Sports News
India in tatters against aggressive South African bowlers
India look to improve their batting performance on the second day of the first Test against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.
5.35 pm IST: India’s all hopes now rest on Hardik Pandya. And he is looking good, especially after that drop off Dale Steyn when he was on 15. Since then, he has taken three fours from Vernon Philander’s over and an exquisite boundary off Morne Morkel. India 110/7 after 46 overs. Pandya 34*, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 0*.
5.11 pm IST: Wriddhiman Saha goes for a duck. First Hardik Pandya is dropped by Dean Elgar in gulley and one run is taken. Right off the next ball, Saha offers his pads to an in-coming delivery and is given out. Saha reviews but is unsuccessful as Dale Steyn picks up his second wicket. India in dire straits at 92/7 in 42 overs.
4.59 pm IST: Now R Ashwin goes for 12. Edges Vernon Philander and Quinton de Kock dives to his right to take a nice catch behind the wickets. Philander takes his third wicket. India 81/6 in 39 overs.
4.52 pm IST: Hardik Pandya reviews a caught-behind against him and succeeds. The ball was way away from Pandya’s bat. Big relief in the India camp. Dale Steyn is disappointed. The South African bowlers appear to be on top presently. India 81/5 in 38 overs.
4.45 pm IST: Cheteshwar Pujara out for 26! Big blow to India. He goes first-ball to Vernon Philander, finds Faf du Plessis at second slip as he tries to poke at an away-going delivery. India 76/5 in 37 overs.
4.02 pm IST: It’s lunch on day two at Newlands. India 76/4. Cheteshwar Pujara 26*, R Ashwin 12*. It’s surprising Ashwin has been sent ahead of the more accomplished Wriddhiman Saha on this difficult wicket. India lost Rohit Sharma in the session to Kagiso Rabada for 11. All four South African fast bowlers – Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Rabada – are among the wickets. The tourists are still trailing by 210 runs.
3.25 pm IST: South Africa succeed in taking their first wicket of the day as Kagiso Rabada traps Rohit Sharma (11 off 59 balls) in front of the wickets. After a chat with Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit decides to review it and replays show he is plumb in front. India 57 for 4 in 28.3 overs in their reply to South Africa’s 286. Just what Rohit didn’t want for himself, there were already many people questioning his place in the starting XI ahead of Ajinkya Rahane, and after this those critics are going to go all out in their hunt.
3.18 pm IST: Fifty for India. Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma are doing just what’s required of them. Rohit especially is praiseworthy for not losing focus and playing rash shots. However in the 27th over, Kagiso Rabada appears to be bothering him. Pujara at the other end is as solid as ever, and whenever there has been an opportunity for him get a four he has grabbed it with both hands. India 53/3 in 27 overs.
2.36 pm IST: First boundary of the day comes for India. Cheteshwar Pujara flicks Dale Steyn off his pads and fetches four runs. Beautiful shot! India need more of these. India 37 for 3 after 18 overs.
2.28 pm IST: India at last start their account on the seocnd day, after four successive maidens. Well, that tells you how cautious both the batsmen have been.
2.10 pm IST: Play has begun in Newlands. Indian batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma are showing utmost caution and that’s how it should be as they can’t afford to have another bad day at the batting office. India 28/3 after 13 overs.
Good afternoon everyone.
Welcome to Zee News Sports’ live commentary on South Africa vs India, 1st Test, Day 2.
We all have eagerly waited for India’s tour of South Africa to begin. We all knew South Africa would be a tough nut to crack, and it turned out that way as Virat Kohli and Co. succumbed to 28/3 in their reply to South Africa’s 286.
The pitch so far has played a little tricky and is expected to behave the same on Saturday. Clearly, another tough day is in the offing for the Indian batsmen.
Today could very well shape the rest of the tour for India in terms of how competitive they are going to be.
India currently has Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma at the crease.
So strap your seat belts folks and enjoy another day of competitive cricket.
