Cape Town: Hardik Pandya (93, 95b, 14×4, 1×6) stood tall amid ruins with his all-round prowess but hosts South Africa were still very much in command with a current lead of 142 runs against India after an enthralling second day in the first cricket Test at the Newlands here Saturday.
Pandya’s a swashbuckling innings helped India to reach 209 after being at a precarious 92 for seven at one stage. Then when the Proteas batted with a first innings lead of 77 runs, Pandya (2/17) was again in the mix with the wickets of openers Aiden Markram (34) and Dean Elgar (25).
South Africa finished the day at 65 for two with Hashim Amla (four batting) and nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada (two batting) at the crease.
Call it a coincidence, Pandya’s all-round show that gave India a toehold came on the 59th birthday of India’s greatest ever all-rounder Kapil Dev.
However with three days of play left and the pitch easing out compared to the first day, India will have an uphill task if they are to chase anything in excess of 275 runs.
Pandya justified his inclusion adding an invaluable 99 runs for the eighth wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (25) to resurrect India’s innings to an extent. Overall, he showed that counter-attacking was the best ploy on the Newlands pitch which had juice for the fast bowlers.
While some of his illustrious predecessors defended dourly, Pandya adopted the opposite route. He knew that any time, he could get an unplayable delivery and so he took the onus on himself to take the attack to the South African bowlers. A straight glide over the wicket-keeper off Vernon Philander (3/33) and then dancing down the track to hit the next one to the mid-wicket fence showed his repertoire of strokes. More importantly, he decided to take the attack back to the opposition without trying to defend doggedly. He got two reprieves on 15 (dropped in the slips by Elgar) and 71 (stumping chance missed), but then fortune favours the brave only.
Post lunch, Philander struck off the very first ball as Cheteshwar Pujara (26) was caught at second slip. Two overs later, he had Ravichandran Ashwin (12) caught behind as India were reduced to 81 for six. It was Philander’s 100th Test wicket at home.
It became 92/7 soon after as Dale Steyn (2/51) trapped Wriddhiman Saha (0) leg before as the batsman didn’t offer a stroke to an incoming delivery.
In the morning session, India batted 25 overs for only 48 runs losing the wicket of Rohit Sharma (11) in the process. He was trapped leg before by Kagiso Rabada (3/34).
Steyn blow for Proteas
Cape Town: South Africa were dealt a major blow after seniormost pacer Dale Steyn was ruled out for the remainder of three-Test series against India after damaging a tissue on his left heel during the second day of the opening Test. Steyn left the field three balls into his 18th over as he felt a pain on his left heel. It has been learnt that he has damaged a tissue and will be out for a minimum period of four to six weeks which effectively rules him out of the ongoing series against the Indian team.
Press trust of India
