At Newlands during the second and final test between South Africa and India, the home side faced a rollercoaster of a day. Captain Dean Elgar, anticipating a challenging surface, elected to bat after winning the toss. However, what unfolded was beyond expectations as South Africa was bowled out for a mere 55 runs in the morning session. Despite the initial shock, Elgar remains optimistic about his team’s chances, particularly if they can set India a target of 100 or more.
As the day progressed, South Africa’s bowlers came to life, dismissing India for 153 in their first innings. The home side managed to end the day at 62 for three in their second innings, trailing India by 36 runs with seven wickets in hand. Elgar expressed confidence in his bowlers, stating, “When our bowlers click, they can rip through any batting lineup, and on this wicket, that is possible.”
Reflecting on his decision to bat first, Elgar admitted the pitch played differently than expected. “I didn’t know it would play in that way though, with the naked eye it did not look so bad,” he said. “But it’s one of those wickets where if you knuckle down, you never know what can happen.”
India, after reaching 153 for four in their first innings, experienced a collapse, losing their last six wickets for no additional runs. Elgar attributed this to the older ball still having an impact on the game. “We’ve just experienced a really crazy day of test cricket,” he remarked.
Despite the challenges, Elgar praised his players for their resilience and effort, emphasizing that he would measure them based on attitude and execution with the ball. Looking ahead, he suggested that batting last against any three-figure target on this unpredictable pitch would be a significant challenge.
