South Africa scored 88 for 1 wicket and took only advantage in the last half hour, losing three wickets for 14 runs.
Shardul Thakur’s crucial wicket-taking habit came in handy as his triple strike brought India back into the game, leaving South Africa at 102 for 4 going into lunch on the second day of the second Test.
Thakur (3/8 in 4.5 overs), the team’s fourth seamer, stepped up his game to remove Dean Elgar (28 off 120 balls) and young Keegan Pietersen (62 off 118 balls), who were good in their first match. Looked. Fifty century in test cricket.
Then at lunch he dismissed Rassi van der Dussen (1 off 17 balls) on a dubious catch from wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, which seemed to be on the grass.
South Africa scored 88 for 1 wicket and took only advantage in the last half hour, losing three wickets for 14 runs.
Although Jasprit Bumrah (0/26) in 13 overs and Mohammed Shami (1/3 in 14 overs) bowled their hearts out without achieving the desired result, Thakur’s strike at the end of the session was a big blow for KL Rahul’s men. was promoted.
Captain Elgar, who seemed to defend strongly at one end, got Thakur to take a away, which took the outside edge of the South Africa captain’s bat into Pant’s glove.
In Pietersen’s case, it was a poor shot as the seamer was signaled for an outswing, but the delivery was cut a bit short of observable length and a half-push resulted in a smart catch by Mayank Agarwal at second slip.
Young Pietersen, whose highest Test score till Tuesday was 19, looked in good form with nine boundaries including a brilliant cover drive from Shami.
Along with Elgar, he added 74 runs for the second wicket and such a stand would have put the hosts in good stead before Thakur came out of nowhere to turn the match on its head.
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