Rahane’s Home Hundred
231 on the board. 7 wickets down and out walked Ajinkya Rahane with Ravichandran Ashwin to start the day’s play earlier today.
After a disappointing series so far, having managed to score just 39 in four innings, Rahane stepped up in Delhi. His 89 on Day 1 was already the highest individual score of the entire series, but he was eyeing more.
Took him 10 overs to get there today, but the Mumbai batsman reached his first home century with a stylish boundary down the line.
Two maximums and a boundary followed as Rahane mounted the runs, eventually going down to Imran Tahir for 127.
Ashwin’s Supporting 50
His 33-ball-6 on Day 1 had many appreciating Ashwin’s effort, more for his resilience than for his cricket abilities.
But on Day 2, having finally located his family in Chennai, Ashwin walked out the more aggressive of the two batsmen. While Rahane slowly neared his landmark, Ashwin kept the scoreboard ticking at a steady pace. The pair added 98 for the eighth wicket, and even after Rahane departed, the spinner kept the Proteas on their toes - scoring his sixth Test century.
His ninth wicket stand with Umesh Yadav added 38 runs to the total as India ultimately posted a commanding 334.
Yadav Joins The Party, Finally
With the series’ highest score mounted ahead of them by the home team, South Africa sent out Elgar and Bavuma to open.
For India, Kohli handed the ball to his pacers.
Umesh Yadav, who had been utilised for just 9 overs in the entire series - returned the favour by picking the first wicket of the innings. Playing in Amit Mishra’s place, the fast bowler got Elgar out with SA on 36. Just the breakthrough the team needed.
And he came back for seconds, JP Duminy clean bowled for one.
Jadeja’s Fifer
New venue, same old story. But who’s’ complaining!
So much talk about horses for courses around Ravindra Jadeja but the man’s stepped up in Delhi as well. Bavuma, Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers and Kyle Abbott all fumed back to the dressing room cursing our favourite comeback man.
The all-rounder finished the innings for 5/30 and now has a total of 21 wickets next to his name in the series’ wicket-takers list.
Ravichandran Ashwin finished with 2, including the final wicket of Imran Tahir as South Africa were bundled out for 121. Thee now trail India by a massive 231 runs.
What’s in store, Delhi?
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