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Stonewall a South African speciality

Umesh Yadav was surprised by the Proteas' defensive tactics, but South Africa have a history of stonewalling success

Staring down the barrel of a third defeat in four Tests, South Africa dug in with some old-fashioned defence to set up what could be an edge-of-the-seat finish to the fourth Test in Delhi.

Set 481 runs to win with five sessions left to bat by India skipper Virat Kohli, the Proteas blocked their way through 72 overs to reach 2-72 at stumps, led by captain Hashim Amla, who crawled his way to 23 off 207 balls.

It was an approach which surprised the hosts, Indian speedster Umesh Yadav said at stumps on day four.

"The way they are defending is a surprise and they are not even trying to play a shot,” Yadav said.

“Even the deliveries in which they can score are being defended."

Yadav's surprise was understandable.

Quick single: Amla, de Villiers holding firm in Delhi

It's not often teams decide on dour defending in this day and age.

South Africa, however, have made a habit of blocking their way through a tricky situation in recent years.

In the last two years, South Africa have tackled tough conditions, difficult bowling attacks and backs-to-the-wall situations in four Tests and come away with a draw on three of them. They narrowly lost the fourth.

Australia were at the receiving end of the first of these Tests, when Faf du Plessis celebrated his Test debut with an unbeaten 110, grinding out a whopping 376 deliveries as South Africa battled through 148 overs to save the 2012 Adelaide Test.

India themselves experienced a gritty display when the Proteas batted through 136 overs in their chase of 458 at Johannesburg in December 2013.

Du Plessis was in the thick of things again, featuring in another 300-plus ball-marathon, AB de Villiers hit a century and India were ultimately lucky to escape with a draw.

At Cape Town in 2014, Australia needed 93.3 overs on the final day and two superb Ryan Harris deliveries to breach the South African defences and register a win.

But the Proteas were back at it again a few months later in Colombo, as they played out 111 overs to hold on for a draw against Sri Lanka.

South Africa are the masters at this craft and with du Plessis still waiting in the sheds, day five could produce more frustration for the Indian bowlers.

However it won’t be easy for the tourists. India have a new ball available in eight overs, and not only will the bowlers be fresher, you can be certain Kohli’s men will have formulated new tactics overnight.

And while the trio of Amla, de Villiers and du Plessis is yet to be dislodged, the South African batting has tapered off alarmingly after that in the series.

Yadav also believes India were a touch unlucky with a few balls falling in no-man's land and it might not happen again.

"Today also they gave catches, but they were lucky that those catches fell in the gaps rather than going to the fielders," he said.

"So I don’t think that they will survive the whole day without giving any catches. The wicket’s character might change tomorrow."