Rest of the World

[kingraf]

Big partnership in the context of the game. If they can add another 20-odd, the lead becomes noteworthy in a low scoring slug fest. As is Jansen showing he may well become a #7, while Keshav is playing with the poise of a man who has 3 Test 50s. Very organised. He probably has done himself a disservice, especially in a South African side both devoid of batsmen and obsessed with pace, in not working a little harder on his batting to be a #7.

[kingraf]

And he's gone

[KP_fan]

Big partnership in the context of the game. If they can add another 20-odd, the lead becomes noteworthy in a low scoring slug fest. As is Jansen showing he may well become a #7, while Keshav is playing with the poise of a man who has 3 Test 50s. Very organised. He probably has done himself a disservice, especially in a South African side both devoid of batsmen and obsessed with pace, in not working a little harder on his batting to be a #7.

Thx

[kingraf]

I guess we could have been rolled for 190 without Keshav's cameo. Difference between trailing by 20 and leading by 20 could be the difference between chasing 180 and chasing 220.

[kingraf]

Jansen goes for an enterprising 21. The lead is 26, with Ngidi to come, I don't think much will be added to it. At 100/3 and 150/4, South Africa would have had dreams of a more commanding lead, but rather up 26 than down 26, I guess

[KP_fan]

SHARDUL
7-fer
TAKE A BOW TO LORD SHARDUL

[msp83]

So its a lead of 27 for South Africa. Handy to have any kind of advantage on this kind of a track, but South Africa should count it as an opportunity lost. Those 2 mini collapses meant the lead is well within range for India, particularly as South Africa will be batting last on this track.
However, India's batting has functionality issues, any score from Pujara is struggling badly, and any run from Rahane will be a bonus. Means lots of pressure on KL and Mayank, and then hopefully Vihari will make a big score, Pant, Ashwin and Shardul can add some value down the order. 250 would be a challenging score. If they manage to get to 280, will be very difficult for South Africa...

[msp83]

Outstanding effort from Shardul Thakur, best bowling figures for an Indian in South Africa! Stepped up brilliant as Siraj went down!

[KP_fan]

Pitch is difficult to bat.....bounce is increasing as is the uneven spitting of the length deliveries
150 lead would leave Ind in with an even chance
200 would be India 2/3rd chance
and 250 would be near impregnable

[KP_fan]

Rahane and Pujara going on and getting along with their strokes......they will do useful 20s and 30s this way....may be 40s...but eventually they will fall...
BUT
Its the right way....you have to score while there...pure & only survival ain't gonna take you anywhere

[msp83]

So India end the day at 85-2. The old firm of Pujara and Rahane holding the fort after the in-form openers departed without much on the board and India were on the brink of a collapse. Hope they would carry on tomorrow, and post a substantial score...

[KP_fan]

So India end the day at 85-2. The old firm of Pujara and Rahane holding the fort after the in-form openers departed without much on the board and India were on the brink of a collapse. Hope they would carry on tomorrow, and post a substantial score...

They will do brilliant 30s and 40s in what will be a winning cause...and hence cannot be dropped next game either

[msp83]

Pujara was scoring runs when he was proactively looking to score. Same was the case with his 61 and 91 in the England series. Rahane played one absolutely glorious drive and already added 11 bonus runs, that's 11 more than expected of him of late! Don't think 30s and 40s will be enough for them though, particularly if Vihari gets a score, with the skipper set to return for the next game.
But for today, their experience counted, played it the right way after Rahul and Mayank went early.

[Duty281]

Very special effort from Thakur to destroy the South African top order, especially with Siraj injured. Fine comeback.

The old stagers, Pujara and Rahane, have solidified India's position with surprising haste - Pujara 35 off 42! That's his third-highest SR of his test career, in innings of 20 or more runs.

India are in the driving seat, but this is still the type of pitch where a team can lose four wickets for 20 runs and it blows the game wide open, so it's not a done deal yet. If they stretch the lead to over 200, it should be job done.

From a neutral perspective, a chase of 175/180 would be fantastic.

Couple of good test matches being played, a relief after the relative dullness of the Ashes (Boland apart).

[Guest]

Prior to the twenty over World Cup, there was this big South African playing in the Indian cricket league. Why’s he not in the South African side. He was definitely quicker than this Olivier chap. Think his name was Norte?

[KP_fan]

Pujara was scoring runs when he was proactively looking to score. Same was the case with his 61 and 91 in the England series.  

Shows he can bat positively when his a.s.s is on fire

with the skipper set to return for the next game.

Don't be so sure

[Soul Requiem]

Prior to the twenty over World Cup, there was this big South African playing in the Indian cricket league. Why’s he not in the South African side. He was definitely quicker than this Olivier chap. Think his name was Norte?

Anrich Nortje, he's out injured at the time being. He might be quicker than Olivier but I wouldn't say there's a great deal of difference in their wicket taking ability.

[KP_fan]

Now the NZ-BD game starts soon....although I have subscription, its very hard to stay awake thru the night.
I think all 3 possibilities are on the table......pundits ain't considering the 3rd option.....NZ's lower order bats 50 more overs...gets the lead upto 150 and BD crumble in 40 overs to get bowled out chasing 3.75RPO for glory
Outside chance but not zero probability

[Old Man]

I would think Bangladesh has no choice, wins are rare for them vs top tier teams, if there is an opportunity for them to win, they should just go for it. A win will be a famous one, rather die going for gold than wondering.

[Duty281]

I reckon a Bangladesh win is about 90% from here, the draw just over 9%, and NZ's chances nearly zero.

Bangladesh have about 45 overs to take those last five wickets, and they'll have a new ball after 17 overs of the day* plus the Kiwis have a long tail.

*Always good for a fielding side to get a new ball around that time. They get the lift from starting the day v unsettled batsmen, it's time to attack, then a second and greater lift when the new ball arrives in the second hour. Double bubble.

The draw happens if the Kiwis bat long enough and at a good rate. If they bat 60 overs, but only score at 2 per over, that's not good enough - Bangladesh would have 28 overs to chase 138. They have to be proactive and push the score along healthily.

Kiwi win? Can't see it, unless they have Boland bowling! In a forty over chase, incredibly difficult to take ten wickets, especially when they've already bowled 180 or so overs in the match, and Bangladesh can just deadbat to a draw if they lose four/five early.

[Duty281]

Ebadot gets key man Taylor with his second ball. 5/41. A man with a test bowling average that was in the 80s going into this test is pushing his side to victory.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Ebadot gets key man Taylor with his second ball. 5/41. A man with a test bowling average that was in the 80s going into this test is pushing his side to victory.

First five wicket haul by a Bangladeshi seamer in tests since 2013 (!)

[alfie]

Nice of Bangladesh to get this one basically settled in time for the start of the Sydney game

Once Taylor went early there was no way back for NZ. I know Bangladesh have had some significant home wins ; but this as a touring team in very alien conditions has to be their crowning glory in Tests. And a very rare home loss for the WTC champions.

[Duty281]

I can well believe that stat, Olly!

Resistance mopped up with the help of two magnificent catches.

Presuming they chase the 40 this'll be Bangladesh's best test win ever, their first away test win over a highly-ranked side, and will end NZ's long run of home series wins which I think stood at 7*. Monumental upset, the biggest I've seen in many a long day. Delighted for Bangladesh and their supporters, who don't have a lot to cheer...especially in this format!

*8. And ends a 17 match unbeaten run in home tests for NZ.

The key to their victory was the iron discipline their batsmen showed in the 458 score. None of the top eight faced fewer than 50 balls. They dug in and remained steadfast in the periods where NZ cut off the scoring avenues. England could learn a lot from this.

[msp83]

Fabulous win for Bangladesh. Has to be the moment of their test history, so far! Against the World Champions, in their backyard, with their best batter and best all-rounder missing from the lineup, on the back of a terrible year of test cricket, this has to be right up there.

[KP_fan]

Well Done Bangladesh
The team that's improved by Leaps and Bounds in all forms in last 5 years

[msp83]

Pujara and Rahane resumes for India. Pujara starts off with a couple of boundaries... Rahane is a shaky restarter, one of the worst in the world. He survived the first over without drama, lets see what he can do today...

[msp83]

Well Done Bangladesh
The team that's improved by Leaps and Bounds in all forms in last 5 years

They did have a horrible 2021 though, despite the T-20I series win against Australia and New Zealand on crumbling home pitches. And their recent improvements have been based on Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam emerging as fine support for Shakib with the ball, as well as improved home batting.
But this has been truly special, the quicks led from the front though Mehidy did play a role with bat and ball, and the batting really, really stood up, even without Tamim and Shakib.

[msp83]

Pujara just playing out a maiden from Ngidi. Nothing wrong with that, it was a good over... But hope he doesn't suddenly change tempo and lose direction, Pujara. He did that once in England, after motoring along to 40 Outscoring Rohit Sharma by miles, he suddenly went into a blocking mode and eventually got out for 61. Hope he stays positive...

[msp83]

Rahane playing his shots, Launching Jansen over point for 6!

[KP_fan]

Rahane & Pujara have come out determined of play their shots....slash hard......and they have been motoring along
Both look so good when they play their shots...and score while out there.....sooner than later they will play one shot too many  or an edge will go to hand

but 30s and 40s are a job well done

[msp83]

Really good half hour for India, the runs have really flowed. At 122-2, they are sitting a lot more comfortably than at 41-2 with 2 out of form old warhorses in the middle. The 2 have done a good job, South Africa haven't really helped themselves, it has to be said though. The bowling has been pretty ordinary so far on day 3. Should have started with KG and Ngidi, went for Jansen instead did Dean Elgar.

[msp83]

South Africa continue to be poor with the ball in the morning, Rabada now bowling one so short, giving not just Rahane who still went for it, but even wicketkeeper Verreynne no chance!

[msp83]

The line and length medium pace of Duanne Olivier 2.0 now...

[msp83]

The 150 up for India. 50 for Pujara, 50 for Rahane, hundred partnership between the 2. More than 60 in an hour of play on day 3. Its all been India so far. 2 or 3 balls rapping the gloves, one of tose popping up in the air but Markrum and Petersen made a mess of it. Poor lines and poor lengths from South Africans. The pitch is still doing things... India lead by 124...

[msp83]

Rabada strikes for South Africa. Ajinkya Rahane goes, edges behind for a stroke-filled 58. Under the circumstances, its a very good performance from Ajinkya. Has surely got himself another test. But somewhere in his mind, he should be disappointed that he didn't make it a 70 or 80 if not a hundred this time...

[msp83]

Rabada! He has taken out Pujara now. Pujara's review not saving, out LBW for 53. This did seem to be on the card, Pujara had gone into a defensive mindset, and he's gone.
What would Rishabh Pant do now? India by no means in safety lands, leading by 136, with 6 wickets remaining.
South Africa turning their morning around...

[msp83]

Rahane and Pujara helped India escape a potentially disastrous situation. Can Vihari produce something outstanding, make a case for himself wherein the team management can't say no to him?

[KP_fan]

The type of collapse that does happen on this type of pitch has happened...with India losing 3 very quickly
Playing strokes is one thing...what Pant did is irresponsible
neverthless...we needs 20s and 30s from Vihari, Ashwin and Shardul...and 10s from Shami and Bumrah...to get to something decent and safe

[msp83]

Now a 3 ball duck for Rishabh Pant. Rabada singlehandedly bringing his side back into the game. All down to Ashwin and Shardul, how far can they get India to?

[msp83]

Lead goes pass 150. India need at least another 70 80. Where are those runs going to come from? Batting looking a lot more difficult, than when Pujara and Rahane were batting together...

[msp83]

Ashwin goes minutes before lunch, strangled down the legside. Played a couple of good shots, edged a couple, but he's done now.
Lord Shardul will have to deliver with the bat now...
India lead by 157.

[msp83]

India 188-6 at lunch. Match evenly poised at the moment. Will those 50 runs put together by the last 3 wickets for South Africa prove to be the difference?

[Soul Requiem]

Rabada reminds me of Starc in some ways; he can bowl absolute garbage, gifts easy runs and then suddenly bang, bang, bang he rips out the middle order in quick succession.

[msp83]

So Shardul smashed it around for a quick fire 28, and now he's gone. India 225-7, lead by 198.

[msp83]

Vihari not trying to farm strike takes the single first ball, exposing Shami to Rabada. Think he should surely take runs available, but perhaps at the start of the innings for someone like Shami, he could be a bit more careful.

[msp83]

Another one strangled down the leg, Shami gone, Jansen gets the wicket. India lead by 201.

[msp83]

Vihari trying to get a not out against his name here, exposing Bumrah to Rabada, as the fast bowler had a discomforting over against Jansen.

[msp83]

After playing and missing almost everything he has played so far, Bumrah connects one, and he deposits Rabada over the fence

[msp83]

India 245-8, lead up to 218.

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