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PHOTOS: SA throw away chance at history, draw 1st Test with India
South Africa gave up on the chance to set a new world record in chasing down 458 for victory against India on day five of the first Test at the Wanderers on Sunday, falling eight runs short as they settled for a draw in the closing overs.
The Proteas ended the match on 450 for seven, the third highest fourth innings score in Test history, but played out successive maidens in the second and third last overs of the game to ensure they would not lose the match rather than go for the historic win.
It was a massive anti-climax on one of the great days of Test cricket as South Africa went into the final day needing 320 runs to win with eight wickets remaining.
This was India's first drawn away Test after 8 losses in a row from July 2011.
An unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 134 runs between Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers has South Africa eyeing an unlikely win in the first Test against India in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Du Plessis strikes century
After the loss in the morning session of Alviro Petersen (76) and Jacques Kallis (34) had put India on top, a 205-run fifth wicket stand between Du Plessis (134) and AB de Villiers (103) laid the platform for what would have been an extraordinary win.
The partnership was ended when De Villiers chopped an Ishant Sharma delivery onto his stumps with 56 runs still needed, and the jitters started in the home dressing room as JP Duminy (five) was bowled by the impressive Mohammed Shami.
Vernon Philander (25 not out) and Du Plessis took South Africa to within 16 runs of the win before the latter was run out with a direct hit by Ajinkya Rahane as he attempted a quick single.
At seven wickets down South Africa decided to play for the draw, with Philander and Dale Steyn (six not out) shouldering arms in the closing overs.
Steyn lofted the final deliver of the match over the boundary for six to howls of disapproval from the Wanderers crowd, who could scarcely believe their side had baulked at the opportunity to make history.
Zaheer picks 300th Test scalp
Earlier. the hosts reached 331 for four at tea needing 127 runs with 30 overs left in the final session for an unlikely win -- chasing a world-record 458.
India need six wickets which looks unlikely at the moment with the pitch not offering too much of help to the bowlers.
Earlier. India grabbed two wickets in the first session to reduce South Africa to 236 for 4 at lunch on the fifth and final day as the first cricket Test remained wide open for a result in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Faf du Plessis (42) and A B de Villiers (25) were at the crease at the break at Wanderers, after Zaheer Khan (15-0-61-1) had dismissed Jacques Kallis to take his 300th Test wicket in his 89th match.
The Proteas scored 98 runs in the first session in 29 overs and need another 222 runs to win with two sessions remaining, while India need six more wickets. But, an injured Morne Morkel is doubtful to come out and bat after he twisted his ankle on day three.
South Africa began the day at their overnight score of 138/2, with Alviro Petersen on 76 and Du Plessis on 10.
Shami bowled fiery morning spell; Kallis falls to Zaheer
Peterson started with a lazy shot on the very first ball of the day but four overs later Mohammad Shami found a way past his defence. An incoming delivery kept low and Peterson got an inside edge onto his stumps. He was out for 76, without adding a run to his overnight score. In all, he faced 162 balls and hitting nine fours.
Shami was bowling a fiery five-over spell in first hour, which yielded 56 runs, and he had a loud appeal against Kallis turned down first ball.
Kallis scored 31 of the 50-run partnership with du Plessis.
Kallis was wrongly adjudged LBW by umpire Rod Tucker and he became Zaheer’s 300th Test wicket. Kallis (34 runs off 37 balls) had a huge inside edge rock his front pads.
Du Plessis, De Villiers make sure of no further damage
Zaheer is now the fourth highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket, after Anil Kumble (619 wickets in 132 Tests), Kapil Dev (434 wickets in 131 Tests) and Harbhajan Singh (413 wickets in 101 Tests).
Spin was introduced in the 65th over, with R Ashwin (21-3-49-0) coming to bowl, while Virat Kohli (2-0-7-0) was introduced into the attack with 15 minutes to go for lunch.
De Villiers survived an LBW appeal against Ashwin, but the ball appeared to be sailing above leg-stump. Shami bowled the final over before the break and the batsman survived another LBW call, with the ball seeming to sail just above the off-stump.