Cape Town, First Published Jan 14, 2022, 3:22 PM IST
The last Test between India and South Africa is being played in Cape Town, with both teams drawing 1-1 in the first two matches of the three-match series.
India won the toss and elected to bat first, scoring 223 in the final Test of the series. Captain Virat Kohli top-scored for India with 79 runs. Following this, the South Africans played the first innings and scored 210 in the first innings. Keegan Peterson top-scored for South Africa with 72 runs. Pumra took a maximum of 5 wickets for India.
Rishabh Pund’s responsible century (100 *) in the 2nd innings led by India, who scored 13 runs, led India to a 211 – run lead and set a target of 212 for South Africa.
South Africa’s opening batsman Markram, who started the chase with a target of 212, was bowled out for 16 by Shami. Dean Elgar was bowled out for 30 by Bumra in the last over of the day. Keegan Peterson and Vander Dawson continued the game on Day 4. Both drove leisurely. Bumra and Shami fought hard for the wicket.
Peterson, who played immensely, scored a fifty. Fifty later, Peterson gave a catch to Bumra in the 40th over of the innings when South Africa were 129/2. The ball, thrown by Bumra, became the outside edge of Peterson’s bat and went straight into the hand of Pujara, who was on the first slip. But Pujara dropped the catch, which was very, very easy. There will never be an easier catch than this. Pujara made such a catch. Pujara fortified is not a catch; Everyone knows that match. Yet it was obvious that Captain Cole had suppressed his anger in an environment where he could not express his anger.
Keegan Peterson is the key player on that team. He just plays better in every inning. As such, Pujara missed his catch. Pujara’s Test career is likely to end not only with batting but also with fielding.
Last Updated Jan 14, 2022, 3:22 PM IST
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