Kolkata, February 18: Ishant Sharma finally broke the stubborn resistance of Wayne Parnell by removing him for 22. His wicket brought the downfall of a dangerous-looking 70-run partnership between Amla and Parnell.
The wicket was very crucial as these two stayed put for almost 30 overs and continued to frustrate India.
Hashim Amla continued his rich form in Indian soil as he scored a fighting century under testing condition to keep India at bay on the final day. Amla’s gritty knock came from 268 balls with 13 hits to the fence. It’s his valiant efforts that prevented India from wrapping up the crucial End Test match. South Africa went into tea at 250/7.
Harbhajan Singh inflicted seventh blow on the South African camp by removing Dale Steyn for just one. Hashim Amla, though, stood there and fighting out Indian spinners single-handedly and continued to prove thorn in the flesh for India.
India took 6th South African wicket when Harbhajan Singh produced a peach of a delivery to remove J P Duminy for 6. Duminy, trying to play on the backfoot, was found plumb in front of the wicket. The wicket left South Africa tottering at 174/6.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra gave India their fifth breakthrough, 2nd of the morning session, by removing A B de Villiers for just 3. South Africa went into lunch at 164/5 with Hashim Amla steady as ever on 68 while JP Duminy yet to open his account.
Finally, India got the first South African wicket in the morning as Harbhajan Singh removed Ashwell Prince by inducing a false shot from the southpaw.
Prince, though made only 23 runs, forged an important 47-run stand with Hashim Amla which helped South Africans keep the Indians at bay for almost two hours in the morning session.
Hashim Amla and Ashwell Prince continued to frustrate Indians as they keep defying the Indian bowlers during the morning session. Hashim Amla, who is the highest run scorer in the series, in particular, had no problem in negotiating the opposition bowlers.
M S Dhoni used as many as four bowlers, including part-timer Virender Sehwag, but no one got the breakthrough. Paceman Ishant Sharma could not compensate the absence of pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and wasted both time and energy by bowling too far outside the off stumps.
Hashim Amla continued his rich form in India as he scored yet another half-century to keep India at bay on the Day 5 of the 2nd cricket Test here on Thursday.
Unlike yesterday, weather improved drastically with in Kolkata and provided an ideal playing condition, a sunny morning, for the battle for number one status in Test cricket.
Scorecard: India Vs South Africa »
Amla, in company with Ashwell Prince, negated the Indian bowlers, which looked little fragile with the absence of Zaheer Khan, who did not take to the field today due to injury in the morning session.
Amla took 90 balls to reach his fifty with the help of 7 fours.
Earlier on Wednesday, India’s aspirations of retaining the number one ranking in Tests were left hanging in face of adverse weather conditions at Kolkata, where, after numerous interruptions, fourth day’s play was eventually called off with South Africa struggling at 115/3, still 226 runs adrift.
With just one day left in the match, South Africa, in their second innings, need to survive the whole of Thursday to save the Test match, win the series and dethrone India from the number one ranking.
Before the final decisive interruption, the play was earlier stopped when South Africans were 111/3.
Just before the rain-interruption, Amit Mishra had broken through Jacques Kallis’ defense, which was India’s giant leap towards the victory bid.
-Agencies