Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck in the first session of Day 2 of the third Test but South Africa still are in control after patient knocks from Hasim Amla and Kagiso Rabada. At lunch on Day 2, South Africa were 81, trailing India by 106 runs. India, 2-0 down in the Three-Test series, have never lost at the Wanderers and if the bowlers can bowl the right areas and the fielders can take the catches, Virat Kohli’s team can hope for a consolation victory. Follow live cricket score of India vs South Africa, third Test, Day 2 here. (LIVE SCORECARD)
4:36 PM IST: Amla is standing almost a foot outside the crease. Pretty unconventional for him. SA 90/3, trail by 96
4:30 PM IST: DRS TAKEN! Amla looked to be in danger and replays shows that the ball was clipping middle stump. Again it’s umpire’s call and the South African batsman survives. SA 89/3
4:27 PM IST: Edge yet again! But AB De Villiers’ shot doesn’t carry.
4:25 PM IST: Ishant’s delivery springs up and ABD defends it awkwardly. The ball touches the gloves and is up in the air but there is no leg slip. SA 83/3
4:20 PM IST: Bhuvi is back into the attack and he is generating great length here! He has been India’s best bower so far! De Villiers has still not opened his account!
4:14 PM IST: Huge shout for LBW! Ishant Sharma is excited as he hits the pad of AB de Villiers. The ball comes in beautifully, umpire gives not out. India don’t take a review but DRS shows the ball was hitting stumps! All three reds! A chance missed, that too the wicket of ABD!
4:12 PM IST: Ishant Sharma bowls the first over of the second session.
4:10 PM IST: And we are back! Will the reverse swing come into play? India would hope so for their five bowlers to strike
3:30 PM IST: That’s lunch! South Africa 81/3 at lunch – trail India by 106 runs
South Africa despite losing two wickets in he session will take the result. They trail India by little over 100 runs and Hashim Amla looks well set. He and AB de Villiers will be hosts’ key. If the visitors can these two early, the match is all set for a great finish.
3:25 PM IST: Rabada c Rahane b Ishant 30(84) [4s-6] South Africa 80/3
Ishant’s short ball takes Rabada’s edge as Rahane takes a good catch at fourth slip.
3:23 PM IST: FOURS! What a way to give a great answer after pain! Amla is gradually getting well set. This time Ishant is the victim
3:20 PM IST: OUCH! That hurt. Ishant’s short ball has hit Amla’s ribs. He take medical attention
3:15 PM IST: FOUR! That’s a great cover-drive from Amla off Bhuvi. Though Virat Kohli, who vouches cover drive to be his favourite shot, would not like it.
3:10 PM IST: FOUR! Rabada gets an edge but there is no fielder at gully. Ishant’s loss is South Africa’s gain. Too many edges today but no advantage for India. SA 66/2
3:08 PM IST: CLOSE! Ishant Sharma come back into attack and almost gets Amla. He was hit on the pads while trying to direct the bowler towards leg. India take review but it’s umpire’s call.
3:00 PM IST: Rabada has now faced 67 balls ball in this innings – the most he has faced in an innings in his career
2:50 PM IST: FOUR! Brilliant shot by Rabada. He moves his feet well and strikes Bumrah for a square drive. SA 45/2, trail by 142
2:45 PM IST: FOURS! Bumrah gets costly here. First Amla’s top edge flies over the slips and then punches him towards backward point. SA 41/2
2:39 PM IST: Shami bowls the first over after drinks and treats Amla with the short stuff . SA 33/2
2:35 PM IST: It’s time from drinks. One hour mark. Fair to say, Indian bowlers have looked good but need wickets if they want to harbour hopes of restoring some pride in the series. Bhuvneshwar has looked menacing out of all the bowlers. Justifying his selection to every single bit.
2:33 PM IST: FOUR! Rabada flicks Bumrah towards mid-on. He is growing in confidence now. SA 29/2, trail by 158 runs
2:25 PM IST: Jasprit Bumrah gives away just one run while Shami gives way six. The ball is little bit old and the two pacers need to keep a disciplined line. SA 25/2
2:20 PM IST: Two bowling changes for India. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami come into the attack. This is interesting. Can the fresh bowlers do the trick for India?
2:12 PM IST: We are almost nearing the first hour of play and there has been no bowling change as of now. Ishant and Bhuvneshwar have been deft with latter picking a wicket too. SA 18/2, trail by 169
2:05 PM IST: Amla is the new batsman at the crease and his wicket will be crucial. If he is out in the first session, then South Africa will be in trouble. However, barring a 82 in the second Test he has not been able to score big. His experience must not be discounted though.
1:58 PM IST: Elgar c Parthiv Patel b Bhuvneshwar 4(40) South Africa 16/2, trail by 171
That was a beauty! And Bhuvneshwar is the man again. The delivery got the edge off Elgar and went straight into the hands off Parthiv.
1:54 PM IST: FOUR! First boundary of the day and it comes off Rabada. He was lucky though as his edge was wide off third slip.
1:51 PM IST: Now Bhuvi comes round the wicket. He is mixing it up pretty well. In swingers with short stuff occasionally.
1:47 PM IST: That was unplayable! Ishant’s good length delivery probes Rabada. The nightwatchman batsman is finding it difficult against India’s pacers here. SA 10/1
1:42 PM IST: Indian bowlers are troubling the SA batsmen and get movement too. But early wickets are still not visible. This time Bhuvi’s delivery seams away and Elgar is beaten. SA 8/1
1:38 PM IST: Ishant Sharma is breathing fire from the end. He gets an edge too off Elgar but it doesn’t carry to third slip. South Africa 7/1
1:35 PM IST: Bhuvi begins off with a maiden that had an angled delivery. Dean Elgar clearly looked to be in discomfort tackling. it. India need more of those.
1:30 PM IST: Time for live action. Dean Elgar to take strike. Bhuvi to start the proceedings.
1:26 PM IST: We are just four minutes away from the live action. Fair to say Bhuvneshwar Kumar will hold the key to India’s chances here.
1:17 PM IST: India’s bowling attack has the quality and depth. Remember that India had bowled out South Africa for 84 in 2006 at the Wanderers.
1:14 PM IST: It’s a beautiful sunny day in Jo’berg. But Wanderers is quite empty. Shaun Pollack says the ball will seam. If the Indians can exploit the cracks some 6-8 metres away, the ball can do a bit.
1:08 PM IST: We are running live scores of two lovely games – Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka and Pakistan vs New Zealand.
1:05 PM IST: Welcome to our live coverage. Just 25 minutes away from what should be a fascinating day’s cricket. Meanwhile, South Africa have named their ODI squad for the first three matches against India. Lungi Ngidi has won a place and he deserves to get a match.
On a day of struggle for the batsmen on Wednesday, India were bowled out for 187 in 77 overs to which the Proteas replied with 6 runs for the loss of Markram’s wicket in a tricky six overs before the close. (DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS)
As always, one will only know how good the Indian total is after both sides have completed their first innings but an initial impression is that it is not a good deal short of par. If South Africa can get anything in the region of 250, one would imagine that they will hold a strong hand.
The Wanderers pitch has already come in for criticism. Former captain has said that it is a batsman’s nightmare and has urged ICC to look into such strips.
Source: HindustanTimes