South African skipper Dean Elgar is optimistic of defending a target of 100 runs in the second Test match against India at Newlands, Cape Town. The veteran opener feels defending a small target is possible on this type of wicket, which has all the help for the seamers.
23 wickets crumbled on the opening day of the Test match with South Africa and India scoring 55 and 153 runs respectively in their first innings. Mohammed Siraj was the chief destroyer as he returned with his best Test bowling figures of 6-15. Siraj bowled in the right areas to reap rewards for his accurate bowling.
On the other hand, India was going strongly at 153-4 but they lost their last six wickets without adding a single run. Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi, and Kagiso Rabada scalped three wickets each for the Proteas.
Meanwhile, the pitch has a lot of bounce and as a batter, you are never settled at the crease.
“I would take 100 (victory target) all day. When our bowlers click they can rip through any batting lineup and on this wicket that is possible,” Elgar was quoted as telling reporters.
South Africa was bundled out for a paltry score of 55 runs and Elgar admitted he had no idea that the track would play in such a way.
“I didn’t know it would play in that way though, with the naked eye it did not look so bad. But it’s one of those wickets where if you knuckle down, you never know what can happen. You still have to put the ball in the right area and they (India) executed that to a tee. This pitch just seemed to get quicker as the (first) session went on. I don’t know what to make of it,” the 36-year-old stated.
Elgar added he would still bat first in hindsight despite skittling out for their lowest-ever score since readmission.
“I would still stick to batting first after seeing how the wicket has played,” the opener opined.
The left-handed opener, who is playing his swansong Test, showered praise on his bowlers for getting them back into the game.
“The older ball was still doing something. We’ve just experienced a really crazy day of Test cricket. I just said to the guys I will measure them on attitude and execution with the ball. We maybe leaked a few runs with half-volleys but I can’t fault the bowlers for the effort they put in,” Elgar commented.
At stumps, South Africa were 62-3, in arrears by 36 runs.
