A surreal final day at Johannesburg

An incredible day of Test cricket is yet to sink in for cricket lovers.

Two of the principal architects who shaped the fate of a great tussle, had lots to say while looking back at the frenzied climax that greeted fans at the Wanderers Stadium here on Sunday.

Excerpts:

Virat Kohli: It was a weird situation to be, it was sort of strange too to have those ups and downs throughout the day.

We got two quick wickets in the first session and we thought that another couple of wickets in the second session would have been perfect for us but A.B. de Villiers and Faf du Plessis batted brilliantly.

That inside edge of AB just opened up things for us and then when we got J-P (Duminy) out, we thought we will win the game and then Vernon (Philander) came and struck a few boundaries and then we thought that we are on the back-foot again.

When we ran out Faf, we thought we will win again and it was just too much going on in the end, in the end a very enjoyable Test match. I think it was a fair finish for this Test match.

Yeah, these situations are not enjoyable and it is a bit too much but it is nice to look at it at this point in time.

Faf du Plessis: Very satisfied that we pulled it through. A lot of people wrote us off (but) we showed character.

A lot of emotion comes with the hundred. A lot of work still had to be done.

We did well to get into a position to save the match, obviously we would have liked to win the game and be part of a best Test match ever but I am very satisfied and I go back to Australia when we did the same thing (at Adelaide).

Tough in the middle

It was tough in the middle. We got some momentum with A.B. de Villiers. When we started getting four an over, our plan was to bat until the last 10 overs and from there we could try anything.

A.B. went out at a crucial stage and I decided to bat through the innings.

Then J-P got out and it was very important for me to stay in. Vernon (Philander) came in and played beautifully.

I would have liked to cross the line, wanted to be the guy at the end, but couldn’t finish it.