Vernon Philander hopes that someone will put up their hand on day 5, bat long and get a big hundred for the Proteas.
The Proteas two paceman, Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander, were not in the wickets as we are usually accustomed to, obviously due to the conditions in India.
They took three wickets between them but they were both very economical, particularly in the second innings.
Philander returned figures of 1-21 in his 12 overs, only conceding two boundaries in his entire spell.
“It’s obviously just understanding your role. Coming here we knew, myself and KG, probably will have to keep it quiet,” said Philander in a press conference on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, they’ve played our spinners pretty well so our job was to keep it tight and make sure we sort of close the tap.”
South Africa require 383 runs in the fifth day of the first Test against India.
The centuries that Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock scored have given the proteas batsmen confidence to play similar knocks and dig in to get the team across the line.
With Elgar dismissed early by Jadeja, this means the other proteas top-order batsman will have to step up to the occasion and carry the team to what will be a record-breaking fourth innings victory.
“Our confidence is pretty high and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.
“We had a really good innings with the bat in the first innings, I think the guys are in good spirits and obviously we’re looking forward to tomorrow. It’s going to be a challenge but we’re going to get a reward from it.”
“Dean has played massive innings in the first innings for us but it (the loss of Dean’s wicket) creates an opportunity for someone else to put up their hands.
“With the group of guys that we have, the guys are hungry to score runs. Hopefully, someone else will put up their hand tomorrow, bats long and geta a big hundred for the team.”
The likes of Aiden Markram, Theunis de Bruyn and Temba Bavuma will have to step up tomorrow if the Proteas are to win or draw the first Test match.
South Africa were on 11-1 at the close of play on day four, Aiden Markram 3*(18) and Theunis de Bruyn 5*(20) will continue to bat on day five.
READ: Proteas aim to survive on day 5
