Centurion: India skipper Virat Kohli (85 batting, 130b, 8×4) led India fightback with wickets tumbling at the other end as India signed off on 183 for five at stumps on the second day of the second Test against South Africa at the SuperSport Park here, Sunday.
At close of play, all-rounder Hardik Pandya (11 batting) was giving company to his skipper as the duo have added 19 runs for the unbeaten sixth wicket. India are trailing by 152 runs to South African first innings total of 335.
India started off their reply nicely with openers Murali Vijay (46, 126b, 6×4) and KL Rahul (10) making a 28-run opening stand. Rahul looked rusty, particularly against Morne Morkel’s (1/47) bounce, and only ended up giving a return catch, which the bowler grabbed in a diving effort to the left.
Immediately on the next ball, Pujara was run-out for his career’s first golden duck as he set off on a suicidal run and failed to beat Lungi Ngidi’s throw from mid-on.
Two back-to-back wickets put India in a troublesome situation. However, Kohli and Vijay steadied the ship with a 79-run stand for the third wicket. Rohit Sharma then joined Kohli, but the Mumbai lad failed to make a mark and was sent packing by Kagiso Rabada (1/33).
Wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel (19, 32b, 3×4) then joined his skipper for a 32-run fifth wicket stand as the Gujarat left hander couldn’t capitalise his start before becoming the maiden Test scalp of South African debutant Ngidi (1/26). However, Kohli and Pandya ensured India there will be no more damages on the day.
Earlier, South Africa were bowled out for 335 in their first innings just before lunch. Ravichandran Ashwin (4/113) and Ishant Sharma (3/46) bowled well for the visitors as the Proteas lost their last seven wickets for 89 runs.
Starting from overnight 269/6, Faf du Plessis (63, 142b, 9×4) and Keshav Maharaj (18) took their seventh wicket stand to 31 runs, before Mohammed Shami (1/58) removing Maharaj.
Skipper Du Plessis then put on 42 runs with Rabada (11) to help his side go past 300-mark. Later, Pandya held a smart catch off Ishant in the deep. Two overs later, Ishant also bowled Du Plessis to change the course of the morning session again, before Ashwin wrapped up the South African innings dismissing Morkel (six).
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