South Africa batters push India into a corner, eye series sweep

The hosts, still 522 runs behind, need to bat out three sessions on a Day 5 pitch to save the second Test

- Somshuvra Laha

Second delivery of his first over, Simon Harmer floated the ball above KL Rahul's eyeline. This was an open dare, a challenge to step out and hit him.

But the Indian batters rarely do that these days, so Rahul played it from the crease. With the ball dipping on him, the right hander didn't get to the pitch of the ball and tried to turn it to the on side. The ball turned sharply, 6.2 degrees, beat the bat and disturbed the stumps. Harmer took off on a victory lap like Imran Tahir.

If there is one dismissal that was to sum up India's spineless batting against spin in this series, this had to be that. South Africa had set India a target of 549 and in reply, India were 27/2 at close on Day 4.

Unlike the other games, the broadcasters' camera couldn't find coach Gautam Gambhir looking on intently, with a ball in his hand. He knows that there is no coming back from this. India batting out three sessions to salvage a draw is a tough task. More real look South Africa's chances of getting eight wickets and inflicting on India their second whitewash at home in just over a year after 12 years of home dominance.

This is what happens when a team fails to put together a decent, coherent first innings response on a pitch that the visitors have been plundering runs on.