South Africa V India, 3rd Test, Day 2 Lunch Review: Rabada, Amla Frustrate India

It was a frustrating opening session for the visitors on Day 2 of the 3^rd and the final Test between India and South Africa at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Despite bowling good lines, the bowlers failed to get the wickets at crucial junctures in the game which yet again allowed the Proteas to take a stronghold on the match.

With the pitch offering enough assistance to the fast bowlers, a lead of 70-80 in all likelihood will be a match-winning lead. India had been bowled out for a meagre 187 runs on an opening day, and at stumps, South Arica had lost Aiden Markram and had only scored six runs. Opener Dean Elgar and night watchman Kagiso Rabada were the overnight batsmen.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar started off brilliantly and defeated the bat of Dean Elgar and Kagiso Rabada consistently and finally got the reward when he induced an edge. He poked at a peach of a delivery and ended up giving an easy catch to Parthiv Patel. Since then it was all about Kagiso Rabada and Hashim Amla who stitched together a valuable partnership and ensured South Africa recovered from the early woes and was well on their way towards a big lead.

Rabada started growing in confidence and struck some lovely shots. The southpaw shared a valuable 64 runs stand with Hashim Amla, but just before the lunch interval, it was Ishant Sharma who removed Rabada with a brilliant delivery. The bounce foxed Rabada, and he ended up giving a straightforward catch to the slip cordon. South Africa eventually scored 75 runs in 25 overs in the session.

Brief Scores

India 187 all-out in 76.4 overs (Virat Kohli 54, Cheteshwar Pujara 50, Kagiso Rabada 3/39)

South Africa 81/3 in 31 overs (Hashim Amla 32*, Kagiso Rabada 30, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/17, Ishant Sharma 1/20)

South Africa trail by 106 runs with seven wickets in hand

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