SA vs IND 2018: Hardik Pandya Keeps India in Hunt on Day Two at Newlands

South African bowlers put India on the back on the second day of the first Test at Newlands in Cape Town as the African fast bowlers dominated the Indian batsmen in the first innings of the match. Indian began day two at 28/3 with Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease. Both the Indian batsmen started the day with a cautious approach and tried to get used to the conditions.

However, their resistance didn’t last long as Kagiso Rabada trapped Rohit Sharma who played instead of Ajinkya Rahane for 11. Rohit reviewed the decision which did not work in his favor and the ball tracker showed that the ball was hitting the middle stump. India lost just one wicket in the opening session of the day and scored just 46 runs with Pujara and Ravichandran Ashwin at the crease.

India had a horrible start to the second session of the day as Pujara departed on the very first ball by nicking one to the slip cordon off Vernon Philander. India then suffered a mini-collapse as they lost Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha in quick succession putting India in some serious trouble with India tottering at 92/7 and trailing by 194 runs.

However, India had a savior in the form of their all-rounder Hardik Pandya who played counter-attacking cricket and put the hosts on the back foot. He was equally supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar who scored his first run on the 34^th ball he faced.

Pandya took the attack back at the South African bowlers and went into the lunch break with his score at 81 and Kumar playing at 24. The duo took India’s score to 185/7 at tea. South Africa had a bad news as the returning Dale Steyn had an injury scare in the last over of the session and walked off the field mid-over.

India lost Bhuvneshwar just after the tea break on 25. Kumar and Pandya were involved in a 99 runs partnership for the ninth wicket. Pandya followed soon after, courtesy some impressive fast bowling by Kagiso Rabada. He scored a brilliant 95 ball 93 to bail India out of some danger and post a respectable total on the board. India was dismissed on 209 and trailed South Africa by 77 runs in the first innings.

South Africa began their second innings well as the openers shared 52 runs opening wicket stand. Aiden Markram played attacking shots to start the innings but played poor shots and edged one to point while flicking a ball off Hardik Pandya on 34. Pandya also removed Dean Elgar he was dismissed in the first innings just when he started looking comfortable at the crease on 25.

South Africa finished the day at 65/2 and leads India by 142 runs with Kagiso Rabada and Hashim Amla at the crease at stumps.

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