It has become a bit of a rarity in Test cricket recently, but here we were on the fifth day of this incredible battle between India and South Africa.
Petersen and Faf started from where they had left but in the 4th over of the day, Shami Ahmed got the wicket of AN Petersen. The ball kept a touch low and A tame hang of the bat to the back of a length ball outside off stump resulted in an inside edge that cannoned into his stumps. Petersen did not look anywhere near comfortable this morning and both bowlers deserved credit for this wicket for the mix of short and full balls at him. Out came one of South Africa's greatest cricketers, Jacques Kallis to tackle a very difficult situation. The 1st ball was a scare for Kallis as Shami greeted him with an extremely full delivery, which shaped away rather late too. Kallis was playing around his front pad and the movement beat him to strike on the pads, but the impact was outside leg and a loud appeal was denied. But after that Kallis seemed extremely comfortable in front the Indian bowlers who were trying everything to get the experienced seasoned campaigner out. The breakthrough came in the 61st over of the innings as Zaheer Khan got Kallis lbw. It also meant 300 wickets for Zaheer and he waved to the dressing room. Kallis was not too pleased and had all the right to be as there was a big inside edge on that. Zaheer Kept it fullish, got it to jag in and it kept a touch low as well. He couldn't adjust his stroke to that last little thing and had to pay the price. Kallis got out after scoring a quick fire 34 of 37 balls. In came the captain of the ship, AB de Villiers who had to lead by example and help South Africa in securing a draw,at least. There was a big 205 run stand between him and Faf which almost took the Proteas to the footsteps of victory but then came Ishant with a magical delivery to get AB's stumps cleaned up in the 124th over of the innings. AB could notbelieve it as he hung his head and walked back to the pavilion. It was back of a length, just a touch outside off and as he was trying to steer it to third man, the inside edge was taken and cannoned into the stumps. The crowd and his dressing room stood up in acknowledgment of a terrific innings. This meant the arrival of JP Duminy with South Africa at 402/5 , in a strong position to win the match. In the very next over, Duminy's stumps were knocked off of the bowling of Shami Ahmed. Duminy went for the expansive cover drive on the up and the length ball took a thick inside edge and rammed into the stumps. Things thus started to tense up as VD Philander came out to bat. Needing just 16 to win, Faf was on course to see the Proteas through but destiny had something else in place for him. A direct hit from mid-off did the trick for the Indians. It was punched to Rahane who picked up the ball and flayed it down the stumps. Faf divesdfull length and he was found short of his ground. He had nailed that drive and did not deserve to get out on that one. India now needed just three wickets, South Africa needed just 16 runs. Faf looked shellshocked as he went into the dressing room as Steyn walked out. The unexpected happened and the match ended in a draw with a last ball six from Steyn. South Africa was just 8 runs behind what would have been a record breaking victory after 5 enthralling days of cricket.
Next these 2 teams will meet each other in the 2nd and last test of the series on BOXING DAY, The 26th of December.
Petersen and Faf started from where they had left but in the 4th over of the day, Shami Ahmed got the wicket of AN Petersen. The ball kept a touch low and A tame hang of the bat to the back of a length ball outside off stump resulted in an inside edge that cannoned into his stumps. Petersen did not look anywhere near comfortable this morning and both bowlers deserved credit for this wicket for the mix of short and full balls at him. Out came one of South Africa's greatest cricketers, Jacques Kallis to tackle a very difficult situation. The 1st ball was a scare for Kallis as Shami greeted him with an extremely full delivery, which shaped away rather late too. Kallis was playing around his front pad and the movement beat him to strike on the pads, but the impact was outside leg and a loud appeal was denied. But after that Kallis seemed extremely comfortable in front the Indian bowlers who were trying everything to get the experienced seasoned campaigner out. The breakthrough came in the 61st over of the innings as Zaheer Khan got Kallis lbw. It also meant 300 wickets for Zaheer and he waved to the dressing room. Kallis was not too pleased and had all the right to be as there was a big inside edge on that. Zaheer Kept it fullish, got it to jag in and it kept a touch low as well. He couldn't adjust his stroke to that last little thing and had to pay the price. Kallis got out after scoring a quick fire 34 of 37 balls. In came the captain of the ship, AB de Villiers who had to lead by example and help South Africa in securing a draw,at least. There was a big 205 run stand between him and Faf which almost took the Proteas to the footsteps of victory but then came Ishant with a magical delivery to get AB's stumps cleaned up in the 124th over of the innings. AB could notbelieve it as he hung his head and walked back to the pavilion. It was back of a length, just a touch outside off and as he was trying to steer it to third man, the inside edge was taken and cannoned into the stumps. The crowd and his dressing room stood up in acknowledgment of a terrific innings. This meant the arrival of JP Duminy with South Africa at 402/5 , in a strong position to win the match. In the very next over, Duminy's stumps were knocked off of the bowling of Shami Ahmed. Duminy went for the expansive cover drive on the up and the length ball took a thick inside edge and rammed into the stumps. Things thus started to tense up as VD Philander came out to bat. Needing just 16 to win, Faf was on course to see the Proteas through but destiny had something else in place for him. A direct hit from mid-off did the trick for the Indians. It was punched to Rahane who picked up the ball and flayed it down the stumps. Faf divesdfull length and he was found short of his ground. He had nailed that drive and did not deserve to get out on that one. India now needed just three wickets, South Africa needed just 16 runs. Faf looked shellshocked as he went into the dressing room as Steyn walked out. The unexpected happened and the match ended in a draw with a last ball six from Steyn. South Africa was just 8 runs behind what would have been a record breaking victory after 5 enthralling days of cricket.
Next these 2 teams will meet each other in the 2nd and last test of the series on BOXING DAY, The 26th of December.
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