South Africa’s stand-in captain Dean Elgar has shared that South Africa are confident of defending a target of 100 or more in the Cape Town Test against India. As per him, who is playing in his last international match, they have the quality bowlers to defend the target on the Newlands surface. However, 23 wickets fell on a crazy opening day of the second India-South Africa Test in Cape Town on Wednesday. South Africa were bowled out for a mere 55 batting first, while India replied with 153 as well. Then the Proteas were 62/3 at stumps in their second innings.

Speaking at the end of a thrilling day at Newlands, Elgar was quoted as telling reporters, “I would take 100 (victory target) all day. When our bowlers click they can rip through any batting lineup and on this wicket that is possible. I didn’t know it would play in that way though, with the naked eye it did not look so bad. But it’s one of those wickets where if you knuckle down, you never know what can happen. You still have to put the ball in the right area and they (India) executed that to a tee. This pitch just seemed to get quicker as the (first) session went on. I don’t know what to make of it.”

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However, Dean Elgar was dismissed for 4 and 12 in his farewell international game, finishing his Test career with 5347 which came at an average of 37.92 with 14 tons. While he was asked about the decision to bat first in Cape Town in the wake of what transpired, Elgar shared that he would still have batted first.

“I would still stick to batting first after seeing how the wicket has played. The older ball was still doing something. We’ve just experienced a really crazy day of Test cricket. I just said to the guys I will measure them on attitude and execution with the ball. We maybe leaked a few runs with half-volleys but I can’t fault the bowlers for the effort they put in,” Dean Elgar concluded.