THE LONG WAIT CONTINUES

India Fail To Conquer ‘Final Frontier’ As Petersen’s Poise, Dropped Chances Enable South Africa To Win Third Test, Clinch Series 2-1

- K.ShriniwasRao

India’s best chance to win in South Africa turned into their worst nightmare. They began the three-Test series in style in Centurion but failed to keep that momentum going. The result? Kohli & Co have lost 1-2 and a golden opportunity to announce their dominance in the only country where India have never won a Test series.

The glorious Table Mountain instead stayed witness to how a young and relatively inexperienced South African team stamped its authority in style on Day Four of the final Test at Newlands on Friday afternoon. Under a clear sky, chasing 212 for victory, they won the Test by seven wickets and with an air of absolute brilliance.

Keegan Petersen, a South African ‘KP’ who’s theirs to keep, led from the front. Precariously placed at 101-2, and with the ball still new, the hosts began Day Four on a cautious note. There was enough bounce in the wicket and chances kept getting created.

Luck deserted India and the rest was consumed by Petersen’s elegant and determined 113-ball 82. He shuffled at the crease, saw a sitter get dropped in the slips by Pujara off a tireless Jasprit Bumrah and came extremely close to edging the moving ball.

But he stayed on. And the moment he found the space to settle, some glorious drives, punched on the front and backfoot, gradually took the session, day and match away from the visitors. Petersen eventually left and Temba Bavuma walked in to finish off the game with Rassie van der Dussen in style.