Day 4, Ind vs SA 2nd Test: Elgar Leads SA to 7-Wicket Win; Series Level at 1-1

Latest updates from Day 4 of the second Test between India and South Africa.

Dean Elgar scored an unbeaten 96 to lead SA to a win against India in the second Test.

Image: Cricket South Africa/Twitter 

Captain Dean Elgar led by example in Johannesburg against India as South Africa completed a difficult chase and eventually won at a canter on Day 4. South Africa’s 7-wicket win brings the three-match series to 1-1.

With the odds heavily stacked in India’s favour, Elgar led the charge with the bat and was gritty as ever to start with before going through the gears. Elgar, who hit three boundaries in an over of Mohammed Siraj to stamp his authority on the situation, also took a few hard body blows on Day 3 on his way to 96 not out. Temba Bavuma finished unbeaten as 23. Before Bavuma, it was Rassie van der Dussen who along with Elgar kept India out with a 82-run partnership.

This was the first time SA won against India at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. The final Test will be played in Cape Town.

After rain delayed the start of play on Day 4, Dean Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen had to knock off 122 runs while India needed 8 wickets.

SA's batters added a quick 57 runs in the first hour of play, under the lights, as India's bowlers found it tough to get going. Elgar completed his fifty shortly after play started and held up his end solidly.

Van der Dussen however could not give him company for too long and was caught by Cheteshwar Pujara in the slips of Mohammed Shami for 40. SA were 65 runs away from the finish line at that point in time.

Temba Bavuma joined Elgar in the middle and the runs continued to flow for SA. However, Bavuma was afforded a big chance when Shardul Thakur dropped a catch of his own bowling when he had faced only 2 deliveries and was still on 0.

Bavuma and Elgar were subjected to quite a bit of chatter by the Indian fielders but they responded in style. The duo went through the gears, finding boundaries at ease, and taking Mohammed Siraj for four boundaries as well, three coming from Elgar's bat.

Day 4 had been all about SA's batters with India's famed bowling unable to get it right for once.

Shortly after that expensive Siraj over, Elgar and Bavuma applied the finishing touches on the win with the captain hitting the winning runs of R Ashwin and falling four runs short of what would have been a well deserving century.

This was India's first defeat against South Africa at The Wanderers.

Yesterday, the Proteas had their skipper Dean Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen batting at Stumps on Day 3 with the score at 118/2.

Earlier in the day, India were bowled out for 266 and the home team now need 122 runs to level the series, while India look for eight wickets to script their maiden series victory in the 'Rainbow Nation'.

India had set a target of 240 for South Africa after being all out for 266. Cameos from Shardul Thakur (28) and Hanuma Vihari (40 not out) took the lead past 200 after a stand of 111 runs off 144 balls between Cheteshwar Pujara (53) and Ajinkya Rahane (58) set the base for India to pose a tricky target for South Africa. For the hosts, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi took three wickets each.