Friday 20 December 2013

Day 3 - Wanderers, Sa vs India: There Was Only One Winner Today...




There was only one winner on Day 3 at the Wanderers, and that was not South Africa.

India outplayed the home team in almost all departments. The only positive for South Africa was Vernon Philander who took his 100th Test wicket in only his 19th Test match, which is an SA record. Furthermore, he joins the likes of Sir Ian Botham, the ex-England star all-rounder who managed exactly what Philander did. That alone is a huge feather in Vernon’s cricket cap…!



Unfortunately, it only mattered what happened on the field of play, in the Bullring today, and South Africa had no answer to the early morning bowling of Zaheer Khan and Sharma. They were bowled out while still trailing the Indian first innings total by 36 runs. Truly, a disappointing performance when you consider the Proteas are playing at home and in conditions, they should love and excel in, and while everybody believed, the Indian batsmen would struggle on the bouncy Wanderers pitch…!

It just shows you once more…No matter how many Tests you have played and how well you may know the conditions, it ALL depends on how you perform on the day, in the middle. Moreover, Cricket remains a highly unpredictable sport…there is no doubt about that.


Pujara was the best batsmen for India today, scoring an impressive century. He will bat on tomorrow with Kohli, the centurion from Day 2 who made another 50 today. Currently, the Indian team lead by 320 runs with 8 second innings wickets remaining. I suspect without Morkel, who injured his ankle while fielding today, the SA bowlers are going to struggle to restrict India, which means that they will be facing a target of well over 400, which should be enough…!


The pitch did seem to ease up a lot in the afternoon today, so I think India will push on to set a target closer to 500, but it all depends on how quickly they bat or lose wickets on Day 4. Plenty could still happen – remember, this is Cricket…! 


Scorecard provided by http://www.espncricinfo.com

India 280 & 284/2 (78.0 ov)
South Africa 244
India lead by 320 runs with 8 wickets remaining
Stumps - Day 3

South Africa 1st inningsRMB4s6sSR
View dismissalGC Smith*lbw b Khan6818711911057.14
View dismissalAN Petersenlbw b I Sharma2161414051.21
View dismissalHM Amlab I Sharma36117746048.64
View dismissalJH Kallislbw b I Sharma021000.00
View dismissalAB de Villierslbw b Mohammed Shami1332211061.90
View dismissalJP Duminyc Vijay b Mohammed Shami222120016.66
View dismissalF du Plessisc †Dhoni b Khan20141771025.97
View dismissalVD Philanderc Ashwin b Khan59113867068.60
View dismissalDW Steync RG Sharma b I Sharma1017122083.33
View dismissalM Morkelb Khan71491077.77
Imran Tahirnot out084000.00
Extras(lb 4, w 1, nb 3)8
Total(all out; 75.3 overs; 361 mins)244(3.23 runs per over)
Fall of wickets 1-37 (Petersen, 13.1 ov)2-130 (Amla, 38.1 ov)3-130 (Kallis, 38.2 ov),
 4-130 (Smith, 39.3 ov),5-145 (Duminy, 44.1 ov)6-146 (de Villiers, 44.3 ov),
7-226 (Philander, 69.1 ov)8-237 (Steyn, 72.3 ov),9-239 (du Plessis, 73.5 ov)10-244 (Morkel, 75.3 ov)
BowlingOMRWEcon
View wicketsZ Khan26.368843.32(1w)
View wicketsMohammed Shami1834822.66
View wicketsI Sharma2557943.16(3nb)
R Ashwin602504.16
India 2nd inningsRMB4s6sSR
View dismissalS Dhawanc Kallis b Philander1532211071.42
View dismissalM Vijayc †de Villiers b Kallis39155945041.48
CA Pujaranot out13522118061.08
V Kohlinot out771328058.33
Extras(b 5, lb 5, w 8)18
Total(2 wickets; 78 overs)284(3.64 runs per over)
To bat RG SharmaAM RahaneMS Dhoni*†, R AshwinI SharmaZ KhanMohammed Shami
Fall of wickets 1-23 (Dhawan, 7.3 ov)2-93 (Vijay, 33.5 ov)

BowlingOMRWEcon
DW Steyn2146403.04(2w)
View wicketVD Philander1855312.94(1w)
M Morkel21402.00
View wicketJH Kallis1445113.64
Imran Tahir1105505.00
AB de Villiers10505.00(1w)
JP Duminy1104203.81


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