56, Bumrah 2-48) lead India 245 (Rahul 101, Rabada 5-59) by 11 runs
If there is one shot a batter must master, it’s Dean Elgar‘s play and miss. Especially if they hope to open the batting. It’s a life-saving technique and it turns out to be a game-changer. South Africa, with Elgar at the crease for their entire innings so far, are dominating the Boxing Day Test.
India were disappointing, particularly after lunch when they started with a debutant and their third-choice fast bowler. In just eight overs, they conceded almost as many runs (42) as they did in the previous 16 overs (49). By the time Rohit Sharma realized his mistake, it was too late.
Elgar was well-established by then.
There was a time when Elgar was in trouble; a period when India could be satisfied with the 245 they put on the board thanks to a superb century from KL Rahul. Their main fast bowlers were creating chances with almost every delivery. Twelve of the first 30 deliveries produced false shots, eight of which were to fuller-length balls. Aiden Markram fell in the midst of this examination.
But Elgar didn’t. He didn’t push at the ball. He faced similar challenges to his partner, often getting squared up and occasionally taking blows on the body. However, he was disciplined not to follow the seam movement, which contributed to his 140 runs off 211 balls in his final Test series.
The Centurion pitch was still hazardous. In the first over that Kagiso Rabada bowled, Rahul played and missed four consecutive deliveries. Later, Prasidh Krishna forced Elgar off his feet with a bouncer, which showcased the challenges faced by good batters in such conditions. However, Elgar and Rahul thrived under pressure, making significant contributions to their team’s score.
Elgar’s century was a significant achievement, with 80 runs scored in boundaries. This innings showcased his ability to adapt and execute strokes, especially through the off side, which is uncommon for him. It was almost as if he realized he wouldn’t be able to play for much longer, which prompted him to unleash his cover drive.
South Africa scored 145 runs after lunch, which is their highest in a single session of Test cricket since 2018. They took advantage of India’s back-up bowlers, Prasidh and Shardul Thakur, who struggled with economy rates. What was initially 49 for 1 turned into 194 for 3 in just 33 overs.
David Bedingham impressed with a half-century on debut. His technique revolves around effective weight transfer, ensuring his weight goes into every shot. He demonstrated this strength with a flick off Jasprit Bumrah, showcasing his careful shot execution.
India still has the chance to recover, as the pitch at SuperSport Park remains challenging for batting. They will have a new ball available in 14 overs, which, when utilized effectively, has proven to be difficult for the opposition. However, they will need to improve their focus and partnership building to overcome the challenge posed by South Africa.
Bumrah and the Indian team managed to make breakthroughs, but their inability to build partnerships may come back to haunt them. They now find themselves trailing by 11 runs as the umpires called off play due to bad light.
