Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts
 

India Vs South Africa, 2nd Test: Late burst of wickets bring tourists back in the game on Day 1

India staged a brilliant comeback thanks to some disciplined bowling effort by R Ashwin and three quick dismissals in the final session against South Africa in the second Test in Centurion.

India Vs South Africa, 2nd Test, Day 1: Late burst of wickets bring tourists in the game

Centurion, Jan 13: India staged a stellar comeback, thanks to some disciplined bowling effort by R Ashwin and lively fielding in the final session, and keep themselves in the game at the end the first day's play here on Saturday (January 13).

India off-spinner Ashwin struck thrice before hosts South Africa reached 269/6 at stumps on the opening day of the second Test. Skipper Faf du Plessis (24*) and Keshav Maharaj (10*) were present at the crease at the end of day's play.

Match Scorecard; Social Talk

On a day when the Indian pacers failed to make much of a dent on an easy-paced wicket, Aswhin (3/90) emerged as the most successful bowler as he dismissed Aiden Markram (94), Dean Elgar (31) and Quinton de Kock (0).

However, two run-outs and a wicket by Ashwin within 13 balls saw the hosts slump from 246/3 to 251/6 as India sought to wrest control of the match while somewhat masking a couple of questionable selections in the playing XI.

Markram (94) and Hashim Amal (82) were the top scorers for the Proteas as they grilled Indian bowlers. AB de Villiers was the third South African wicket to perish for 20 after he was played-on by Ishant Sharma. De Villiers departed after another fifty-plus partnership with Amla.

Skipper Faf du Plessis and Amla recovered the hosts after De Villiers' dismissal for 199. But Amla suffered a shock exit after he was run out by Hardik Pandya for 82 when the right-handed batsman as stealing a single off his own delivery.

Quinton de Kock was the new-man-in but he was dismissed for a golden duck two balls later. He was caught in the slip cordon by Virat Kohli as he edged Ashwin. Philander was the sixth African wicket to perish as he too was run out without scoring. It was a misunderstanding that cost Philander his wicket.

Indian pacers looked ineffective on a pitch as they hardly managed to trouble the Proteas. Mohammad Shami had a forgettable outing as he struggled to trouble them.

India Vs South Africa, 2nd Test, Day 1: Amla-du Plessis stand guard after De Villiers' departure

Earlier, Markram (94), playing on his home ground, missed a well-deserved century by a whisker after he was caught behind off Ashwin (2-53). Overall, he faced 150 balls and hit 15 fours.

India bagged two wickets in the post-lunch session while leaked 104 runs to bring themselves back in the game. Resuming at 78/0, Markram and Dean Elgar (31) took their opening stand to 85 runs before Ashwin got the first breakthrough for India early in the second session.

The shot from Elgar hit Murali Vijay in the mid-riff and lodged there, with the fielder acting quickly enough to catch it.Elgar and Markram had started watchfully against the new-ball pairing of Bumrah and Shami, the latter conceding 23 runs off his four overs.

The new ball bowlers failed to create any chances, and Ishant came on as first-change in the 8th over. He immediately troubled Elgar and continued to do so throughout his first spell. Pandya came on to bowl in the 13th over.

By the 20th over, when Ashwin was introduced into the attack, India had used up all their frontline bowlers in just over an hour's play. Ashwin too probed Elgar, and in the 24th over, had a caught-behind appeal turned down.

India opted for DRS review but there was no edge. The Proteas had crossed 50 in the 21st over. Meanwhile, Markram reached his second Test half-century off 81 balls, just before the break.

India Vs South Africa, 2nd Test: Hosts elect to bat against; Rahul, Parthiv, Ishant in for India

Earlier, South Africa skipper won his second consecutive toss in the series and elected to bat against India. Proteas brought in debutant Lungisani Ngidi in place of injured Dale Steyn from the previous game and that is the only forced change for the Proteas.

Already trailing by 0-1, India skipper Virat Kohli made three changes to the side by dropping Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Wriddhiman Saha.

KL Rahul came in place of Dhawan, Parthiv Patel was brought into the side in place of wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha while fit-again Ishant Sharma replaced Bhuvneshwar. Apparently, Saha has a niggle and that's the reason why Parthiv has been brought to the side.

South Africa thrashes India by 72 runs
    Story first published: Sunday, January 14, 2018, 8:31 [IST]
    Other articles published on Jan 14, 2018