This is Somerset --
South Africa drew a gripping first Test against India at the Wanderers – having raised hope of a Test-record run-chase of 458.
AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis batted throughout the afternoon session to stave off defeat and then needed 127 in a minimum 30 overs after tea.
The pair each pushed on to their centuries and South Africa appeared favourites to win until Du Plessis was run out for 134. Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn left it too late to pursue the 16 runs still needed and their side finished eight shy on 450 for seven.
Resuming on 138 for two, the home side suffered an early blow when Somerset's Alviro Petersen was bowled by Mohammed Shami off an inside edge without adding to his overnight 76.
Zaheer Khan then had Jacques Kallis lbw for 34 – unluckily, having also inside-edged the ball – to leave South Africa on 197 for four.
Du Plessis and De Villiers ensured the hosts reached the break without further loss, though, and pressed on through the afternoon.
Their 50 partnership came up shortly after the restart.
De Villiers inside-edged a four to bring up the century stand and the team's 300 soon followed when Du Plessis diverted a vicious lifter from Zaheer past the slips.
By the time tea came around, Du Plessis was on 88 with De Villiers on 71 and the former soon reached three figures with a clip to deep mid-wicket for three off Zaheer.
De Villiers' century – 90 balls quicker than his partner's at 162 balls, with each hitting 12 fours – was greeted with an understated celebration, indicating the victory chase was uppermost in his mind.
But he added only three more runs before chopping on to give Ishant Sharma his first wicket.
JP Duminy played on against the dangerous Shami (three for 107) for five but Philander hit Shami for four to keep South Africa within range and eight runs came off the 132nd over, meaning 20 were needed from the last four.
But Du Plessis was crucially run out, Ajinkya Rahane hitting the stumps as he had on day four to dismiss Graeme Smith, and made a devastated walk back to the dressing room.
Steyn and Philander missed with wild hoiks at the third and fourth balls of the last over.
Philander jogged a long single off the next before a bizarre finish saw Steyn hoist the final ball down the ground for a huge but meaningless six. Reported by This is 22 hours ago.
South Africa drew a gripping first Test against India at the Wanderers – having raised hope of a Test-record run-chase of 458.
AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis batted throughout the afternoon session to stave off defeat and then needed 127 in a minimum 30 overs after tea.
The pair each pushed on to their centuries and South Africa appeared favourites to win until Du Plessis was run out for 134. Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn left it too late to pursue the 16 runs still needed and their side finished eight shy on 450 for seven.
Resuming on 138 for two, the home side suffered an early blow when Somerset's Alviro Petersen was bowled by Mohammed Shami off an inside edge without adding to his overnight 76.
Zaheer Khan then had Jacques Kallis lbw for 34 – unluckily, having also inside-edged the ball – to leave South Africa on 197 for four.
Du Plessis and De Villiers ensured the hosts reached the break without further loss, though, and pressed on through the afternoon.
Their 50 partnership came up shortly after the restart.
De Villiers inside-edged a four to bring up the century stand and the team's 300 soon followed when Du Plessis diverted a vicious lifter from Zaheer past the slips.
By the time tea came around, Du Plessis was on 88 with De Villiers on 71 and the former soon reached three figures with a clip to deep mid-wicket for three off Zaheer.
De Villiers' century – 90 balls quicker than his partner's at 162 balls, with each hitting 12 fours – was greeted with an understated celebration, indicating the victory chase was uppermost in his mind.
But he added only three more runs before chopping on to give Ishant Sharma his first wicket.
JP Duminy played on against the dangerous Shami (three for 107) for five but Philander hit Shami for four to keep South Africa within range and eight runs came off the 132nd over, meaning 20 were needed from the last four.
But Du Plessis was crucially run out, Ajinkya Rahane hitting the stumps as he had on day four to dismiss Graeme Smith, and made a devastated walk back to the dressing room.
Steyn and Philander missed with wild hoiks at the third and fourth balls of the last over.
Philander jogged a long single off the next before a bizarre finish saw Steyn hoist the final ball down the ground for a huge but meaningless six. Reported by This is 22 hours ago.