Score heavy in first innings in Ranchi: Faf tells SA batsmen

TIL Desk Sports/ Having already lost the three-match series, South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has called on his players to come out with an improved performance, especially with the bat when they face India in the final Test beginning Saturday in Ranchi.

The Proteas have not been able to make use of their first innings — barring the Vizag Test where they managed to score 431 in reply to India”s 502. India, on the other hand, have dominated by getting big runs in their first innings. In the first Test, the hosts scored 502 runs while they put on 601 runs in Pune.

And, du Plessis wants his batsmen to learn from the Indian batters and make most of their first innings in the final Test. “We need to put big runs on the board in the first innings,” said du Plessis while addressing a press conference on Thursday. “When you get runs in the first innings anything from there is possible. For us first innings runs will be vital and then anything could happen in the second innings,” he added.