Team India thrashed South Africa by an innings and 137 runs in the second Test to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. South Africa batsmen once again looked more or less clueless in front of the Indian bowlers as the visitors were all out for just after being asked to follow on.
With a big 326-run lead in their kitty, India did not hesitate in enforcing the follow-on and the decision turned out to be spot on. Ishant Sharma struck on the very second ball to send Aiden Markram back to the pavilion to give India a flying start. Replays did show that the ball was going to miss the stumps but Markram and his partner Dean Elgar ran out of time while discussing about reviewing the dismissal.
Umesh Yadav then troubled Theunis de Bruyn as the latter somehow survived. However, Yadav had the last laugh as he made Bruyn edge one down the leg-side before Wriddhiman Saha pulled off a stunning diving catch. With the writing on the wall, skipper Faf du Plessis came ahead of Temba Bavuma.
A great morning session for #TeamIndia as they pick 4 wickets after enforcing the follow on.
South Africa 275 & 74/4, trail India 601/5d by 252 runs with 6 wickets remaining. pic.twitter.com/bo9nnnJjyw
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 13, 2019
The move, however, did not work as Ravichandran Ashwin sent back the Proteas skipper before the lunch. The visitors were then handed another massive blow just one over before the lunch break when Ashwin struck again. This time, Elgar looked to take on the off-spinner but couldn’t connect it cleanly as Umesh took a nice running catch to reduce the tourists to 71 for 4.
Also Read: Watch: Wriddhiman Saha Takes One-Handed Blinder To Stun Theunis de Bruyn
Things didn’t change much after lunch too as Quinton de Kock also failed to deliver. Senuran Muthusamy and Bavuma then offered some resistance before Ravindra Jadeja ended the partnership that lasted 15 overs. Jadeja induced the outside edge of Bavuma with Ajinkya Rahane taking a good catch at first slip. In the very next over, Mohammed Shami ended Muthusamy’s resistance with a short ball.
Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj then joined hands once again to frustrate India and delay the inevitable. The two batted out 97 deliveries before the tea break. Umesh finally gave India the breakthrough by dismissing Philander soon after the tea break. The visitors then lost their last two wickets soon to be all out for just 189.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:
Over the years, I have had enormous admiration for South Africa as a cricketing nation. And as India's toughest opponent, whether home or way. These performances will take some time to come to terms with.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 13, 2019
Maybe it’s the Kolpak, maybe it’s the forced colour-quota but the Proteas have slipped badly. The current team is a shoddy embarrassment to their predecessors #IndvsSA
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 13, 2019
#INDvsSA #SAHA
Rishabh pant right now ??? pic.twitter.com/qboPkKjfzB— or sunao (@BasbadiyaYar) October 13, 2019
Can we fly out the current top 6 tonight to their respective franchises for the #4DaySeries starting tomorrow?
Replace the lot of them for the 3rd Test?
Open the batting with Muthusamy and Philander? 🙂#INDvsSA
— Tim Dale Lace – TheCricketGuy (@Tim32_cricket) October 13, 2019
Look, it's Aiden Markram… #Pair#INDvSA #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/GLboEMoC2z
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) October 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/TrollVKHaters/status/1182915109942784001
Maharaj & Philander hold fort for South Africa as we head to Tea with 172/7. Join us for the final session of play in a bit #TeamIndia #INDvSA @Paytm pic.twitter.com/9dtZWANhcJ
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 13, 2019
Wrapped up. South Africa have been outclassed on two good decks at home. A team performance. Almost everyone contributed and it's the hallmark of the dominance of the side at home.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 13, 2019
SA have found reliable top order batsmen for the third Test in Philander and Maharaj
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 13, 2019