South Africa reached 65 for two in their second innings at stumps after dismissing India for 209 on the second day of the opening cricket Test. Hardik Pandya played a strokeful 95-ball 93-run innings and added 99 runs along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (25) for the eighth wicket to help India manage to score 209 in reply to South Africa's first innings total of 286. At the draw of stumps, Hashim Amla (4) was at the crease and giving him company was Kagiso Rabada (2) with the hosts leading by 142 runs. Catch the video highlights of the Day 2 of the first Test at Newlands, Capetown here.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya shone with the bat and the ball to help India stay afloat in the first Test against South Africa. Pandya's 93 and 2/17 gave India a much-needed impetus despite the Proteas leading by 142 runs at the end of Day Two. Pandya struck a spirited innings before India were bundled out for 209 to close their first-innings gap to 77 runs.
Resuming at yesterday's score of 28-3 in reply to South Africa's 286, none of the Indian batsmen managed to make a good start as the wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Having lost Murali Vijay (1), Shikhar Dhawan (16) and skipper Virat Kohli (5) cheaply on Day One, India relied heavily on their swashbuckling batsmen Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara after they took the team past 50-run mark.
But, Rohit and Pujara failed to convert their good start into big innings and were dismissed lowly for 11 and 26 respectively. However, Pandya came from behind and served as the lone survivor for India by notching up a blistering 93-run knock as the visitors staged a late fight back in the match. The main highlight of India's innings was Pandya's 99-run stand with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, after which the latter dismissed for 25.
For South Africa, Vernon Philander was the pick of the bowlers for his remarkable figures of three for 33 followed by Kagiso Rabada's three for 34. Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn grabbed two wickets each. Pandya struck with the ball twice, getting rid of Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar, as soon as the Proteas got to batting.
Brief scores: South Africa 1st innings: 286 India 1st innings: 209 all out in 73.4 overs (Hardik Pandya 93; Vernon Philander 3/33). PTI ATK South Africa 2nd innings: 65 for two in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 34; Hardik Pandya 2/17).