North 24 Parganas (India) correspondent: A mighty innings of sheer bloody-mindedness, unflinching determination and supreme technique and discipline by South Africa skipper Dean Elgar provided the foundation for a much needed and deserved victory by the Proteas over India in the second cricket Test on Thursday.
South Africa achieved their highest run chase at the Wanderers and their first victory over India at the stadium when they claimed a seven-wicket triumph in the gloaming on day four.
Elgar’s 96 not out was as good an innings he has played and the support he received from Aiden Markram (31), Rassie van der Dussen (40) and Temba Bavuma (23 not out) was vital. The Proteas reached the 240-run target when Elgar flicked Ravi Ashwin through midwicket for the match-winning boundary shortly before 6pm.
They reached the target under floodlights after a day under woolly thunderclouds with only three wickets down. Elgar was battered and bruised after a physical assault from India’s excellent seam bowling unit, but he was never beaten.
The Proteas levelled the three-match Test series at 1-1, with a match to play at Newlands next week, setting the stage for a dramatic finale to a compelling series.
India’s final frontier — winning a Test series in South Africa for the first time — will have to wait a little longer. Man for man, the tourists might have the superior team, at least according to statistics, but they are now up against a Proteas side carrying momentum and buoyed by a terrific performance in Johannesburg.
Despite the delay to the start of day four, with the Proteas needing 122 for victory with eight wickets in hand, the home team played with determination, skill and courage to secure a historic victory.
The showers eventually passed as the teams took to the field at 3.45. Elgar and Van der Dussen dug in to get the score into two digits with an excellent 82-run partnership on a tough Wanderers wicket.
Van der Dussen was eventually dismissed, off the bowling of Mohammed Shami, caught at first slip by Cheteshwar Pujara, after playing an important innings in the context of his career as well as the match.
In stepped Bavuma, and the vice-captain with captain Elgar struck a 68-run partnership off only 82 deliveries. Bavuma scored 23* off 45 deliveries, striking three fours, while Elgar batted for 309 minutes in his mammoth innings, facing 188 deliveries and striking 10 boundaries.
News is being sent by BTC News (Bangladesh) North 24 Parganas (India) correspondent, Tathyik Bhattacharya. #
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