Dean Elgar played a captain’s knock in the fourth innings as he led South Africa to a comfortable 7-wicket victory over India on Day 4 of the Johannesburg Test.
KL Rahul opted to bat first in the second Test with the idea of repeating their feat in the first Test. However, the Proteas bowling attack proved to be too strong on Day 1 as they blew away the visitors for 202.
In response, the Africans also fumbled their way to a 27-run lead courtesy of a fifty from Temba Bavuma. Shardul Thakur was the star with the ball as he ended with career-best figures of 7/61 which is also the best for an Indian on Protean soil.
With the pitch continuing to play tricks, the lead seemed to be quite big. Rahul and Mayank Agarwal failed to get going in the third innings but it was the experienced duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane who rescued India and their careers with a 111-run partnership.
Unfortunately for the visitors, they crumbled once again with Kagiso Rabada coming up with a match-turning spell. He took three wickets in a short span which brought South Africa on the front foot once again. Some lower-order cameos saw India reach 266 before folding up, setting a target of 240 on the board.
It was expected to be a tough chase for the Africans but Elgar stood tall and built partnerships with Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, and the match-winning partnership 82-run partnership with Rassie van der Dussen. He ended unbeaten on 96 and helped his team to register their highest chase in Johannesburg.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to South Africa’s victory in the second Test:
Leading from the front #deanelgar! the tone is set for Newlands. #INDvsSA
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) January 6, 2022
? RESULT | #Proteas WIN BY 7 WICKETS
?? Captain Dean Elgar's unbeaten 96 was the mainstay of the #Proteas chase as he showed plenty of fight and grit to get his side over the line and level the #BetwayTestSeries#SAvIND #FreedomTestSeries #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/uez5t7RRqZ
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2022
India will lose. They had been riding on the bowling for a long time and this off day was bound to happen some day. The batting has to shoulder more responsibility if you want Cape Town to go your way #INDvSA
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) January 6, 2022
Dean Elgar is one tough bastard. It's fitting he's anchoring this run-chase. Since the start of 2018 only one batsman has batted against tougher bowling/conditions according to our xAve model & only two (Pujara & Rahane) have taken more blows on the helmet, body & gloves. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/TVuGyD8TM7
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) January 6, 2022
1-1 and the last one with all to play for. Will be intense from what we have seen and I will back India for their ability to turn things around. #INDvsSA and hoping Virat is back for the decider.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 6, 2022
Only been 6 days, I think 2022 will be a great year for Test cricket. #Elgar #INDvsSA #INDvSA
— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) January 6, 2022
With the series level now, we are in for a terrific decider in Cape Town. Good performance from South Africa here. Many positives for them. India need to come back stronger and I am sure they will. #SAvIND
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) January 6, 2022
Hell of a win for South Africa. Dean Elgar is a nugget #SAvInd
— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) January 6, 2022
Well played, Dean Elgar ?#SAvIND
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) January 6, 2022
They played well but we could have done better! #INDvsSA
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 6, 2022
Seen a few over time, but that is One of SA crickets greatest test wins! #INDvsSA #Proteas
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) January 6, 2022
South African cricket needed that panacea. Leaders lead from the front ; Dean Elgar,,,,HERO??.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) January 6, 2022
Very good win proteas✅ ??
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) January 6, 2022
What a win! So good, for a team that desperately needed it.
Congrats to SA.
Awesome chase. Admirable resolve.#SAvIND#NewYearsTest#firsttimeatthewanderers
#1-1 #salute— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) January 6, 2022