143 runs in 143.1 overs, when India made the visiting team yearn for every run, one bowler bowled 33 maiden overs

To save the test, South Africa had made a strategy of batting at a very slow pace. Under this, the team scored 143 runs in 143.1 overs at a run rate of 0.99. The interesting thing was that AB de Villiers, a 360-degree player who strokes all around the wicket, scored only 43 runs in 297 balls and Faf du Plessis scored only 10 runs in 97 balls. However, this strategy of the team proved to be a flop. The team was out after scoring 143 runs and had to face a crushing defeat of 337 runs against India. During this, almost all the bowlers of Team India were very economical. This test was special for Ajinkya Rahane in batting and he scored centuries in both the innings.

A cricketer who scored 4 half-centuries and took 3 wickets in the same T20 match has been suspended due to his bowling action.

Only 22 runs were scored in 35 overs in the lunch session on the fifth day
In this test match held between 3 to 7 December 2015, the South African team's extremely defensive strategy in the second innings still remains a mystery. In the two hours of the first session of the last day, the visiting team had scored only 22 runs, out of which 19 runs were scored with the bat. Playing at 72 runs for 2 wickets on the fourth day (72 overs), South Africa's score reached only 94 runs for 3 wickets in 107 overs till lunch on the fifth day. This is the lowest number of runs scored in a session of 30 or more overs till lunch in cricket history.

After Rahane in the first innings, Ashwin became the support of Team India
In this fourth and final Test of the India-South Africa Test series, captain Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bat first. Batting first, the Indian team scored 334 runs in which Ajinkya Rahane contributed the highest 127 runs (215 balls, 11 fours and four sixes), R Ashwin contributed 56 and captain Kohli contributed 44 runs. At one time Team India had lost 7 wickets for 198 runs, but Rahane and Ashwin handled the situation by adding 98 runs for the 8th wicket. Later Ashwin added 38 runs with Umesh Yadav for the 9th wicket and took the team to a score of 334. South Africa's Kyle Abbott took 5 and Dane Piedt took 4 wickets.

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South African team was all out for 121 runs in 49.3 overs.
In reply, the South African batsmen wasted the efforts of the bowlers. In the first innings, the team was reduced to a low score of 121 runs and lost the opportunity to put pressure on Team India. The Indian spin duo – Ravindra Jadeja (5 wickets) and Ashwin (2 wickets) shared 7 wickets among themselves. The special thing was that while struggling against the Indian bowlers, the South African team scored these 121 runs in 49.3 overs.

Rahane also scored a century in the second innings

After gaining a big lead of 213 runs on the basis of the first innings, Team India reached the 'driving seat' on the second day itself. Declaring the second innings on the fourth day of the match at a score of 267 runs for 5 wickets, Team India set a huge target of 481 runs in front of the guests. In this score Ajinkya Rahane Rahane also scored a century in the second innings (100 not out off 206 balls, eight fours and three sixes) while captain Kohli scored 88. During this, Rahane became the fifth Indian batsman after Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli to score a century in both innings of a Test.

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South Africa were overly defensive in the second innings
Due to the presence of strong batsmen like de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Amla, Du Plessis and Duminy in the South African team, fans were expecting a tough fight from South Africa in the second innings. There were more than 140 overs left in the test but contrary to expectations, the team became more defensive and not only suffered a humiliating defeat of 337 runs in the test but also tarnished its reputation. By becoming more defensive, the South African team gave the Indian bowlers a chance to dominate. The team was out after scoring 143 runs in 143.1 overs. Captain Amla scored 25 runs in 289 balls. De Villiers also played 297 balls to score 43 runs while Du Plessis scored 10 runs in 97 balls. According to experts, an excessively defensive approach proved costly for the team. Due to playing very few aggressive shots, the circle of fielders tightened around the batsmen. Ashwin took 5 wickets, Umesh Yadav took 3 and Ravindra Jadeja took 2 wickets to wrap up the South African innings for 143 runs in 143.1 overs. In this analysis of India's 4 key bowlers in the second innings, the impact of the batsmen's excessive defensive attitude was also seen.

Umesh Yadav : 21 -16-9-3
Ravindra Jadeja : 46-33-26-3
Ishant Sharma 20-12-23-0
Ashwin 49.1-26-61-5

The defensive approach of South African batsmen on the slow Kotla wicket was such that out of the 143 overs bowled by India in the second innings, 89 were maidens. Jadeja bowled the most 33 maiden overs while Ashwin bowled 26 and Umesh Yadav bowled 16 maiden overs. The last 5 wickets of the South African team fell with a difference of just 7 runs.

tag: AB de Villiers, Ajinkya Rahane, india vs south africa, Test cricket, Umesh Yadav