South Africa managed to better their batting performance from the 2015 tour by battling it out against the spin twins on a pitch that has started to deteriorate. Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock notched up centuries to give the Proteas a fighting chance in the match.
Resuming the day at a precarious spot, South Africa needed partnerships to exert their command over the game. Despite losing Temba Bavuma early in the first session, Faf Du Plessis joined hands with Dean Elgar to see out the session.
The skipper brought up his fifty and fell to Ashwin soon after. What followed was a mammoth 164-run stand between Elgar and wicket-keeper batsman De Kock. De Kock showed exemplary play through the off-side to bring up his fifth hundred.
De Kock was dismissed by the end of the day’s play after a smart variation from the off-spinner which left the batsman stunned. Vernon Philander became Ashwin’s fifth victim and the Kings XI skipper brought up his 29th test five-wicket haul and his first since August 2017.
The Proteas are currently placed at 385-8 with Muthuswamy and Maharaj at the crease.
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