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India were at the receiving end on the third day of the first Test against South Africa in Centurion as a resolute Dean Elgar‘s 185 helped the hosts take a massive lead. The batter missed out on a well-deserved maiden double hundred but inflicted enough damage on India in company of young Marco Jansen to potentially bat the visitors out of the opening Test as South Africa reached 392 for 7 at lunch on the third day. Elgar (185 off 287 balls), whose previous highest Test score is 199, was inching towards his maiden double hundred before a faint tickle to leg-side bouncer from Shardul Thakur brought about his end.
But, that didn’t deter the lanky Jansen (72 batting, 119 balls), not exactly famous for his batting prowess, to easily negotiate a deflated Indian attack that looked out of sorts as well bereft of ideas.
Elgar and Marco Jansen provided a great stand for South Africa. However, the day could have seen a major controversy but R Ashwin ensured that everything was alright. he warned Marco Jansen for backing up too far during the 98th over of South Africa innings. The images of the incident went viral.
A warning by Ashwin as Jansen trying to back too much. #SAvIND #TheCricketTV pic.twitter.com/PGZXjt2Yzs
— The Cricket TV (@thecrickettvX) December 28, 2023
A warning by Ashwin as Jansen trying to back too much. #SAvIND #TheCricketTV pic.twitter.com/PGZXjt2Yzs
— The Cricket TV (@thecrickettvX) December 28, 2023
A warning by Ashwin as Jansen trying to back too much. #AUSvsPAK #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/E0CotFvCMP
— Vishnu Tiwari (@VishnuTiwa29296) December 28, 2023
The Elgar-Jansen pair added 111 runs for the sixth wicket. With the lead already swelling to 147 runs, it will be a Herculean task for the Indian batters to save the game.
The sun is beating down, odd balls are keeping low and survival isn’t an option against a quality Proteas attack.
The Indian bowlers were even more disappointing on the third morning with Shardul Thakur (1/101 in 19 overs) and Prasidh Krishna (1/92 in 19 overs) sprayed all over the place, only to be mercilessly punished by the former Proteas skipper Elgar and the lanky left-arm seamer Jansen.
The pair drove, pulled, cut at their own will and neither the old ball nor the semi-new ball could bring about any change in fortune for the visiting team bowlers.
Jasprit Bumrah (2/59 in 22 overs) and Mohammed Siraj (2/90 in 22 overs) once again were unlucky as they repeatedly beat the bat of Elgar and Jansen but didn’t have rub of the green going their way.
However, Prasidh and Thakur were not only below-par but also missed both line and length. Prasidh was inducted into the squad to hit the deck and generate extra pace off the surface but he missed the trick by consistently bowling length balls. Even someone like Gerald Coetzee dispatched him into the stands.
On a track that demanded bowlers to bend their backs, Thakur literally floated the deliveries, which were hit all around the park. When he started using the short ball tactic, Jansen hooked him for good as he didn’t have enough pace to hurry the batter.
The only bowler who came out with his reputation intact was Ravichandran Ashwin, who for most part came from an angular run-up but ended with figures of 1/41 in 18 overs.
But, even his effort wasn’t enough as Prasidh-Shardul duo, having already conceded nearly 200 runs (193 in 38 overs) cumulatively in less than 40 overs, have severely dented their team’s chance of redemption.
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