Ind vs SA, 2nd Test: Ravindra Jadeja has the last laugh against AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers scored 85 in the first innings of his 100th Test. (Source: AP)

Everything about the catch was top-class; from anticipation to gathering. AB de Villiers went down the track and attempted a push towards the leg side. Ravindra Jadeja’s delivery bounced a little more, hit the pad, took a very thin inside edge and lobbed up where forward short leg would have been. Wriddhiman Saha had anticipated it. He made the charge and dived full-length to complete the catch. Superb keeping.

From the fans’ point of view it was a sort of anti-climax. AB was batting on 85 in his 100th Test and a century would have been a romantic fairytale. He got a rousing ovation from his ‘home’ crowd after reaching his half-ton. Saha’s brilliance denied him a special milestone.

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The spectators, however, witnessed a fascinating contest during his 105-ball stay at the crease. AB versus the Indian spinners, Ravi Ashwin and Jadeja, made the first day highlights package.

Once again, he came to bat under pressure. Ashwin was making the ball talk and South Africa had been struggling at 45/3. The second ball that AB faced from the Indian off-spinner dipped sharply. He had already made a forward lunge but changed his shot quickly, tapping it in front of cover for a single. Excellent bowling, but even better adjustment.

Ashwin was varying his pace and trajectory but AB concentrated on sticking to the basics. Unlike his team mates, he was very decisive in his footwork. A pull to deep mid-wicket was gorgeous. Ashwin had missed his length just a little, but that was enough for the South African master.

The offie responded with a ripper in his next spell. He bowled a faster one and made it jump off the deck. AB had already set himself up for a steer down to third man. He improvised and offered deadpan defence. It was scintillating stuff.

His approach against Jadeja was a little different. He mostly stayed inside the line and wasn’t afraid of playing against the turn. When he stepped out, AB ensured he got to the pitch of the ball. At times he met Jadeja’s deliveries in front of the short-leg fielder. When he went back, he used the whole width of the crease.

AB scored at a faster rate against Jadeja – 28 runs off 36 balls. Against Ashwin, he had 16 off 27. But the left-arm spinner kept on asking some tricky questions. In the end, he had his reward.