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Day 1 report: Ajinkya Rahane (89 not out) led a spirited fightback as India battled their way to 231/7 after off-spinner Dane Piedt struck crucial blows for South Africa on the opening day of their fourth and final cricket Test at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium here on Thursday. Piedt - playing only his second Test and the first in this series - bowled well on the slow pitch to return figures of 4/101. Pacer Kyle Abbott also did well, claiming the wicket of the in-form Cheteshwar Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha and Ravindra Jadeja for figures of 3/23. [caption id=“attachment_2532252” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Ajinkya Rahane. AFP[/caption] India could have been in more trouble but for South Africa captain Hashim Amla, who dropped Rohit Sharma and Rahane while fielding in the slips. Rahane stood tall among the ruins even as wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end. Dropped by Amla while batting on 78, he made full use of the reprieve to be unbeaten on 89 with nine boundaries and a couple of sixes. This was Rahane’s eighth half-century in Test cricket. He was involved in two crucial partnerships – a 70-run stand with captain Virat Kohli and a 61-run duet with Ravindra Jadeja (24) – to help the hosts reach a respectable position at stumps. Kohli (44) and opener Shikhar Dhawan (33) also batted well before being dismissed by Piedt. Struggling at 139/6 going into the tea break, the Indians made a recovery of sorts in the final session of the day, putting on 92 runs for the loss of Jadeja’s wicket. Ravichandran Ashwin was batting on six at the other end when bad light forced the umpires to call off the day’s play. Opting to bat after winning the toss, India were off to a slow start with South African pacers Morne Morkel and Abbott keeping a tight line. Indian openers Murali Vijay and Dhawan struggled to negotiate the nagging line and length, inching their way to 29 in the first 15 overs. Vijay was lucky to get a reprieve on a personal score of 10 when he nicked an outgoing delivery from Abott to AB de Villiers at second slip which was adjudged to be a no-ball. The Tamil Nadu batsman suffered a nasty blow when he was surprised by the extra bounce of an Abbott delivery. The ball reared up from around the good length spot and brushed his gloves before hitting Vijay on the abdomen. Piedt gave the visitors the breakthrough when Vijay edged one to Amla in the slips. Dhawan, who has struggled throughout the series, was in much better form on the day. The left-hander hit four boundaries, including an elegant drive through the covers off Morkel. Pujara, one of the most successful Indian batsmen in this series, continued his fine form at the other end. A bit cautious at the start of his knock, Pujara grew more confident as the innings wore on, smashing a full toss from leg-spinner Imran Tahir for a six in the last over before lunch. The Proteas struck decisive blows almost immediately after lunch, removing Dhawan and Pujara in consecutive overs. Piedt trapped Dhawan leg before with one that turned sharply before hitting the Delhi batsman on his pads in front of off and middle. Pujara, who seemed set for a big knock, was sent back to the pavilion in the very next over by a superb delivery from Abbott. The South African pacer produced an incoming delivery from a fullish length which pierced the gap between bat and pad before hitting the off-stump. Kohli and Rahane then came together to try and steady the boat. The duo were aided by the slow turn of the pitch which allowed them to adjust and play their shots. It was Piedt who again struck a crucial blow for the visitors when he sent Kohli back to the pavilion. Kohli produced a powerful sweep which hit Temba Bavuma at short leg and went up in the air. Wickekeeper Dane Vilas came rushing from behind the stumps and dived to make the catch. Abbott was unlucky not to dismiss Rohit Sharma when the Mumbai batsman – who was yet to open his account at the time – edged an outgoing delivery which was dropped by Amla in the slips. But the Proteas did not have to wait too long for their next wicket as in the very next ball that he faced, Rohit hit a skier off Piedt to Tahir at long on. Abbott struck with the final ball before the tea break, reversing the ball into Wriddhiman Saha. The Indian wicketkeeper was beaten by the pace and movement as the ball pierced his defence before taking out the stumps. Later, Jadeja joined hands with Rahane to drive India’s recovery. IANS
India vs South Africa 4th Test, day 2 as it happened: Jadeja five-for destroys South Africa after Rahane ton
Live scores and updates of day 2 of the fourth Test between India and South Africa in Delhi.
 "India vs South Africa 4th Test, day 2 as it happened: Jadeja five-for destroys South Africa after Rahane ton")
South Africa all out. Will Kohli enforce follow on? Join @cricketwallah as soon as the play ends at Kotla #IndvsSA https://t.co/BSu5W31pQh
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 4, 2015
South Africa all out for 121!
Tahir is the last man out. He goes for a slog sweep but gets a top edge, KL Rahul (sub) at deep mid-wicket at first misjudges it but then recovers well to pouch a diving catch. Ashwin takes that wicket. Jadeja finished with figured of 5/30.
After 48 overs South Africa 120/9 (Morkel 8, Tahir 1)
Tahir somehow survives that over. A maiden from Jadeja.
After 47 overs South Africa 120/9 (Morkel 8, Tahir 1)
Tahir gets a lifeline in that over. He goes for a slog sweep but gets a top edge, Kohli runs behind but fluffs it. Two runs off the over.
After 47 overs South Africa 118/9 (Morkel 8, Tahir 1)
Two runs and a wicket of De Villiers in that over.
OUT! Jadeja gets a five-for. South Africa’s last hope. – De Villiers – departs. AB de Villiers c I Sharma b Jadeja 42 (78b 5×4 0x6)
It’s full outside off, turns away a touch. De Villiers chips down the track and looks to go downtown but gets outside half of the bat, Ishant serrles under the swirling ball at long off and takes a very good catch away fromt eh body keeping perfect balance.
Imran Tahir is the last man in.
After 46 overs South Africa 116/8 (De Villiers 41, Morkel 6)
Ashwin missing his lengths on a couple of occasions in that over. Morkel flicks them for a couple and three respecively. De Villiers then guides a straighter one wide of first slip for a single. Ashwin then beats Morkel with a beautiful off spinner. 6 runs off the over.
After 45 overs South Africa 110/8 (De Villiers 41, Morkel 1)
De Villiers smashes a slog sweep and it hits Rohit’s leg and dies down. A couple of more singles make it two runs off the over. Jadeja then beats De Villiers with one turns away sharply.
After 44 overs South Africa 108/8 (De Villiers 39, Morkel 0)
A rare bad ball from Ashwin in that over, he sprays it down the leg side and it runs away for four byes. A single more makes it 5 runs off the over.
After 43 overs South Africa 103/8 (De Villiers 38, Morkel 0)
Jadeja nearly had a couple of wicket in that over. He bows a ripper which turns, bounces and flies inches wide of Piedt’s outside edge, the keeper gets a glove to it and they get a bye. De Villiers then gets an inside edge which flies inches wide of the short leg fielder. Jadeja finally gets Piedt off the penultimate ball of the over. 3 runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! Jadeja had to get a wicket in that over! He has Piedt. DL Piedt c Rahane b Jadeja 5 (18b 0x4 0x6)
It’s full outside off, spinning away. Piedt leans forward for a drive but gets an outside edge to first slip where Rahane accepts a simple catch.
Morne Morkel is the new batsman.
After 42 overs South Africa 100/7 (De Villiers 36, Piedt 5)
Ashwin tossed them up nicely in that over. Piedt, however, was solid in his defense. A maiden.
After 41 overs South Africa 100/7 (De Villiers 36, Piedt 5)
A tight over from Jadeja. Two singles off it. 100 comes up for South Africa.
After 40 overs South Africa 98/7 (De Villiers 35, Piedt 4)
De Villiers with a couple of crisp drives in that over which fetches him a couple and a single. De Villiers then attempts a reverse sweep, the backward point fielder does well to make the stop. Four runs off the over.
After 39 overs South Africa 94/7 (De Villiers 34, Piedt 1)
De Villiers is again fighting a lone battle. H smashes one through cover-point for a boundary. And then again follows up with the same shot to hit consecutive fours.
SA showing how hard it is to be consistent while rebuilding a team. Take out one too many pieces and whole thing falls apart. #IndvsSA
— . (@mikejakeman) December 4, 2015
After 38 overs South Africa 84/7 (De Villiers 25, Piedt 0)
A successful over from Ashwin. Abbott drives one through covers for a boundary but then Ashwin bounces back to trap him LBW. 5 runs and a wicket off it.
OUT! Ashwin gets his first wicket. KJ Abbott lbw b Ashwin 4 (6b 1×4 0x6)
Length delivery outside off, it spins back in a touch. Abbott stays back and looks to defend but misses. It hits him on the back leg and is plumb in front.
Dane Piedt is the new batsman.
After 37 overs South Africa 79/6 (De Villiers 24, Abbott 0)
Ishant bowls a teasing delivery outside off, it nips away. Vilas goes for a booming drive but is beaten by the away movement. Another teasing delivery outside off and Vilas leaves it alone, Ishant has nicely set him up, the next one is a visious inswinger and it devours Vilas’ off stump. Ishant ends the over beating Abbott’s outside edge. A maiden wicket.
OUT! The off stump goes cartwheeling, Vilas is back in the hut! DJ Vilas b I Sharma 11 (21b 1×4 0x6)
Good length delivery outside off, nips back in viciously, it rips through the bat and pad even before Vilas could get his bat down in time. The off stump goes cartwheeling.
Kyle Abbott is the new batsman.
After 36 overs South Africa 79/5 (De Villiers 24, Vilas 11)
A couple of singles in the over.
After 35 overs South Africa 77/5 (De Villiers 23, Vilas 10)
A couple of lovely shots from Vilas in that over. He at first pushes it through extra cover for a couple and then flicks it through mid-wicket for a boundary. 6 runs off the over.
After 34 overs South Africa 71/5 (De Villiers 23, Vilas 4)
A good over from Ashwin, he got some turn. But it was the straighter one that beat De Villiers’ outside edge. Two singles off the over.
After 33 overs South Africa 69/5 (De Villiers 22, Vilas 3)
Umesh is getting it to reverse at good pace, Vilas gets an inside edge and it flies just wide of the leg stump for a couple. He then bowls a yorker to Vilas who somehow manages to keep it out. A very good over from Umesh. He has settled into good rhythm.
After 32 overs South Africa 67/5 (De Villiers 22, Vilas 1)
Just two singles off the Jadeja over. He is building up the pressure quite well and that is helping Umesh from the other end.
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