India vs South Africa | Predictions for Day 5 in Vizag
After toppling the South African side for 431, India played clinically to take a lead of 394 runs with Rohit Sharma leading the charge with another century. Chasing a massive total, the Proteas faltered in the beginning and Bodog has now given them a very slim chance of saving the match in Vizag.
What happened on Day 4
With just two wickets remaining, South Africa had their task cut out to put some valuable runs on the board at the start of Day 4. Despite Maharaj dismissed early on, debutant Senuran Muthusamy played out a matured 33-run innings to post 431 runs for the visitors. Ravichandran Ashwin, who was backed heavily by Bodog</a>, ended with figures of 7 wickets, having scalped South Africa’s last two wickets on Day 4.Â
Starting with a 71-run lead, India’s first innings’ double centurion Mayank Agarwal fell early. Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara steadied the ship for India. The pair put up a 169-run stand to tilt the game in India's favour with their explosive batting. Even though Pujara started at a tortoise pace, he eventually accelerated along the way and fell prey to Philander when on 81. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma completed his second ton of the match as India stormed to a 300-run lead after Tea.
Ravindra Jadeja was promoted to No. 4, prompting an urgency from the skipper to secure quick runs and declare the innings. Kohli and Jadeja upped the ante in the evening session to extend the lead to 394. Chasing a mammoth target, Dean Elgar was trapped in front early on as South Africa ended the day with 11 runs on the board as the umpires pulled off the bails due to insufficient light.
What to expect from the pitch
The South African bowlers found their rhythm when India started their second innings but it was back to routine once the ball lost its shine. The spinners were hammered all around the park by Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara. A bit of unusual bounce caught the Indian batsmen by surprise once in a while. But, altogether the pitch favoured spinners as seen in the amount of deviation generated by Keshav Maharaj and Dane Piedt in the afternoon session. Rohit Sharma’s merciless innings came to a halt after he failed to pick up the wrong one by Maharaj on 127. With the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin in the squad, the Proteas is set to face a nightmarish experience at the crease, with the pitch set to deteriorate even further on Day 5.
What to look forward to tomorrow
India are no doubt in the driver’s seat and is sniffing victory even before the start of play as is emphasized in the faith Bodog is showing in them. India seems to have prepared for the occasion to perfection. Bodog are expecting a dominant performance from the Indians on Day 5 sighting a regulation victory. Even though Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami are expected to annoy the South African batsmen in the early stages of the game, the spinners will take over through a major part of the day. Ravichandran Ashwin once again will be the key for India to take a lead in the 3-match series, even though Bodog has predicted, owing to the presence of more right handers in the South African lineup, that Ravindra Jadeja is going to be the pick of the bowlers on Day 5.
From South Africa’s point of view, they are stuck in a very difficult situation. With their in-form batsman Dean Elgar already making his way to the dressing room, the responsibility will be on the rest of the players to step up to the occasion. While a win is a distant reality, disciplined batting against a top-quality bowling line-up might get them close to a draw, but that is highly unlikely. Bodog has predicted that both Markram and Theunis De Bruyn won't get too far from the quarter of a century mark.Â
Key Batsman
Quinton de Kock
After a brilliant century in the first innings when the pressure was not much, the southpaw will be shouldering the burden to save the Test match for the visitors in Vizag. Dean Elgar, who lived upto Bodog's expectations in the first innings, has been already dismissed in South Africa’s run chase, and so the onus will be on the wicket-keeper batsman to produce something special and help his team get out of the puddle.
Key Bowler
Ravindra Jadeja
Even though Ravichandran Ashwin has been the bowler with the best figures in the Test match so far, Ravindra Jadeja will be one to watch out on the final day’s play. The left-arm bowler has played second fiddle to Aswhin all the way but a wearied out fifth-day pitch will be favouring the player who took his 200th Test wicket in the first innings. Bodog is backing him to take more wicket than Ravichandran Ashwin in South Africa’s second innings.
Weather forecast
Similar to the second and the third day, we have had clear skies for the most part of the day. Even though it has been getting dark in the final hour of play and the floodlights had to be turned on, we have still had a full day’s play. As per the meteorological department, we should not worry about gloomy skies on Sunday. A burst of hazy sunshine is expected throughout the day while the chance of precipitation is minimum. The maximum temperature will be around 31 degrees Celsius.
Bodog Predictions for Day 5
Even though Ravichandran Ashwin has been leading the way in the bowling for India and has taken seven wickets in the India first innings, we cannot write-off the dynamic Ravindra Jadeja. The latter has also been running ruckus with batsmen with his trickery. That is also the reason Bodog is favouring him over Ravichandran Ashwin on Day 5. Meanwhile, Bodog has also predcited that Aiden Markram won't get past the 30-mark when play resumes tomorrow.
When to watch: October 6, 2019, 9.30 am
Where to watch: Hotstar and Star Network
Although Star Sports will provide all the live coverage, who better than Bodog to give you all the necessary details about the details of the game and which player leads the battle at every point in the game.
Playing XIs
India
Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami
South Africa
Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada
