New Delhi: South Africa's frontline spinner Imran Tahir showed his skipper Hashim Amla that he deserves more bowling after picking up five-for in the second innings of third Test against India on Thursday.
Bowled him. That's five wickets for Imran Tahir! His 2nd five wicket haul. IND 173 all out.Lead by 309. #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/TDvrrdGmnr
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) November 26, 2015
Tahir was introduced by Amla as the fifth bowler on Thursday behind Simon Harmer and JP Duminy. Tahir was also underutilised in the first innings after getting to bowl just 12.5 overs.
In that scenario too, Tahir was introduced by his skipper as the fifth bowler, who preferred the rest above him.
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Tahir got Dhawan who was looking good after making 39. He followed it up with by denting the Indian middle order, scalping the wickets of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. Tahir's introduction saw India slip from 97/2 to 122/6, with the spinner accounting for four of those wickets.
Amla has been hesitant to use Tahir in spin friendly wicket that has seen both teams faltering with the bat in their respective innings. 23 wickets had fallen to spin in Nagpur before the fourth innings to highlight the impact the pitch has had.
Tahir looked lively and dangerous and it looked like Amla missed the trick by getting him on so late despite the fact the spinner is their main bowler. Tahir's late introduction ensured the hosts got some important runs on the board in both the innings and set a target of 309 runs.
Tahir's role in the side here comes to question given the decison to send him bat at No. 3 in both innings and giving him such less overs to bowl.
The leg-spinner took six wickets in the first Test match at Mohali.
Alviro Peterson stated on Twitter that for all the people including the media who backed Tahir were proven right.
And for those people including the media who backed Imran Tahir, good on you!! #5for
— Alviro Petersen (@AlviroPetersen) November 26, 2015
