Despite Rohit Sharma’s best efforts to bowl, Elgar and Jansen persisted in their relentless style, extending South Africa’s lead into the first innings. On the third day of the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion, India eventually broke the agonizing sixth-wicket stand between Dean Elgar and Marco Jansen. Still, the pair had scored 111 runs together, giving their team a commanding 115-run lead. Dean Elgar began the day at 140, with an 11-run advantage for South Africa. With excellent help from Jansen, the southpaw produced some amazing strokes.
Elgar appeared poised to achieve his first-ever Test double century. Those who follow cricket will recall that six years ago, in a match in Potchefstroom against Bangladesh, he was bowled for 199. Before he got his hands on a short ball from Shardul Thakur that found its way to the wicketkeeper, Elgar was on his way to vanquish the evils of Potchefstroom on his home field. Elgar scored 185 runs off 287 balls to conclude his vigil, and when he returned to the dressing room, the crowd applauded him standing up.
Elgar hit 28 boundaries in his comprehensive knock. On a track not particularly conducive to batting, he batted for over 400 minutes.
At lunch on Day 3, South Africa was ahead by 147.
After Elgar was removed from the series, Team India continued to bowl short-pitch in the current boxing day test. Jansen and Gerald Coetzee took on the bowling and scored 31 runs off of 26 balls. In addition to putting in a lot of effort, Ravichandran Ashwin misplaced a few balls while bowling. But in the end, he claimed a well-earned wicket, removing Coetzee for 19.
Before lunch, Jansen and Kagiso Rabada worked together at the crease to complete the final five deliveries. The latter is seeking to get a first-ever Test century in the second session while batting at 72 off 120 balls. The Proteas are already ahead by a dominating 147 runs, so India will need to seize the final three wickets fast.
In the interim, these are the responses that ‘X’ users had to Dean Elgar’s shocking jab:
Only Lord shadul Thakur can get DEAN ELGAR
Well played DEAN..You took the match from India hand 👏👏#AUSvPAK #INDvSA #Dhoni #SENA #BBL13 #DeanElgar #BabarAzam #Shami #Abdullah #Prasidh #CricketTwitterpic.twitter.com/NgtH41A8gc
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) December 28, 2023
Dean 185 innings came to an end!
What a player. What an innings
SA: 360-6
Lead by 115Remember! India has never won a test series in 🇿🇦 since 1992 -93.#INDvsSA || #DeanElgar || #Cricket #PAKvAUS
#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/oqzrlQqp6q— Rebellious Wolf (@soothingdrug16) December 28, 2023
Strangled down leg & #DeanElgar finally departs!
It took a rip snorter from #ShardulThakur to end Elgar’s vigil of 185!#SAvsIND pic.twitter.com/hQUH4d3eqB
— Ali (@_Its_Ali_Khan_) December 28, 2023
Made 🇿🇦 proud, Dean! 👏 #SAvIND #DeanElgar pic.twitter.com/4a1PmKrCOh
— Sunrisers Eastern Cape (@SunrisersEC) December 28, 2023
“Farewell innings of Dean Elgar, truly iconic! 185 runs from 287 balls in challenging Centurion conditions. A special farewell series indeed – this innings etches itself in cricket history. 👏🏏 #DeanElgar #SAvIND” pic.twitter.com/o0m4h58KUt
— Hemant ( Sports Active ) (@hemantbhavsar86) December 28, 2023
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