The high-class bowling from Indian pacers helped India pack South Africa’s first innings for just 210 in 76.3 overs. However, the visitors also started their second innings on a bad note, losing both openers inside the first six overs for just 24 runs.
Kagiso Rabada drew the first blood after he removed Mayank Agarwal (7) in the fifth over. In the very next over, Marco Jansen sent back KL Rahul (10) to put India on the backfoot. Indian skipper Virat Kohli and senior batter Cheteshwar Pujara held the fort to ensure the visiting side didn’t lose any more wickets. The experienced duo formed an unbeaten stand of 33 runs as India finished the day at 57/2, leading South Africa by 70 runs.
Earlier, the hosts, who lost captain Dean Elgar (3) on Day 1, started the second day terribly, with opener Aiden Markram (8) falling against Jasprit Bumrah in the ninth over. Soon, Umesh Yadav joined the party and picked up his first wicket of the series after he cleaned up nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj (25) to reduce the Proteas at 45/3.
After losing Maharaj, Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen tried to steady the innings to take their side out of trouble. The duo went on to form a crucial partnership of 67 runs for the fourth wicket and were looking set to frustrate India further.
As the tourists had started feeling the heat, captain Kohli gave the ball to Umesh, who didn’t disappoint as the right-armer broke the vital stand by dismissing van der Dussen for 21 in the 40th over.
Petersen then again stitched an important partnership with Temba Bavuma to keep the momentum with the home team. The pair added 47 runs for the fifth wicket before Mohammed Shami bagged two wickets in an over to bring back India into the game. Shami first got rid of Bavuma (28) and then dismissed wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne for a two-ball duck.
Petersen, however, kept his stand alive and smashed another half-century in the series. He scored the maximum 72 off 166 deliveries with the help of nine boundaries before Bumrah sent him back into the pavilion. Rabada (15) and Duanne Olivier (10) chipped in with some contributions down the order to help the Proteas reach 210.
Bumrah ended up picking his five-wicket haul for 42 runs in 23.3 overs, including eight maidens. Similarly, Umesh (2/64) and Shami (2/39) bagged a couple of scalps each, while Shardul Thakur also picked up one wicket in the first innings.
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