SA vs IND 2nd test: The entire cricket fraternity lauds Protea skipper Dean Elgar for showing lion hearted intent amidst tricky times to steer his team to the win against India in the second test match at Johannesburg.
Team India lost the 2nd test match by seven wickets, slightly denting India’s aspirations to lift the maiden test title in South Africa after touring for more than 30 years. Indians have been helpless in this part of the world as the Protea have one-sidedly won the test match series in their own backyard.
AS IT HAPPENED:
KL Rahul, India’s stand-in skipper in Virat Kohli’s absence, who sustained an upper back spasm, won the toss and opted to bat first. The opening partnership was once again going to be the key for the Indians, as the two openers could only amass 36 runs together before Mayank Agarwal’s wicket fell.
In the first innings of the 2nd test match, team India managed to score 202 runs in the loss of 10 wickets. Skipper KL Rahul top-scored with his half-century while R Ashwin added a healthy 46 runs at the backend.
Left-arm pacer Marco Jansen picked four wickets while three apiece fell in the bag of Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier.
In the chase of 202, South Africa lost Aiden Markram early in the innings. Dean Elgar and Keegan Peterson tried to pace the innings, however, the Indian pacers were brilliant enough to restrict the opposition to 229/10 with a small lead of 27 runs.
Keegan Peterson was the top run-scorer for SA with a good contribution of 62 runs while Temba Bavuma scored a quickfire 51 runs.
For India Shardul Thakur recorded his best ever test figure along with his maiden test fifer as he scalped 7 wickets while Mohammad Shami picked 2 and Jasprit Bumrah got one in his bag.
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In the second innings, India’s opening partnership disappointed, as stand-in skipper Rahul was sent back at a score of 8. However, the middle order to some extent soaked the pressure and provided a much-needed cushion.
As they say, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane gave priceless oxygen supplies to their test career by counter-attacking half-century knocks under pressure. Pujara scored 53 runs while Rahane managed 58 before getting dismissed.
Team India in its second innings could only muster 266 runs owing to the steady efforts of Hanuma Vihari, who scored unbeaten 40 runs and batted until the end.
Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen picked three wickets each while Duanne Olivier picked one in India’s second innings.
South Africa in pursuit of 243 runs to win the test match, just wanted to stay controlled and strong in the middle. The time was never an issue as two days game was still to be played. The host’s skipper Dean Elgar lead the batting attack despite taking many body blows. Elgar remained stuck at one side and scored unbeaten 96 runs while from the other end South Africa saw healthy contributions from each batter.
Aiden Markram scored 31, Keegan Peterson scored 28, Rassie van der Dussen played a good knock of 40 runs while Temba Bavuma remained unbeaten at 23.
South Africa won the match by 7 wickets and levelled the series. The decider will be played at Newlands, Cape Town, starting January 11.
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