New Delhi:
The Pune Test has been completely dominated by India, with Virat Kohli notching up a record seventh double century and his highest individual score of 254*. Ravichandran Ashwin took four wickets and despite a record ninth-wicket stand, South Africa were still bowled out for 275 and India, armed with a 326-run lead, asked them to follow-on. On day 4, South Africa were undone by the brilliance of wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha as he took two stunning catches and this boosted the Indian cricket team.
The first catch was a symbol of athleticism and skill. Umesh Yadav bowled a ball that was heading down the leg stump. The batsman, Theunis de Bruyn, looked to help it down to the fine leg fence but. Instead, Saha dived full length to his left to take a one-handed stunning catch. However, the catch to dismiss South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis was at a different level altogether.
Ashwin bowled a quicker ball on off stump and du Plessis got an outside edge and it deflected off the back thigh pad. Saha, who was staying low, took the catch low but could not snaffle it cleanly. He juggled the ball three times and on the fourth attempt, dived forward to complete a remarkable catch.
The catching by Saha boosted other players to raise their fielding standards and they did not disappoint. Ashwin got his second wicket when Dean Elgar mistimed the lofted shot to mid off and Umesh Yadav ran back to his right to take the catch. However, he also juggled a couple of times as he was on the run but controlled himself well to take the catch. Following the lunch break, India's fielding continued to be sharp.
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Temba Bavuma was the next to fell the brilliance of the Indian fielders. Ravindra Jadeja floated a full, flighted delivery outside off and it spun away. Bavuma, who had survived an LBW shout and even the review saved him, was sucked into the drive but Ajinkya Rahane at slip took a sharp, one-handed catch with his left hand to sum up India's all-round dominance. A win in Pune will give them their second consecutive series win in the ICC World Test Championships.
