Dean Elgar’s unbeaten 96 in Johannesburg Test helps South Africa to level the series against India

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Dean Elgar
Dean Elgar played a gritty knock. Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Skipper Dean Elgar’s unbeaten 96 steered South Africa to a series-levelling 7-wicket victory over India at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

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Much of the fourth day was wiped out by rain with no play possible in the first two sessions. The play would finally resume at 15:45 with the intention to play until 18:00 weather and light permitting.

The literal dark clouds hanging around the stadium served to give the Proteas batters added impetus.

Clearly, the risk of more rain on the fifth day gave the Proteas a little bit of a giddy-up after a watchful start to their innings saw them start the day 118 for 2 in pursuit of 240 runs to win.

Skipper Dean Elgar once again laid down the gauntlet to India and increased the tempo of his innings ever so slightly.

Elgar rolled with the punches, absorbing body blows and remaining undaunted by the near-misses. He kept out his nemesis Ravichandran Ashwin and a fired-up India pace attack.

In partnership with Rassie van der Dussen, Elgar saw the Proteas to a position where victory seemed the most likely result.

Dean Elgar
Dean Elgar saw Proteas home. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Mohammed Shami stopped van der Dussen (40) from registering a half-century, but Temba Bavuma would ally with Elgar to get the Proteas over the line, minutes from the scheduled close of play.

Elgar would end unbeaten on 96 with Bavuma (23*) at the non-striker’s end as the captain smacked the winning runs.

With this result, South Africa recorded their first-ever Test win over India at the Wanderers.

The Freedom Trophy Series moves to Cape Town next with Newlands staging the decider from 11 January.

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