Live Blog: India vs South Africa – 2nd Test Day 4

Really not long now, either four overs or when the light becomes an issue. These two are still looking nervous after every delivery, some brilliant facial expressions going on by the way, but they’re surviving which is the whole game at the minute.

Sai Sudharsan nearly hits the ball onto his own stumps, good body control to get out of the way after the ricochet.

No more wickets, but the tandem of Harmer and Keshav Maharaj are causing nightmares for Sudharsan and Kuldeep. The bounce, turn, drift, and the deceptively slow speed are proving impossible to navigate at the moment.

The last ball of the 12th beats the defences of Sudharsan, the fielders go up and it’s not given. On replay, the impact was umpire’s call. Quite lucky for India, because it was given not out on the basis of a noise from the bat, but it was after the impact with the pad

Simon Harmer comes into the attack replacing Mulder, and his second ball is an absolute beauty. It turns very sharply, and cleans up a player so strong defensively, the ball jagging between bat and pad. Brilliant drift and turn to deal with the main stay in this line-up.

South African players elated, it’s a bad sign for India that the ball took that much turn. Night watchmen Kuldeep Yadav is in next. 20 minutes left today

These huge chases tend to have a run out, and we nearly saw that here as Sudharsan and Rahul get into a proper mix up. Comes to nothing in the end as both lost sight of the ball, thinking it had gone to the boundary. When they realise they have to run they start heading towards the same end. Rahul manages to get back, and no runs are scored.

Jaiswal has to go. A reckless shot given the circumstances, attempting to slash one on fifth stump. A feather through to the keeper who took it well down low, and Jansen wheels off in celebration.

One down, nine to go for South Africa. Sai Sudharsan is the new man in who has had a difficult start to his Test career

Jaiswal is playing this at his own pace. He goes for another uppercut having missed a couple already, this time connecting for a maximum.

There’s some “fight fire with fire” suggestions in the commentary box, but I don’t know how many of these he can pull off, particularly as the light begins to fade

Another maiden from Wiaan Mulder, albeit not that threatening.

Jaiswal then clips a very well timed shot for four into the leg side to open up the scoring. Baby steps

This is it then. How long can Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul hang on? You feel Rahul will be key given his durability.

Jansen to open things up and Jaiswal is already looking to uppercut him. The short ball will probably be the move for Jansen given his success in the first innings. A maiden to start

Stubbs doesn’t get his century. He worked brilliantly hard all day today, but Jadeja has been his eventual undoing. Another delivery that straightened up well, and Stubbs sweeps around it.

Temba Bavuma brings Wiaan Mulder in and South Africa have finally declared. The lead is 548 and the equation is simple. A day and a bit to get 10 wickets

Seems like the plan is for Tristan Stubbs to get his century, currently 86*. He deserves it but you wonder whether this is detracting from the game-plan. It wouldn’t be out of the question that India could survive one day of batting

Tristan Stubbs is taking on Nitish here. He slams a drive down the ground which brings up the 50 partnership, before having an ugly swipe which only connects with the air.

Seems like a slight tone change, can’t be many overs left of batting now

A surprise welcome to the attack for Nitish Kumar Reddy. I wasn’t expecting any pace bowling but perhaps it’s for the Indian side to work out what the pitch will do when Jansen and Mulder start their bowling.

The batting pair carve out a couple of singles from his first over

The players are back onto the field after lunch, but there’s been no declaration to my amazement. Probably just to unsettle the opening Indian pair.

This might be a case of Stubbs and Mulder having a hack until one of them gets out. Still going to be spin for India, Jadeja starting proceedings.

Interesting choice from Washington Sundar, trying to catch out Wiaan Mulder to make sure he doesn’t get an extra few paces towards the strikers end. He’s firmly in his crease. The lead is 508 and that’s lunch.

130 runs added in that session, and you’d presume that South Africa would declare over the interval to give them a session and a day to ensure they take the 10 wickets.

Yashasvi Jaiswal of all people is onto bowl. Seems to be an alright leggie, all things considered.

There’s not been much in the way of boundaries, but as I say that Mulder powers one through the off-side. That takes the lead past 500. It’s not often India face this kind of predicament at home, it’s been a masterful performance from the Proteas

Tristan Stubbs has really showed his versatility today. Known normally for outrageous T20 knocks, he’s put together a defensive masterclass that has also punished bad balls. His half century came off 129 deliveries.

Washington Sundar is back onto bowl, in what must surely be the last hour of South African batting

Even if the game state was more in India’s favour South Africa wouldn’t be worried. Wiaan Mulder is the new man who elegantly drives for four off Kuldeep. He bats as high as three for Leicestershire and did in the WTC final as well.

After him, it’s their two highest scorers from the first innings and one of the premier wicket-keeper batsmen in world cricket. It’s some squad they’ve got at the moment

Looked plumb. One that perfectly straightens up and evades de Zorzi’s attempted sweep comfortably. Beautiful ball from Jadeja who has toiled somewhat today. The South African man reviews but three reds and he’s on his way.

De Zorzi misses out on his half-century but has done more than enough to secure a perfect position for South Africa

Brilliant batting from the pair, and four byes from Kuldeep brings up the century partnership. They’re both eyeing up their personal 50s too, with Stubbs the typical aggressor striking at half the rate of de Zorzi.

The wheels are starting to fall off for India, as mistakes are gradually becoming more and more frequent. There was one half chance last over but it might be a case where South Africa have to put them out of their misery

A statement of intent after drinks, with eight runs coming off the over including a slog sweep for four from Stubbs. South Africa will be eyeing up a declaration soon knowing that even if India could hold onto their wickets they wouldn’t have time to get towards their mammoth target

Four byes to finish this mini-session, as one from Jadeja rears up and de Zorzi’s failed attempt at a reverse sweep bamboozles Pant behind the stumps.

Drinks are brought onto the field, and things are looking bleak for India. The Proteas are moving with real poise at the moment, and their lead is at an unassailable point: 448 and climbing

Kuldeep opens up the over with one that turns sharply to Tristan Stubbs, beating him and hitting him high on pad. Given not out on field and taken upstairs. There’s no bat, and it’s pitching in line but too high and a bit wide of leg stump in the end.

Not a bad review given the circumstances, but one that India lose

The score keeps ticking for South Africa, with both Kuldeep and Jadeja offering the occasional loose delivery. Anything left too far outside off is being reverse-swept to great effect at the moment, and anything straying leg side is being tickled round the corner.

More no-balls for Jadeja, three now in the innings. A bizarre pattern emerging for the great, but he does beat Stubbs with a beauty straight after

Very stable stuff from these two and the 50 stand is up. It’s been a calculated effort, understanding the stakes and the need for scoring.

Things have been slightly slower in the past 15 mins, to the extent that Ravi Shastri on comms is picking out people in the crowd having ice cream