Umesh Yadav rattled the South African top-order on his return to Test cricket in a year’s time. Yadav, who last a played a Test match for India at Perth, Australia, in 2018, took a three-fer on his return and removed the entire Proteas’ top-order in the second game of the three-match Test series at Pune. The 31-year old was dropped to the bench following India’s 2018 Tour of India and did not even play the Test series against West Indies post the World Cup, despite taking a record-breaking 10-wicket haul in the last Test at home. But the expresses bowler gave a fitting reply to the team management for keeping him out and found enough support in the fans, who took picked up on the Ravi Shastri and co. for not playing Yadav regularly. India Vs South Africa, Live Cricket Score 2nd Test Match.

Making his return to international cricket in almost a year’s time – he last played a Test match on December 14, 2018, in Australia and last played at home in October last year – Yadav needed only two deliveries to fetch a wicket. He dismissed South African opener Aiden Markram for a two-ball duck before also sending back his opening partner and previous Test’s centurion Dean Elgar to leave South Africa trailing at 3/36 at the end of Day 2.

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He returned once again on – October 12, 2019 (Saturday) – Day 3 to remove Theunis de Bruyn and complete 11th three-wicket haul in Test cricket. With South Africa struggling after the loss of five-wickets, Umesh could achieve his third five-wicket haul in Test cricket. It was also the speedster’s second three-wicket haul in Test matches against South Africa and first in four years.  His first three-fer against the Proteas came at Delhi in December 2015.

Meanwhile, India are in the driver’s seat to win the second game of a three-match Test series and seal the Test series. Skipper Virat Kohli hit his seventh record-breaking double hundred, while Mayank Agarwal scored his second Test century and Ravindra Jadeja made 91 as India declared their first innings with a massive 601 runs on board. In reply, South Africa are reeling at 5/77 with Mohammed Shami picking two of the five-wickets that fell.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 12, 2019 11:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).