Ton-up Dean Elgar Overshadows KL Rahul To Put South Africa In Cruise Control

27.12.2023 - 19:40 sports.ndtv.com

Walking into cricketing sunset in another 11 days, Dean Elgar displayed his understated brilliance with a counter-offensive hundred that not only neutralised KL Rahul's superlative ton but also put South Africa in complete command on the second day of the opening Test against India on Wednesday.

Playing his 85th and penultimate Test, left-handed Elgar (140 batting, 211 balls), not exactly known for his elegant stroke-play, stacked up his 14th Test hundred and also took South Africa to 256 for 5 at stumps to offset India's first innings total of 245.

With debutant David Bedingham (56 off 87 balls), who hit a fluent half-century that included two massive pulled sixes, Elgar added 131 runs for the fourth wicket as India now will have to play a catching game.

The conditions remained bowling friendly as clouds hovered over throughout the second day, but it was Mohamamed Shami's absence and ineptitude of Shardul Thakur (0/57 in 12 overs) and inability of debutant Prasidh Krishna (1/61 in 15 overs) that hurt India dearly as they neither found the right line nor the length on the day.

cricket South Africa Cricket Team India Cricket Team South Africa vs India Jacques Kallis Dean Elgar Kl Rahul South Africa India

Following India's win over South Africa in the second Test that lasted for just 1.5 days, former England batter Kevin Pietersen poked fun at the match's duration, saying that there is enough time to play a series decider at Cape Town in order to have a true winner in this series. Bumrah's second-inning six-wicket haul made all the difference as, despite Aiden Markram's ton, South Africa could set only 79 for India to wrap up this Test in around 1.5 days, which India chased down successfully.

"My Record Has Been Pretty Good": Dean Elgar On South Africa Pitch

Following a chaotic first day of the second Test between India and South Africa which saw a total of 23 wickets falling, South African skipper Dean Elgar refused to label the pitch as bad but said that it is challenging instead. Aiden Markram and David Bedingham took South Africa to 62/3 at Stumps on dramatic day one of the second Test match in Cape Town on Wednesday. At the time of stumps, South Africa's score read 62/3 - trail by 36 runs - with Markram (36) and Bedingham (7) unbeaten at the crease.

Watch: Virat Kohli Wins Hearts With Priceless Gesture For Retiring South Africa Star Dean Elgar

The India vs South Africa second Test at Newlands, Capetown is being played with both sides giving their all on the field. While the Indian bowlers, especially Mohammed Siraj, did a commendable job to bowl out South Africa for 55 runs after getting an invitation to bowl first, the South African pacers bounced back and bundled India out for 153 runs. Dean Elgar then came out to bat for a final time in international cricket and scored 12 runs before becoming a victim of Mukesh Kumar.

On Day 1 Chaos In 1st Test, Sunil Gavaskar Surprised By South Africa's Dramatic Call

Former Indian cricket team captain Sunil Gavaskar on Wednesday expressed surprise at South African skipper Dean Elgar's decision to bat first in the second Test against India. Elgar's decision backfired as South Africa were bundled out for 55, their lowest total against India. India were on course for a big lead until losing their last six wickets for no run to be all out for 153, limiting their first innings advantage to 98 runs. "Well, I tell you what, I was a bit surprised by what happened," Gavaskar said in his match analysis on Star Sports.

"Not An Ideal Situation": Dean Elgar's Honest Take On 'Test Cricket Is Dying' Discussion

With nothing to lose on the eve of his final international outing, Dean Elgar didn't hold back while expressing his disgust about Cricket South Africa sending a third-string squad to New Zealand under an uncapped captain just because the series is coinciding with the cash-rich SA20. It is a situation the 36-year-old Elgar, the stand-in captain for the second, and final, Test against India at Newlands, termed as "not ideal." "I still think Test cricket will have a future and in speaking to the younger guys in the dressing room, they still live for the format," Elgar said on Tuesday during his last pre-match conference. "The situation we've been put in from a cricketing fraternity perspective isn't ideal and maybe the team that's selected to go to New Zealand isn't ideal for the conversation of how I see Test cricket," Elgar was straightforward in his observations.

India vs South Africa 2nd Test Day 1, Cape Town Weather Report: Will Rain Force Delayed Start?

India vs South Africa 2nd Test Day 1, Cape Town Weather Report: Will Rain Play Spolisport?