SA vs IND, 2nd Test, Review: Late wickets surge India ahead

The second Test between India and South Africa went underway amidst a lot of speculations going around regarding the team combinations. The visitors once again surprised everyone with their selections as they left out Bhuvneshwar Kumar and included Ishant Sharma to extract pace and bounce. Even Wriddhiman Saha and Shikhar Dhawan made way for Parthiv Patel and KL Rahul with no place for Ajinkya Rahane yet again. Though the first session went the way of the hosts whose openers didn’t give India an inch on a decent surface to bat.

Faf du Plessis won an all-important toss once again and opted to bat first at Supersport Park in Centurion. The home side, as expected, unleashed the young pace bowler Lungi Ngidi on his home ground in place of the injured Dale Steyn. It was important for India to bowl well upfront and extract the seam movement in the first hour. But in the absence of Bhuvi, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami struggled for the right direction even as Ishant Sharma looked the most threatening bowler.

Markram shows his class

The opening duo of Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram started off slowly and got their eyes in. The latter especially was beautiful to watch with his fluent driving and impeccable technique. Elgar looked out of sorts completely barring a couple of decent strokes off the middle of the bat. Though he stayed put and supported his partner really well as both stayed unbeaten until the end of the first session. Markram scored the second half-century of his career and is looking good for more.

The visitors went wicketless even burning one of their reviews in the anticipation of the wicket. R Ashwin bowled beautifully with the pitch offering turn and bounce to him. Ishant bowled without luck as both the batsmen endured a lot of plays and misses while facing him. Though it was the off-spinner who provided the lucky breakthrough for India by dismissing the out of sorts Elgar soon after the lunch.

But his partner Markram continued in the same vein set for his second century in whites. But his dream of scoring a ton in front of his home ground was shortlived after he edged a good length delivery to Parthiv off Ashwin. Meanwhile, India were also guilty of dropping the mighty Hashim Amla twice on 14 and 30. It was Hardik Pandya first who tried his best at short mid-wicket but the easiest chance was fluffed by the wicket-keeper down the leg-side off Ishant Sharma.

He grew in confidence spending more time on the wicket even as AB de Villiers joined him in the middle. He looked in no trouble whatsoever manufacturing different shots as both added 51 for the third wicket. But de Villiers chopped on 20 off Ishant as India came back into the game once again.

Brain fade from the hosts

Hashim Amla, making the most of the reprieves he got early on in his innings, was easily steering towards his century along with the skipper Faf du Plessis. Just when the day was ending heavily in favour of the home side, du Plessis called Amla for a non-existent run and Pandya managed a direct-hit to send back him. It was pure athleticism from the Indian all-rounder which brought back his team in the game. Soon, Ashwin scalped Quinton de Kock for a golden duck as he edged one in the slips.

But the agony was awaiting South Africa as Vernon Philander ran blindly after somehow playing the bouncer without even hearing the call of his captain. Three late wickets in the day has tipped the honours in India’s favour as the hosts could only manage 87 runs in the final session in 34 overs ending the day on 269/6. R Ashwin was magnificent for the visitors as he bowled 31 overs and struck thrice for his team. The fast bowlers looked menacing but the run-outs led India’s comeback in this match.

The pitch is looking flat and India would hope to clean up the tail in the first session on the second morning. With the pitch drying so fast, they will have to bat big and bank on Ashwin to pick more wickets in the second innings.

Brief Scores

South Africa 269/6 (A Markram 94, H Amla 82; R Ashwin 3/90)

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