***Official*** India in South Africa 2017/18

[oblongballs]

Pandya's innings was very disappointing. He failed to play his natural game and got bogged down, ball after ball and cost India time and runs. He should either hit out or get out really. His job is to rattle the bowlers, not hunker down like Cook.

Anyway, decent century from Kohli on a pitch I predicted he would do well on. If I'm not mistaken, when Kohli has scored a score of 100+ in Aus, SA and NZ, India have failed to win a test, am I right in that? Is it because he does it on pitches where others score just as much or more? I seem to remember he scored heavily in Australia but there were always centuries around him and big scores. Can this be his first match winning century on one of these tours?

I think the pitch might help the spinners i.e. Ashwin, if it does, SA may not score as many as they should. But I think they can either retain this lead or outscore India anyway.

 

[Contra]

Why did they only take a single in the over before when they could have got 2? That was silly with 2 balls to go.

 

[veganbob]

Pandya's innings was very disappointing. He failed to play his natural game and got bogged down, ball after ball and cost India time and runs. He should either hit out or get out really. His job is to rattle the bowlers, not hunker down like Cook.

Anyway, decent century from Kohli on a pitch I predicted he would do well on. If I'm not mistaken, when Kohli has scored a score of 100+ in Aus, SA and NZ, India have failed to win a test, am I right in that? Is it because he does it on pitches where others score just as much or more? I seem to remember he scored heavily in Australia but there were always centuries around him and big scores. Can this be his first match winning century on one of these tours?

I think the pitch might help the spinners i.e. Ashwin, if it does, SA may not score as many as they should. But I think they can either retain this lead or outscore India anyway.

:lol

Its not a decent innings. Its been all class by kohli this innings.

 

[Spark]

It's so churlish to say "oh, decent century, pitch suited him anyway" when he's literally scored half the team's runs.

 

[vcs]

At this point it might actually be better to declare. SA aren't giving any freebies to hit, and Bumrah could get injured.

 

[Contra]

At this point it might actually be better to declare. SA aren't giving any freebies to hit, and Bumrah could get injured.

lol nah.

 

[Spark]

Close to the perfect setup for the rest of the game.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Oh well. Amazing knock.

Your time to shine, Ashwin.

 

[Spark]

Also I have an extremely snarky post I could make about that first ball Bumrah faced but I'll save it

 

[StephenZA]

Fantastic innings! Kohli probably would have got the double... if he picked the right batsmen to back him up.

 

[Boris_Dog]

Well done Kohli, top knock and dying for the cause. Bravo!

 

[vcs]

This innings was pretty reminiscent of Smith's ton in Brisbane, with less support from the rest of the team, and might end up in a losing cause. Great knock though.

 

[Spark]

Well done Kohli, top knock and dying for the cause. Bravo!

Think this might come back to bite India in the fourth innings though

 

[SeamUp]

Brilliant knock Virat. So good to see a player step-up when chips are down.

 

[Spark]

This innings was pretty reminiscent of Smith's ton in Brisbane, with less support from the rest of the team, and might end up in a losing cause. Great knock though.

Reminded me a bit of Dharamshala actually. Just a clear cut above everyone else.

 

[Contra]

Bumrah and Shammi have to show why they are picked, especially Bumrah.

 

[StephenZA]

Rabada was the best bowler in the innings... and walks away with the worst figures. How very cricket.

 

[oblongballs]

It's so churlish to say "oh, decent century, pitch suited him anyway" when he's literally scored half the team's runs.

Your problem is I am not hyping an innings which was good but not remarkable. Any top batsman should be scoring on these pitches, in conditions with no swing. Kohli did not look good just last week in conditions which were only slightly off for batsmen, and looked lost in his own some series against Australia on some rank turners. So excuse me if I don't go crazy for a flat track bully.

In terms of the match, a lead of 28 is very useful, if the ball doesnt turn, SA have enough time to get another 300 and put India in later tomorrow, with enough time, maybe, to ball them out.

I personally think it will be a draw.

 

[vcs]

Think this might come back to bite India in the fourth innings though

He didn't have too many options... throwing your bat in the company of guys like Bumrah and Ishant always comes with a big risk. Done well to get this close considering Pandya's idiocy. Ashwin played a really good hand but there's been very little else.

 

[Spark]

Haha I just noticed Morkel somehow ended up with 4/60. That's almost his Test career in a nutshell.