SA v IND 2018: 1st Test, Day 2 – South Africa lead by 142 despite Hardik Pandya’s brilliant counterattacking 93

Hardik Pandya added 99 runs with Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the 8th wicket.

Vernon Philander took 3/33

South Africa ended day two on a high, as India conceded a lead of 142 runs after getting bowled out for 209.

India had started their day at 28/3 and it just kept getting worse for them. Rohit Sharma went for 11, LBW Rabada and Pujara went 1st ball after lunch, caught by du Plessis off Philander for 26. Ashwin followed for 12, with Philander taking the wicket. Wriddhiman Saha went back for a duck.

Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck up a good rapport and added 99 runs for the eight wicket, as Kumar kept one end busy, while Pandya went after the Proteas bowlers. He brought up his fifty in just 46 balls and most of his shots were pure cricketing shots. Pandya was brilliant against the short ball, often going after the short ball, hitting it over the wicketkeeper’s head.

Pandya and Bhuvneshwar added 99 runs for the 8th wicket | Reuters

Bhuvneshwar was equally good in keeping Pandya company and scored 86 ball 25 before falling to Morkel, caught behind by De Kock. Pandya then decided to chase his century and in the process, got caught by De Kock off Rabada. India’s innings quickly folded for 209 after Pandya’s dismissal and South Africa earned a lead of 77 runs.

Philander (3/33) and Rabada (3/34) were the best bowlers and they got great support from Morkel and Steyn, who took two wickets each. Dale Steyn however injured his heel and went off the ground to have scans on his injured foot.

South Africa started on a good note in their second innings as Aiden Markram (34) and Dean Elgar (25) added 52 runs for the first wicket. But Hardik Pandya wasn’t done for the day and removed both the openers in a short while.

Though Indian bowlers tried hard to pick more wickets, Rabada and Amla held fort for the last few overs.

The third day of this Test match will be extremely important for Indian team as they would need to bowl South Africa out for cheap, if they want to even think of making a match out of it.

BRIEF SCORES:

SOUTH AFRICA 286 & 65/2 (A Markram 34; H Pandya 2/17) AND INDIA 209 (H Pandya 93; V Philander 3/33)
South Africa lead by 142 runs with 8 wickets in hand

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 06 Jan, 2018

    Share Via