India had started day 5 with Cheteshwara Pujara and Parthiv Patel on the crease, hoping to somehow score 252 runs and script one of India’s greatest Test wins ever.
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And while we all slept with that dream last night, we were brought back to reality early in the day, with Cheteshwara Pujara running himself out for the 2nd time in the Test.
With Pujara gone, you knew that India simply had to go for the win, as none of the batsmen left in the line up had the capability to bat out a day. It was up to Rohit and Pandya to switch on the ODI mode and get those runs within the stipulated time.
The Mumbai Indians duo started to get a partnership away, with Pandya’s failed attempt at a ramp shot meant that Rohit had to be India’s lone warrior.
Rohit was in a way batting for his place in the Test side and had to dig deep and play his natural game for India to have any hope of taking India close to that target of 287.
Sharma was marshalling along, playing some exquisite shots before he top edged a bumper from Rabada, which went flying to the fine leg boundary, and while it seemed like it would die down on ABD(who was fielding at fine leg at that point), the magician plucked out a stunning catch, diving forward.
He then celebrated in grand style, kicking the ball with his foot and jumping all around, as he sensed that that was that for India.
Check out the video:
Match Situation
With Ngidi picking up the last wicket(and 6 wickets in the second innings), India have lost the second Test (and the series) by 135 runs. India would go to the Wandrers, hoping that they can avoid a whitewash.
