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Kepler Wessels – Preview: 2nd Test, Day 4

17 Nov 2015, 09:55 am

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Summary

India would look to bat out the day; SA would want early wickets and assistance from conditions

We have lost two days of this Test match to rain. On day-four of the Bengaluru Test, Virat Kohli and his men will be desperate to get the game going because they are in an excellent position. They have got all their wickets intact after bowling South Africa out pretty cheaply (for 214). So, they would want to get runs on the board, get a bit of lead; bat the whole day and maybe a bit for tomorrow as well. They would look to put South Africa under pressure and still try and enforce a victory. From the South African perspective, things are very different. They haven’t got any wickets yet. This outfield is wet, the conditions are damp. The only way back into the game for the Proteas is to establish dominance with the ball. They would be hoping that after all the rain we have had for the last two days and the pitch being under cover, it would have greened up a fraction, and will give their seamers something to bowl into. For them wickets in the first session is the key.The big concern is still the conditions. We have had so much rain and it is still very wet and muddy under the foot. The ground staff is doing a great job; they are working frantically to try and get the ground ready. The umpires will keep having a look and it is in their hands to declare this ground fit.India would be hoping that happens sooner rather than later. South Africa, not so sure about them. They wouldn’t mind a little bit of a delay.