India added 63 runs in the post—lunch session after Cheteshwar Pujara slammed 153 and Virat Kohli made 96 to consolidate their overall lead to 457 on the fourth day of the first cricket Test against South Africa here today.
Resuming the second session on 358 for 6, India batted for another 14.2 overs before being all out for 421 in 120.4 overs in their second innings.
After lunch, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and R Ashwin tried to increase the scoring rate, but the latter was out caught at cover off Vernon Philander, for seven runs, soon after the visitors reached 350.
Dhoni started farming the strike thereafter, not sure how long the tail would last. In doing so, he gave away his wicket, trying to up the ante, caught in the deep off Philander. He scored 29 runs off 44 balls, with three fours.
Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma then added 21 crucial runs for the ninth wicket, taking India past the 400—run mark in the 118th over. The tail—enders tried their best to give momentum to India in the dying stages of the innings. Zaheer smacked the first six of the Test in the 117th over of the innings and added another hitting Dale Steyn for one over long—off in the 120th over. He remained unbeaten on 29 runs off 31 balls with three fours and two sixes.
In between, Ishant was trapped LBW by Imran Tahir (15.4—1—69—2), the leg—spinner picking his first wicket after enduring a painful bashing through the two innings. He later got a second, bowling Mohammad Shami (4) and bringing India’s second innings to a close.
For South Africa, Vernon Philander (28—10—68—3) and Jacques Kallis (20—5—68—3) were the most successful bowlers, as Morne Morkel (2—1—4—0) was rendered out of action after twisting his ankle on day three.
Steyn (30—5—104—0) did not have a single wicket to show for in his 30 overs. Duminy picked up 2/87, while A B de Villiers (0/9) had bowled an over for fun just ahead of tea on day three.