SA vs IND, 1st Test: Will rain, thunderstorms spoil Indias chances on Day 5?

The Indian
cricket team is close to winning the first Test of a three-match series in
Centurion against South Africa. On the fifth day of the match, India need six
more wickets from taking a 1-0 lead in the series. But the weather in Centurion
could play spoilsport to India’s chances.

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After the
rain washed Day 2 of the Test, the weather is expected to play a key role on
the final day of the game as well.

According
to Accuweather, there’s a 65% chance of precipitation during the afternoon on
Day 5 of the Test with two hours of rain predicted. Furthermore, there’s a 39%
chance of a thunderstorm.

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After
losing a full day on the second day of the Test, India produced an exemplary
display to take a stronghold in the first Test. After scoring 324 in the first
innings, the visitors bowled South Africa out on 194 to take a strong 130-run
lead.

South
Africa, on the other hand, did well to restrict India to 174 in the second
innings but 130 runs first innings lead kept India supremely under command as
hosts returned for a 305-run chase. The Indian bowlers took four wickets before
the end of Day 4, with Jasprit Bumrah inflicting two late blows in the final
hour of the day to put the South Africans on backfoot.

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With the
rain predicted in the afternoon, Team India will be aiming to take the
remaining six wickets as quickly as possible on Day 5. South Africa, on the
other hand, will hope for a fight from their captain Dean Elgar, who scored a
gritty half-century and remained unbeaten overnight.

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If the
match goes till the afternoon and it rains, things could become complicated for
the Indians and the match might be forced to a draw.