IND vs SA, 2nd Test, Day 2: Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur stole the limelight on the second day of the second Test between South Africa and India at the Wanderers on Tuesday. After India had scored 202 runs on the board in the first innings, Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen looked solid in the first hour of the second day.
The duo showed great resilience and put on 74 runs for the second wicket. Finally, it was Shardul Thakur, who gave India the first breakthrough of the second day. He accounted for the wicket of Dean Elgar (28 off 120) in the 39th over of the innings. Four overs later, he took the wicket of Keegan Petersen (62 off 118) to send both the players back to the pavilion. Shardul Thakur then ran through South Africa’s middle-order and didn’t let them build any momentum.
Wickets kept falling at regular intervals, however, Temba Bavuma held fort at one end. He played some heart-warming shorts and ensured South Africa didn’t say too much behind in the game. Buvuma scored 51 off 60 deliveries before he edged one behind off Shardul Thakur.
The Indian all-rounder ended up picking seven wickets for 61 runs to help India bundle the opponents for 229 runs in the second innings. Mohammed Shami picked 2 for 52, while Bumrah had a solitary wicket for 49 runs.
KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal provided a steady start until Marco Jansen got the better of the former in the seventh over of the innings. Mayank Agarwal, however, kept playing his shots and ensured runs keep coming at a good pace. He, unfortunately, got out after scoring 23 off 37 balls. South Africa looked to build pressure from there but the out-of-form pair of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara’s counter-attack surprised one and all.
Pujara hit 7 fours en-route to his unbeaten 35-run knock off 42 balls, including 7 fours. Ajinkya Rahane, on the other hand, stayed unbeaten on 11 off 22. India is currently at 85 for 2 at stumps on Day 2 and leading by 58 runs with both Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease. It will be interesting to see how the duo plays the first session of IND vs SA 2nd Test on Day 3.
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