SA v Ind 2nd Test Day 2: Thakur's seven for gives India hope

India seamer Shardul Thakur returned the best ever figures for an Asian seamer in South Africa to give the visitors some hope on the second day of the second Test.

At the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa were bowled out for 229 to gain a 27-run lead and by the time stumps were drawn India had reached 85 for two to finish with an overall lead of 58. In all 11 wickets fell on the second day of the Test.

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 35 for one, South Africa struggled for a while. Captain Dean Elgar struggled to score, but at the other end Keegan Petersen got off to a fine start.

Together the Elgar-Petersen pairing put on 74 runs for the second wicket. Elgar was the first to fall to Shardul Thakur. Then Petersen held on for a brief while but he fell soon after for 62 off 118 balls with nine boundaries.

At lunch South Africa were 102 for four. It then required another a crucial stand of 60 for the fifth wicket between Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne to revive the innings. Bavuma made 51 off 60 balls with six boundaries and a six.

Towards the end Marcos Jansen and Keshav Maharaj added 38 runs for the eighth wicket which helped South Africa push ahead of India. In the end, India wiped out the tail to end South Africa at 229 in 79.4 overs.

The best bowler for India was Shardul Thakur with figures of seven for 61.

In their second innings India openers Lokesh Rahul and Mayank Agarwal started off well. Agarwal in particular was aggressive. But Rahul fell first to a catch that was referred to third umpire and finally declared out.

Agarwal fell next. Then Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara joined forces to bat aggressively as India ended the day on 85 for two. The Pujara-Rahane partnership has thus far yielded an unbroken 41 runs. India will be hoping for more from their senior pair as they battle not just for the team but even for their places in the XI.

STUMPS on Day 2 of the 2nd Test.#TeamIndia 202 & 85/2, lead South Africa (229) by 58 runs.

Scorecard - https://t.co/qcQcowgFq2 #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/OwcK1xZ7YW

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 4, 2022

Match Summary

India 1st Innings: 202 (63.1)

South Africa 1st Innings: 229 (79.4)
Fall of wickets: 2-88 (Dean Elgar-38.5 ov), 3-101 (Keegan Petersen-42.6 ov), 4-102 (Rassie van der Dussen-44.4 ov), 5-162 (Kyle Verreynne-64.6 ov), 6-177 (Temba Bavuma-66.3 ov), 7-179 (Kagiso Rabada-67.3 ov), 8-217 (Keshav Maharaj-75.2 ov), 9-228 (Marco Jansen-79.1 ov), 10-229 (Lungi Ngidi-79.4 ov)

India 2nd Innings: 85-2 (20)
Fall of wickets: 1-24 (KL Rahul-6.5 ov), 2-44 (Mayank Agarwal- 11.4 ov)

End of Day 2: India lead by 58 runs

Scorecard

Playing XIs

South Africa: Dean Elgar (captain), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (wicket-keeper), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi

India: KL Rahul (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

Match Details

Toss: India, elected to bat
Venue: Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Start time: 1000 hrs SA time
Match officials: Allahudien Paleker, Marais Erasmus (On-field Umpires); Adrian Holdstock (TV Umpire); Bongani Jele (Reserve Umpire); Andy Pycroft (Match-referee)

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