Rahane slams ton in both innings

SA struggle to save Delhi Test

AFP,  NEW DELHI: South Africa fought on Sunday to try to save the fourth and final Test after Ajinkya Rahane scored his second century of the match to give India control on the second-last day.
Chasing a highly improbable target of 481, South Africa stonewalled the opposition with some defensive batting, scoring at just a run an over on a slow strip at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi.
At stumps on the fourth day, the Proteas were 72-2 off 72 overs with skipper Hashim Amla on 23 off 207 balls and AB de Villiers unbeaten on a 91-ball 11.
The top-ranked tourists, who have already lost the series 2-0, will need to bat out three full sessions on Monday to snatch a draw and salvage some pride.
A 300-plus target has been chased successfully just once in a Test match on Indian soil — by the home team which made 387-4 to defeat England in Chennai in 2008.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the highest wicket-taker in the series with 28 scalps so far, took 2-29 but the other bowlers were denied any success.
Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav said his team were surprised by the batting tactics.
Amla, who has had a miserable tour, resorted to dead-batting for most of his innings, managing his first run only after facing 46 balls.
The usually flamboyant de Villiers, who has the distinction of scoring the fastest ODI century, also curbed his natural attacking instincts.
In a low-scoring series where no batsman had previously managed to score a hundred, Rahane hit his second ton of the match to help the hosts declare their second innings on 267-5 half an hour before lunch.
He smashed three sixes and eight fours in his unbeaten 100-run knock and shared a 154-run partnership with captain Virat Kohli (88), the highest of the series.

Brief scores

India: 334 & 267/5 dec
S Africa: 121 & 72/2

Rahane slams ton in both innings

SA struggle to save Delhi Test

AFP, NEW DELHI: South Africa fought on Sunday to try to save the fourth and final Test after Ajinkya Rahane scored his second century of the match to give India control on the second-last day. Chasing a highly improbable target of 481, South Africa stonewalled the opposition with some defensive batting, scoring at just a run an over on a slow strip at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi. At stumps on the fourth day, the Proteas were 72-2 off 72 overs with skipper Hashim Amla on 23 off 207 balls and AB de Villiers unbeaten on a 91-ball 11. The top-ranked tourists, who have already lost the series 2-0, will need to bat out three full sessions on Monday to snatch a draw and salvage some pride. A 300-plus target has been chased successfully just once in a Test match on Indian soil by the home team which made 387-4 to defeat England in Chennai in 2008. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the highest wicket-taker in the series with 28 scalps so far, took 2-29 but the other bowlers were denied any success. Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav said his team were surprised by the batting tactics. Amla, who has had a miserable tour, resorted to dead-batting for most of his innings, managing his first run only after facing 46 balls. The usually flamboyant de Villiers, who has the distinction of scoring the fastest ODI century, also curbed his natural attacking instincts. In a low-scoring series where no batsman had previously managed to score a hundred, Rahane hit his second ton of the match to help the hosts declare their second innings on 267-5 half an hour before lunch. He smashed three sixes and eight fours in his unbeaten 100-run knock and shared a 154-run partnership with captain Virat Kohli (88), the highest of the series. Brief scores India: 334 267/5 dec S Africa: 121 72/2