Poor pitch debate ends as Amla's men crumble

NEW DELHI: What a travesty. Some unwatchable domino dancing from South Africa's batsmen left the team teetering on the tightrope, just sessions away from another disaster, as play ended on Day Two at the Ferozeshah Kotla. Their collective mind freeze with bat in hand on Friday, this time on a pitch still decent to bat on, was a logical culmination of the recent series of hair-raising moments on India's turners.
With their batsmen seemingly devoid of the last ounce of dash, spirit or confidence, South Africa look resigned to their fate, making a mockery all over again of the pre-series billing.
On the best batting surface the series has had to offer so far which isn't saying much, but this time around India's last three wickets managed to add 103 runs in the morning and Ajinkya Rahane (127) eased to his first Test century on home soil -SA were all out for 121. They trail India's first innings total by 213 runs, with the hosts deciding not to enforce the follow-on in a bid to rub it in.
AB de Villiers with 42 was one of four SA batsmen who got into double figures. But he was the only one who looked the part against some disciplined lengths from India's seamers.
Both Ishant and Umesh Yadav, once they got into their stride, got some nice reverse swing going and bowled at the stumps. That paved the way for an imperious Ravindra Jadeja (530 off 12 overs) to slice through the line-up like knife through butter.
Whether disinterested or simply listless, wave after wave of South African batsmen showed little regard for application. Some excellent bowling didn't help their cause. A widish Yadav delivery was nicked to the `keeper by Elgar. Bavuma, one of the few who appeared eager to prove a point, kept retreating into his crease and paid the price against Jadeja.
Amla's tortuous stay lasted 34 balls and yielded three runs. Du Plessis tried to inexplicably scoop his way out of trouble. Yadav got Duminy with the ball of the day, foxing the left-hander with one that straightened at pace and sneaked through to the stumps. Ishant brought the curtains down on Dane Vilas' horrendous tour. Ashwin chopped off the tail.
South Africa seemed to be playing on a different pitch to the one on which India's new crisis man Rahane and Ashwin (56) kept going. Rahane's brilliant rally with the tail after India were 1396 on Day One made the difference.
That Hashim Amla's catching skills at slip didn't seem to improve from Day One didn't help SA 's cause, but Kyle Abbott bagged a five-wicket haul to perhaps wrest his way to a permanent place in the pace line-up. An exquisite straight drive past Abbott got Rahane to three figures. The batsman celebrated by skipping down the track to Piedt and Elgar as India got a move on. Ashwin value-added with the bat to add some sparkle to an already memorable series.
There was very little SA got right, not the least of which is their confused use of Imran Tahir, whose inconsistency hasn't helped the cause. While India's decision to bat a second time might finally imply a fourth day of play in this series, Amla's bunch now stare at the daunting prospect of somehow having to save face when they make last use of the Kotla pitch.