- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR93.6 Rabada has Rahul caught down the leg side. Chest-high short ball from Rabada, keeps climbing and angling down the leg side, cramping the batter. Rahul hooks - not a full-blooded hook though - and can only tickle it behind to de Kock. Another smart grab from the keeper. Early breakthrough for SA on day three and Rabada is pumped 278/440.2 huge appeal for lbw and Elgar reviews again. Once again, it may be a poor one. Let's take a look. This is good length, sliding in from a middle stump line and hitting Mayank on the knee roll in front of leg stump. He was caught deep in the crease trying to push at this and was beaten on the inside edge. This is almost definitely missing leg. We await ball tracking. "Can we get on with it?" screams someone - not sure if that was stump mic or from the third umpire's box. Oh wait! Elgar's got it right! Apologies to him. And well done too, I suppose. Tracking has this clipping the top of leg. South Africa have the wicket they desperately needed. Mayank is shaking his head aggressively as he walks off. Against the run of play, he is gone after a solid innings. In the dressing room, he has his hands on his hips and his helmet still on. South Africa thought about this for a bit before the review, and ultimately they've been proven right 117/140.3 and he has another! Ngidi has turned this innings around! South Africa were hesitant to attack the stumps all of the first session, but it is working wonders for them. Ngidi slants this in on a good length. Pujara lunges forward to defend and gets a thick inside edge onto his thigh pad. Keegan at short leg is pretty far back, and ultimately placed in the perfect position by Elgar. This bobs up, he strides in and stretches forward to take it 117/268.2 taken at first slip! It's three for Ngidi. I said earlier that Kohli fancies himself if he's chasing wide outside off for his favoured cover drive. He fancied his chances with this one too, but Ngidi has managed to get late swing away. It's a good length ball, very very wide outside off and swinging away too. Kohli makes a big shuffle across and swishes at that, and it's a pretty easy catch at first slip. Thin line between glorious and shocking when Kohli attempts that shot. Ngidi has made the best of it 199/396.4 Ngidi finds extra bounce and has Rahane nicking off. Both the set batters are gone. Kicks up from a back of a length and zipping away outside off. Rahane throws his hands at a punch and edges it behind to the keeper. He falls two short of a half-century 291/598.2 Caught at short leg. Ngidi celebrates a five-wicket haul. Ngidi digs it in short, attacks the body of Pant. Cramps him up. Pant fends and inside-edges it onto his pad. The ball then lobs up to Rassie at short leg. Charl Langeveldt is up on his feet in the SA change room, applauding Ngidi's effort 296/797.4 Rabada draws a leading edge which plops into the hands of Maharaj. Back of a length and slanting into middle and leg, Ashwin aims to work it into the leg side but closes the bat-face a bit early and offers a simple catch to short cover. SA are storming back into the contest through Rabada and Ngidi 296/699.6 India's procession continues on the third morning. Full and Rabada shifts his line wide of off. Thakur flashes at another big drive, this time he can only nick it behind to de Kock 304/8100.5 Sixth wicket for Ngidi. Back of a length and outside off, Shami winds up and aims to slog it over the leg side. Instead, he can only send an outside edge to the right of de Kock 308/9105.3 maiden Test wicket for Jansen. Short of length outside off, Bumrah looks to steer it square of the wicket but ends up hitting it to the right of third slip. Catching practice for Mulder, who dives and takes it with both hands 327/10Extras19 (b 4, lb 4, nb 11)TOTAL327 all out (105.3 Overs, RR: 3.09)Fall of wickets: 1-117 (Mayank Agarawal, 40.2 ov), 2-117 (Cheteshwar Pujara, 40.3 ov), 3-199 (Virat Kohli, 68.2 ov), 4-278 (KL Rahul, 93.6 ov), 5-291 (Ajinkya Rahane, 96.4 ov), 6-296 (Ravichandran Ashwin, 97.4 ov), 7-296 (Rishabh Pant, 98.2 ov), 8-304 (Shardul Thakur, 99.6 ov), 9-308 (Mohammed Shami, 100.5 ov), 10-327 (Jasprit Bumrah, 105.3 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB K Rabada 26 5 72 3 2.76 0 11 L Ngidi 24 5 71 6 2.95 0 0 M Jansen 18.3 4 69 1 3.72 0 0 PWA Mulder 19 4 49 0 2.57 0 0 KA Maharaj 18 2 58 0 3.22 0 0
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR0.5 and Bumrah snares the first one! A length ball at 133kph, angling across the left-hander. Elgar was stuck at the crease. Looks to slice-defend it but only manages an outside edge, Pant takes a smart catch to his left 2/111.5 Shami bests Markram. Hits the top of off. Cracking delivery from Shami. On a length, threatens to come in with the angle but seams away late to open up the batter, beat the outside edge and hit the top of off 30/37.3 Shami has Petersen chopping on with the third ball after lunch. Shami pushes it fuller and it seams back into Petersen. The crease-bound batter drives loosely and plays it on via an inside edge 25/212.5 edged again, taken low this time by Rahane. On a length and nipping away outside off, Rassie jabs at it away from the body and sends an outside edge to gully, where Rahane snags a sharp, low catch. CR7 celebration from Siraj. He's pumped 32/446.4 Fifty and out as Shami strikes again for India. On the fuller side of a good length and nips away slightly. Bavuma hangs his bat out before belatedly pulling it inside the line. Shami snags the outside edge and Pant pouches a simple catch. Wicket no.4 for Shami this game and his 199th Test wicket overall 144/734.1 Chopped on! A length ball angling in, de Kock was looking to dab it towards third man but manages only an inside edge that crashes into the stumps. He is angry with himself 104/542.6 Shami thanks he has his man and Mulder has been given out. Full tempter outside off from Shami. Mulder shelved the big drive last over, but this time he goes for it and just nicks it behind to Pant 133/656.6 an appeal for lbw and given. Jansen has sent this upstairs. A length ball around off, Jansen looks to defend but ends up playing inside the line and gets hit on the back leg. There is not bat involved. And it hit him just above the knee. The impact is umpire's call and it would have gone on to hit the off stump. So the on-field call remains as it is and India have got the breakthrough 181/861.5 200th Test wickets for Shami. Also, completes the five-wicket haul. A length ball just outside off. Rabada hangs his bat out, gets an outside edge and Pant takes the catch behind the stumps 193/962.3 taken at third man, Rahane there. Short of length outside off, Maharaj goes for the cut but fails to control it. Ends up hitting it aerially and behind the stumps. An easy catch for Rahane 197/10Extras11 (lb 4, nb 7)TOTAL197 all out (62.3 Overs, RR: 3.15)Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Dean Elgar, 0.5 ov), 2-25 (Keegan Petersen, 7.3 ov), 3-30 (Aiden Markram, 11.5 ov), 4-32 (Rassie van der Dussen, 12.5 ov), 5-104 (Quinton de Kock, 34.1 ov), 6-133 (Wiaan Mulder, 42.6 ov), 7-144 (Temba Bavuma, 46.4 ov), 8-181 (Marco Jansen, 56.6 ov), 9-193 (Kagiso Rabada, 61.5 ov), 10-197 (Keshav Maharaj, 62.3 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB JJ Bumrah 7.2 2 16 2 2.18 0 0 Mohammed Siraj 15.1 3 45 1 2.96 0 1 Mohammed Shami 16 5 44 5 2.75 0 0 SN Thakur 11 1 51 2 4.63 0 6 R Ashwin 13 2 37 0 2.84 0 0
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR22.3 slashed at one outside off and he's caught at first slip. Maybe that blow he copped played a part in the lapse of concentration. Good length outside off, Rahul goes at it with only hands, gets a healthy edge that Elgar holds in front of his face. He's shaking his head as he walks back, clearly unhappy with the shot. 54/35.1 and he strikes straightaway, a length ball angling across , Agarwal hangs his bat out, gets an outside edge and de Kock makes no mistake 12/112.5 edged and taken. They get the nightwatchman finally. This one rears off a length, Thakur has committed to defending, and it holds its line to slightly square him up and take the shoulder of the bat for a catch to the right of third slip 34/237.1 that's an unlucky dismissal. This is the kind of thing that happens when you are going through a rough patch. Half-volley, down the leg side, you want to glance it, but this is so far down the leg side that he has to reach out. All he manages is an edge through to de Kock 109/532.1 out first ball. Another loose drive away from the body. To be fair to him, this is there for the drive, full and not too far wide outside off. He seems to be playing for the swing, but the ball goes on with the angle and takes the edge through to de Kock 79/438.5 he played the full-blooded hook last over but this time he has played the half-cock hook that has had him in trouble against New Zealand too. He rolls the wrists down to try to control it from chest height, and this is still going up from the tall Jansen. You can't keep them down from that height. And that's what happens. He holes out to deep square leg 111/647.3 he's got him now. Another short ball, this one is banged in outside off though and Pant was skipping down the track, caught in two minds whether to go for the pull or not, ends up too late to pull out and the ball lobs up to wide mid-on off the toe-end with his bat hanging over his shoulder. Fine little innings by Pant. Selflessly went for runs and got a fair bit of them too 166/845.1 another ripsnorter, given again, and Ashwin has reviewed it again. This has lifted up from just short of a length, and at high pace. Nips in too. Ashwin has to throw up his bat in self defence, and the ball flies off the arm guard to gully. However, on the way to the arm guard, it has also kissed the top of the handle of the bat. Ashwin has to walk back this time 146/749.2 and he's caught at third slip off a leading edge. Fourth for Rabada, who shows a remarkable lack of celebration and just walks back to his mark. This was a length ball pitched on the stumps, straightened a touch as Shami was looking to work it through midwicket. Leading edge flies off the closed bat face for a simple catch 169/950.3 stumps shattered. Jansen does what Rabada just about failed to do. Siraj was always going to back away and swing his bat, Jansen just keeps it full, fast and on middle stump. Siraj swinging bat more in hope than conviction, nowhere near the ball as it homes in on the stumps. 174/10Extras27 (b 17, lb 4, nb 6)TOTAL174 all out (50.3 Overs, RR: 3.44)Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Mayank Agarawal, 5.1 ov), 2-34 (Shardul Thakur, 12.5 ov), 3-54 (KL Rahul, 22.3 ov), 4-79 (Virat Kohli, 32.1 ov), 5-109 (Cheteshwar Pujara, 37.1 ov), 6-111 (Ajinkya Rahane, 38.5 ov), 7-146 (Ravichandran Ashwin, 45.1 ov), 8-166 (Rishabh Pant, 47.3 ov), 9-169 (Mohammed Shami, 49.2 ov), 10-174 (Mohammed Siraj, 50.3 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB K Rabada 17 4 42 4 2.47 0 6 L Ngidi 10 2 31 2 3.10 0 0 M Jansen 13.3 4 55 4 4.07 0 0 PWA Mulder 10 4 25 0 2.50 0 0
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR1.3 castled. Shami is relentless. Got the batter's mind all scrambled with the first two balls and keeps this one within whispering distance of off stump. Markram was shaping to play it, decided too late he could leave it, but couldn't get the bat out of the way in time. Ball hits inside edge and ricochets onto stumps. 1/150.5 trapped lbw. Elgar reviews it with more hope than conviction. A length ball that nipped in from outside off. Elgar was on the back foot, looking to flick it away but missed and got hit on the outside of his front pad. The impact was in front of middle and leg and it would have gone on to crash into the leg stump. A big breakthrough for India 130/514.1 no doubt this time. This is excellent bowling. Really high-quality examination of batters' technique and decision-making. Siraj nipped the last ball back a long way, and this time goes for the full outswinger. Petersen is possibly in the mode of playing everything because of that big nip back in. So he pushes at this, and it takes the edge to Pant 34/236.4 corker. There is absolutely nothing a batter can do about that. That is a Bumrah special. Length ball outside off from wide of the crease and it cuts back in as if taking a sharp right at a traffic light, RvD has front foot out, he thinks he has the line covered and shoulders arms, but the ball knocks back the top of off stump. Whew. 74/340.5 yorked him. South Africa will not go into stumps with the nightwatchman standing. This is a proper Bumrah trademark heat-seeker. Yorker tails into him and most batters are not going to be able to get bat down in time to keep that out. Maharaj is not even a top order batter, stood no chance. Stumps splayed. And that will be stumps. 94/459.3 Siraj has de Kock chopping on. Back of a length and jags back in from outside off with the angle, de Kock throws his hands at a cut and gets castled via an inside edge. He plays on for the second time this game. India are four away from victory 161/660.2 Mulder feathers it behind for 1. Another top ball from Shami. The seam is bolt upright as the ball leaves Shami's hand. On a fuller side of a good length, starts just outside off and straightening away to take the outside edge and settle into the gloves of Pant 164/766.5 this time Shami gets an outside edge. Pant does the rest, gets to low to his right to pouch it. It was similar to the last delivery, on a good length around fourth stump. Jansen comes forward to defend but manages only an outside edge. India two away now 190/867.5 tossed up, slower through the air, shorter in length as well. Rabada once again goes for the drive. Once again he gets the outside edge and this time it loops to the backward point fielder 191/967.6 and it's all over. Tossed up around off, spinning in. Ngidi pushes at it, gets an inside edge and Pujara accepts it gleefully at leg slip. (And no, Ashwin will not be on a hat-trick in the next Test) 191/10Extras7 (lb 2, nb 5)TOTAL191 all out (68 Overs, RR: 2.8)Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Aiden Markram, 1.3 ov), 2-34 (Keegan Petersen, 14.1 ov), 3-74 (Rassie van der Dussen, 36.4 ov), 4-94 (Keshav Maharaj, 40.5 ov), 5-130 (Dean Elgar, 50.5 ov), 6-161 (Quinton de Kock, 59.3 ov), 7-164 (Wiaan Mulder, 60.2 ov), 8-190 (Marco Jansen, 66.5 ov), 9-191 (Kagiso Rabada, 67.5 ov), 10-191 (Lungi Ngidi, 67.6 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB JJ Bumrah 19 4 50 3 2.63 0 2 Mohammed Shami 17 3 63 3 3.70 0 1 Mohammed Siraj 18 5 47 2 2.61 0 0 SN Thakur 5 0 11 0 2.20 0 2 R Ashwin 9 2 18 2 2.00 0 0
Match Details
Toss
India , elected to bat first
Player Of The Match
Series result
India led the 3-match series 1-0
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
10.00 start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 15.10-15.30, Close 17.30
Match days
26,27,28,29,30 December 2021 (5-day match)
Test debut
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Points
India 11, South Africa 0
Close of Play
- Sun, 26 Dec - day 1 - India 1st innings 272/3 (KL Rahul 122*, AM Rahane 40*, 90 ov)
- Mon, 27 Dec - day 2 - no play
- Tue, 28 Dec - day 3 - India 2nd innings 16/1 (KL Rahul 5*, SN Thakur 4*, 6 ov)
- Wed, 29 Dec - day 4 - South Africa 2nd innings 94/4 (D Elgar 52*, 40.5 ov)
- Thu, 30 Dec - day 5 - South Africa 2nd innings 191 (68 ov) - end of match
Match Notes
- South Africa: 100 runs in 41.4 overs (255 balls), Extras 6
- Over 50.5: Review by South Africa (Batting), Umpire - AT Holdstock, Batter - D Elgar (Struck down)
- Drinks: South Africa - 138/5 in 54.0 overs (T Bavuma 15, Q de Kock 3)
- South Africa: 150 runs in 55.1 overs (336 balls), Extras 6
- Lunch: South Africa - 182/7 in 66.0 overs (T Bavuma 34, M Jansen 5)
- India have been docked one ICC World Test Championship points, for maintaining a slow over-rate
- Over 7.5: Review by South Africa (Bowling), Umpire - AT Holdstock, Batter - SN Thakur (Struck down)
- India: 50 runs in 18.3 overs (115 balls), Extras 10
- Drinks: India - 50/2 in 20.0 overs (KL Rahul 19, CA Pujara 7)
- Over 28.3: Review by South Africa (Bowling), Umpire - M Erasmus, Batter - V Kohli (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- Lunch: India - 79/3 in 32.0 overs (CA Pujara 12, V Kohli 18)
- India: 100 runs in 36.4 overs (225 balls), Extras 18
- Over 43.5: Review by India (Batting), Umpire - AT Holdstock, Batter - R Ashwin (Upheld)
- Over 45.1: Review by India (Batting), Umpire - AT Holdstock, Batter - R Ashwin (Struck down)
- India: 150 runs in 45.1 overs (277 balls), Extras 27
- Drinks: India - 151/7 in 46.0 overs (RR Pant 19, Mohammed Shami 0)
- Innings Break: India - 174/10 in 50.3 overs (JJ Bumrah 7)
- South Africa 2nd innings
- Tea: South Africa - 22/1 in 9.0 overs (D Elgar 9, KD Petersen 12)
- Over 12.6: Review by India (Bowling), Umpire - AT Holdstock, Batter - KD Petersen (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- South Africa: 50 runs in 19.1 overs (115 balls), Extras 0
- Drinks: South Africa - 59/2 in 25.0 overs (D Elgar 31, HE van der Dussen 9)
- D Elgar: 50 off 121 balls (7 x 4)
- End Of Day: South Africa - 94/4 in 40.5 overs (D Elgar 52)
- India: 300 runs in 98.4 overs (602 balls), Extras 18
- Drinks: India - 308/9 in 100.5 overs (JJ Bumrah 0)
- Innings Break: India - 327/10 in 105.3 overs (Mohammed Siraj 4)
- South Africa 1st innings
- Lunch: South Africa - 21/1 in 7.0 overs (AK Markram 9, KD Petersen 11)
- South Africa: 50 runs in 19.1 overs (117 balls), Extras 3
- Drinks: South Africa - 61/4 in 21.0 overs (T Bavuma 16, Q de Kock 8)
- 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 92 balls (T Bavuma 25, Q de Kock 19, Ex 7)
- South Africa: 100 runs in 31.1 overs (193 balls), Extras 7
- Over 33.5: Review by India (Bowling), Umpire - M Erasmus, Batter - T Bavuma (Struck down)
- Tea: South Africa - 109/5 in 38.0 overs (T Bavuma 31, PWA Mulder 4)
- T Bavuma: 50 off 101 balls (10 x 4)
- South Africa: 150 runs in 48.3 overs (298 balls), Extras 9
- Drinks: South Africa - 177/7 in 55.4 overs (M Jansen 15, K Rabada 23)
- Over 56.6: Review by South Africa (Batting), Umpire - AT Holdstock, Batter - M Jansen (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- Innings Break: South Africa - 197/10 in 62.3 overs (L Ngidi 0)
- India 2nd innings
- End Of Day: India - 16/1 in 6.0 overs (KL Rahul 5, SN Thakur 4)
- Rain: India - 272/3 in 90.0 overs (KL Rahul 122, AM Rahane 40)
- Wet Ground: India - 272/3 in 90.0 overs (KL Rahul 122, AM Rahane 40)
- Rain: India - 272/3 in 90.0 overs (KL Rahul 122, AM Rahane 40)
- Lunch: India - 272/3 in 90.0 overs (KL Rahul 122, AM Rahane 40)
- Wet Ground: India - 272/3 in 90.0 overs (KL Rahul 122, AM Rahane 40)
- Rain: India - 272/3 in 90.0 overs (KL Rahul 122, AM Rahane 40)
- End Of Day: India - 272/3 in 90.0 overs (KL Rahul 122, AM Rahane 40)
- India 1st innings
- Over 4.4: Review by South Africa (Bowling), Umpire - M Erasmus, Batter - KL Rahul (Struck down)
- Drinks: India - 42/0 in 14.0 overs (KL Rahul 16, MA Agarwal 26)
- India: 50 runs in 17.3 overs (105 balls), Extras 0
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 105 balls (KL Rahul 16, MA Agarwal 36, Ex 0)
- Lunch: India - 83/0 in 28.0 overs (KL Rahul 29, MA Agarwal 46)
- MA Agarwal: 50 off 89 balls (8 x 4)
- India: 100 runs in 34.2 overs (208 balls), Extras 10
- 1st Wicket: 100 runs in 208 balls (KL Rahul 34, MA Agarwal 56, Ex 10)
- Over 40.2: Review by South Africa (Bowling), Umpire - M Erasmus, Batter - MA Agarwal (Upheld)
- Drinks: India - 117/2 in 40.3 overs (KL Rahul 47)
- KL Rahul: 50 off 127 balls (9 x 4)
- India: 150 runs in 55.1 overs (333 balls), Extras 10
- Tea: India - 157/2 in 57.0 overs (KL Rahul 68, V Kohli 19)
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 118 balls (KL Rahul 25, V Kohli 25, Ex 0)
- India: 200 runs in 68.4 overs (418 balls), Extras 14
- Drinks: India - 222/3 in 74.0 overs (KL Rahul 96, AM Rahane 17)
- KL Rahul: 100 off 218 balls (14 x 4, 1 x 6)
- New ball taken at 80.4 overs
- India: 250 runs in 80.4 overs (490 balls), Extras 14
- 4th Wicket: 50 runs in 74 balls (KL Rahul 20, AM Rahane 32, Ex 0)
- End Of Day: India - 272/3 in 90.0 overs (KL Rahul 122, AM Rahane 40)
Match Coverage
All Match NewsKL Rahul, Lungi Ngidi rise in ICC rankings after Centurion face-off
Shami, Bavuma, Bumrah, Agarwal and Elgar also move up in the latest update
India docked one WTC point for over-rate offence in Centurion Test
Team also fined 20% of match fee for the offence
Stats - Quinton de Kock has been one of South Africa's - and the game's - finest wicketkeeper-batters
With the bat and behind the stumps, the South African put up some outstanding numbers
Two kinds of Jasprit Bumrah magic
One was an intended bit of magic, while the other was a reward from the cricketing gods
Joy of defensive game key to KL Rahul's Centurion success
Since being dropped from the Indian Test side after a poor run, the opener has stormed back to form