South Africa V India, 2nd Test Day 2 Review: Kohli Smashes Unbeaten 85 But South Africa Hold the Edge

Just like the opening day the 2^nd day’s play at the SuperSport Park in Centurion between India and South Africa proved to be an eventful one as yet again honors were shared at the end of the day’s play. The hosts are in a slightly advantageous position, but if skipper Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya can continue their resurgence on the 3^rd day morning, the visitors might well be in search of a slender lead.

Faf du Plessis fought well for a half-century and along with Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, the skipper shared small yet valuable partnerships which took the hosts to a score of 335 in their 1^st essay. Ishant Sharma castled du Plessis with a sensational inswinging delivery which breached his defence and disturbed the timbers.

Ravichandran Ashwin was the most successful bowler for the visitors as he returned with impressive figures of 4/113. Ishant Sharma also bagged 3 wickets by giving away only 46 runs. The visitors began their 1^st essay in a steady fashion as openers Murali Vijay and KL Rahul saw off the initial burst from the South African pacers.

However, after a 28 runs partnership, KL Rahul was dismissed off the bowling of Morne Morkel as he ended up giving a return catch to the bowler himself. It wasn’t a straightforward catch and he must be given due credit for hanging on to it. Cheteshwar Pujara was dismissed for a golden run in a bizarre fashion.

He went for a non-existent run and was ran out brilliantly by debutant Lungi Ngidi. From there on the onus was on skipper Kohli and Vijay to rebuild the innings and the duo did that in style. Kohli struck some exceptional shots and scored in a brisk fashion. On the other hand, Vijay started gaining in confidence and also struck some brilliant shots in the process.

Just when the partnership was looking like taking the game away from the hosts, Keshav Maharaj struck and removed Vijay with a slider. It took his outside and was pouched safely by Quinton de Kock. Rohit Sharma was the next man to go as Kagiso Rabada struck him plumb in front, Though it struck him on the higher side but it would have clipped the top of the stumps and the on-field decision was retained.

Parthiv Patel was the next man in, and the southpaw struck some magnificent shots to get going. However, after making 19 it was debutant Ngidi who induced an edge from his blade which was safely taken by de Kock behind the stumps. Kohli, on the other hand, kept going and went to stumps on 85 while his partner tomorrow would be Hardik Pandya to begin the 3^rd day.

Brief Scores

South Africa 335 all-out in 113.5 overs (Aiden Markram 94, Hashim Amla 83, Ravichandran Ashwin 4/113, Ishant Sharma 3/46)

India 183/5 in 61 overs (Virat Kohli 85*, Lungisani Ngidi 1/26, Kagiso Rabada 1/33)

India trail by 152 runs

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