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South Africa 286 (de Villiers 65, du Plessis 62, Bhuvneshwar 4-87) and 65 for 2 (Pandya 2-17) lead India 209 (Pandya 93, Philander 3-33, Rabada 3-34) by 258 runs
Cape Town: Hardik Pandya‘s heroics bailed India out by posting a respectable first innings total versus South Africa.
South Africa lead by 142 runs at stumps on Day Two of the first Test at Cape Town.
South Africa are 65 for 2, courtesy Pandya’s twin strikes.
South Africa will look to push India on the back foot by virtue of their tall batting lineup. On a dry pitch, India would need quick wickets or else will have a long day on Sunday. Nonetheless, at present, they aren’t completely behind.
The session resumed with Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar looking set. The duo resurrected the innings from 92 for 7 and took the total beyond 200.
Faf du Plessis rotated his bowlers with short spells.
Morne Morkel got rid of the partnership when it was one short of adding 100 for the eighth wicket. Bhuvneshwar, after few swing and a misses, edged one to the wicketkeeper on 25.
Pandya, running out of partners, took the onus completely. He added runs by playing according to the field and moved into the nineties.
However, he dealt with a barrage of bouncers against Kagiso Rabada, Morkel and Philander.
The all-rounder, trying to play the upper cut, managed a thick edge on 93 to miss out on a deserving century. To add to India’s woes, they folded soon thereafter.
However, they put up a spirited show to revamp after reeling at 92 for 7.
Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram denied any breakthrough till 14 overs. They toiled and grew in confidence.
On the other hand, India pacers’ shoulders dropped as the day neared its end. Elgar, falling for nought in the first innings, miscued a pull on the first ball. He survived courtesy Mohammed Shami, who made a mess of a realistic chance.
Markram played some flawless back foot punch, and looked at ease. Elgar looked the aggressor, playing too many strokes.
Markram threw his scalp on 34, mistiming a flick off Pandya.
Elgar’s rusty, yet effective, stay came to an end on 25. The left-hander edged one to give Pandya his second scalp. Nightwatchman Rabada and Hashim Amla will look to play off the morning session and put India on the back foot on Sunday.
