Live cricket Score: India vs South Africa 2018, 2nd Test, Day 5, Centurion

We are set to get underway! The home side is in a huddle, planning for the final rites of the opposition, perhaps. Imagine how good it will be to be in that side of the dressing room. Out walk the two Indians with the bat, who belong to the same part of the nation Pujara and Patel. The former will face Rabada first up. Three slips in place.

PITCH REPORT - Shaun Pollock says that it is bright and hot out there. Observes that the cracks have started to widen up and there is a lot of rough on offer for the bowlers to work with. Walks over to the pavilion end and points to a spot where the cracks are more prominent. That is the spot from where the ball has tended to misbehave he reckons. Adds that it is the area which was responsible for de Villiers' and Vijay's wicket. Ends saying that the batters would just hope that the ball bearing their number comes later or doesn't come at all. Hope. That's what his tone sounded at the middle.

We have seen this track be a up-and-down one. How to tackle the low bounce? The experts before the match put up a display and tell us that the batsmen should try and get forward to counter it. The key is to play it with a straight bat as much as possible. They show a visual of de Villiers doing the same to a ball that almost failed to let go off the pitch. The Protea batsman in that occasion got forward, got nicely low and countered it with a straight bat. If a ball has your number on it, it'll go on to disturb the woodwork behind. But if not, at least you won't end up playing it on. Fair point and we may well see Pujara doing the same, opines my colleague KI.

If the way the Protea pacers ran in was anything to go by, they'll be fresher and raring to make quick inroads when they step out today. What happens many-a-times in such a situation is, batting sides lose it in their minds much before they come to the batting crease. It is a case of demons in the mind than in reality. Pujara can be the best man to have in such a scene and he is out there in the middle after countering 40 deliveries for his 11. What does the bat-ball contest have for us today? Stay with us as we travel through it.

98 overs in the day. One side needs 252 runs, the other, just 7 wickets. This could be all over in a trice. This could crawl away and stretch to the last hour of the game. Endless possibilities, numerous hopes. Wherever you are, we are glad to have you with us for the last day of this second Test between South Africa and India played at Centurion, where there's no question of which side is on top.

... Final Day, First Session ...

The last day in this Test can be only about survival from here on. The ever-reliable Pujara is still out there but the batters on whom you'd bet your money on in such a scenario, Vijay and Kohli, are back in the hut. Expect the host bowlers to come back with more venom. That's the only choice and option that they've got. It'll culminate in a just reward for their efforts (stating the inevitable). But there's a fight to look forward to (in hope). The action is not something that you should miss. See you tomorrow at 1000 local time (0800 GMT). Adios, take care!

Earlier in the day, the Proteas were finally bundled out after they kept the tourists at bay for almost 92 overs and 258 runs. Elgar and de Villiers need mention for notching up fifties (also not to forget their 141-run association together) and Faf, too, for his stoic knock that ended two short of fifty. Without stating Philander's contribution, where he managed to stay for 26 overs with his skipper in a stand that read 46 runs, the South Africans' scorecard wouldn't have been aptly described. If at all we say, that they were restricted, it is because of Shami's four-fer and Bumrah's three.

India had about 25 overs to see off the day and 23 were bowled in actual. But they failed to come out unscathed from the passage. There was a steady flow of wickets and that has hampered them big time. The telling blow was that of Kohli, who easily looked India's best in the first essay. Rabada first, and Ngidi later, helped their side rock back the visitors who has a tall mountain of 287 runs to chase.

Hush, thank god the day's done and dusted! Don't get me wrong, these are not my words but these are what the 11 men representing India might be feeling. If you try to fight fire with wood or ice, you'd be the one getting burned or injured. But that won't be the case if you either get away from the line of fire or counter it with more fire. Yes, the talk of fire is enough to let you know that the heat is on at Centurion. South Africa are the one dominating this and only a miracle can deny them a win from here.

22.6: K Maharaj to Patel, Patel sees off the final ball of the day with a forward defense. That's all for the day, STUMPS, DAY 4!

22.5: K Maharaj to Patel, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

22.4: K Maharaj to Patel, Defended off the front foot to Elgar.

Silly point in place. No helmet and no shin guards for him.

22.3: K Maharaj to Patel, Oh, de Kock! When on earth will you appeal for the right ones? Floats it full outside off, Patel jams it down and it's a crowd catch to Philander at covers. 'Oh yes' yells Quinton in excitement.

22.2: K Maharaj to Patel, Floated outside off, spins in after pitching. Patel lunges forward in defense.

22.1: K Maharaj to Pujara, Flatter outside off, pushed towards point to rotate strike.

Last over of the day, Keshav Maharaj to bowl it.

21.6: L Ngidi to Patel, Full on off, driven back to the bowler. Ngidi hurls a throw to the keeper, just flying past Patel. He gives a long stare to the bowler, who turns back to collect his cap from the umpire.

21.5: L Ngidi to P Patel, Fuller in length, driven to mid on.

21.4: L Ngidi to Patel, This is sprayed down the leg side, PP fails to flick it.

21.3: L Ngidi to Patel, Short ball around off, defended from the crease.

21.2: L Ngidi to Patel, Length ball outside off, Patel looks to leave it initially but then doesn't. Gets beaten on the inside.

21.1: L Ngidi to Patel, Patel tries to defend this but ends up getting a thick edge through gully for a brace.

6 minutes to go to the close of the day, Ngidi will continue.

20.6: M Morkel to Pujara, Defended off the inner half towards mid-wicket.

20.5: M Morkel to Pujara, This takes off a bit more, Che gets on his toes and defends it down.

20.4: M Morkel to Pujara, This is well outside off, left alone.

20.3: M Morkel to Pujara, Outside off, defended towards point.

20.2: M Morkel to Pujara, Pujara defends it from the crease with a straight bat.

20.1: M Morkel to Pujara, On the pads, flicked away in front of square for a brace.

19.6: L Ngidi to Patel, Runs for Patel after some oohs and aahs. He punches this through cover-point for a brace.

19.5: L Ngidi to Patel, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.

19.4: L Ngidi to Patel, Another sound, this time no appeal from anybody in the slip cordon. Length ball just outside off, Patel has a feel for that and seems to have nicked it. Nothing from the hosts and play carries on. No Snicko to aid us here.

19.3: L Ngidi to Patel, This is played towards point from the crease.

19.2: Ngidi to Patel, Huge appeal, in fact the Proteas go up in celebration here. They are cut short only by the umpire's disagreement. Ngidi angles this down the leg side, Patel gets across and looks to flick. The ball goes off something to de Kock who goes up in celebration. All the players appeal to no avail. Replays confirm that it went off the pads indeed. About de Kock though, read 18.4.

19.1: L Ngidi to Patel, On a length from round the wicket, defended from the crease.

Now, out comes the chest guard for Parthiv Patel. He is also seen popping some pills there.

18.6: M Morkel to Pujara, Hurled down the leg side, left alone.

18.5: M Morkel to Pujara, The batsman defends it from within the crease.

18.4: M Morkel to Pujara, Lovely ball, almost gone! Delivered on a length just outside off, Pujara tries to defend thinking the ball would come in. It goes on with the angle and he gets beaten on the outside. Quinton almost leaps in appeal before withdrawing it. Hang on to your breaths. The reason for this is, SNICKO SHOWS A SPIKE as the ball passes the bat. Appealing when not required and not doing so when required, that's what has happened with de Kock here. The Indian no.3 lives on fortunes here.

18.3: M Morkel to P Patel, Look what a short ball that affects you can do. Patel hangs back expecting a barrage from Morkel as well. The pacer, realizing this, slips in a fuller one around off and middle. Parthiv chips it aerially towards mid on, where it lands just short of Philander. He ends up parrying it to his right and a run results. De Kock has his hands on his heads and has to react quickly to collect the unanticipated throw from Vern.

18.2: M Morkel to Pujara, Similar ball, flicked away through mid-wicket for one.

18.1: M Morkel to Pujara, On the pads, flicked to mid-wicket.

17.6: L Ngidi to Patel, Sees off the last ball with a back foot defense. A maiden from Lungi.

17.5: L Ngidi to Patel, This ball is flicked off towards mid-wicket.

17.4: L Ngidi to Patel, Another length ball on a similar length, Patel hops up to defend. Doesn't climb up much and he ends up getting it off the bottom of the bat.

17.3: L Ngidi to Patel, Oh my gosh! Parthiv Patel is down on his haunches. He fails to get this length ball, that is a touch short, away. The ball that is delivered at 136 kph, goes on to strike him on his ribs. He is down in pain as he is not wearing a chest guard. The Proteas come in to have a word with him and ensure he is all good. Good to see this sportsmanship among them though that wouldn't reduce the brutality that they will be offering to the batsmen. On another look, it is seen that the ball hit his gloves as well. Good for him as that would have reduced the impact on that. Nevertheless, he is good to go now.

17.2: L Ngidi to Patel, This is outside off, left alone.