A dream spell by pacer Shardul Thakur has brought India back into the contest and left the home team struggling at 179/7 in the afternoon session of the second test. In what could be called the repeat of the previous day, the batting side, after dominating the bulk of the morning session, found itself under pressure following late strikes by an opposition pacer in the latter part of the session.
South Africa, was cruising at 88 for one wicket before the Mumbai pacer cut right through their middle order, striking not once or twice, but three times. Thakur first forced an edge to wicketkeeper Pant out of skipper Dean Elgar ending the 74 run second wicket partnership, He followed this by dismissing Peterson and van der Dussen, the latter falling in the last delivery of the session, to take India back to the driving seat.
He later returned in the afternoon session to dismiss Bavuma and Verreynn when it seemed that the duo will take the game out of India’s grasp.
Cricket can be a beautiful yet cruel game sometimes where your fortune can change in a matter of deliveries. Nothing can be a perfect example of this than the predicament team India has found itself at the beginning of the second day of the test match.
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India had everything going in its favor on the eve of the second test match. After its big win in the first test, most experts and fans were hoping for a historic victory in the second test that will ensure the visitors will win their first-ever test series in South Africa. A change in playing eleven and leadership following an injury to Virat Kohli could not bring cheers to the Proteas dressing room as the home team was fighting its own demons. It seemed to be going in the right direction for India after winning the toss as the visitors were 49 for one wicket with just two more overs remaining in the first session of the test.
However, things went south for India from there onwards after pacer Duanne Olivier (3/64) dismissed Pujara and Rahane in back-to-back deliveries. The South African pacers cashed in on the sudden change of fortune and dismissed India for just 202 despite the resistance by stand-in skipper KL Rahul (50) and R Ashwin (46).
Left-arm pacer Marco Jansen (4/31) was the pick of the South Africa bowlers while Duanne Olivier and Kagiso Rabada (3/64) also played their part.
India will be hoping that its pacers will end the South African innings quickly giving India a substantial lead.
Brief Scores:
India: 202 all out in 63.1 overs. (Mayank Agarwal 26, KL Rahul 50; Duanne Olivier 3/64, Marco Jansen 4/31, Kagiso Rabada 3/64).
South Africa: 179 for 7 in 68 overs (Keegan Petersen 62, Temba Bavuma 51; Shardul Thakur 5/38).
First Published: Jan 4, 2022 12:31 PM IST
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