India vs South Africa, 3rd Test: Jasprit Bumrah leads India's comeback on Day 2
After scoring 187 in their first innings, India came back strongly on the second day at Wanderers to bowl South Africa out for 194 and then reached 49/1 at stumps, leading the hosts by 42 runs.
The second day draws to a close and India have wrestled back to get their noses in front, ending at 49/1 and leading the hosts by 42 runs after bowling them out for 194. Bumrah's 5/54 was the highlight of the day, while Bhuvneshwar also bowled brilliantly to claim 3/44. Murali Vijay (13*) and KL Rahul (16*) were together when the umpires called stumps. Parthiv Patel, who was asked to open with Vijay, was dismissed by Vernon Philander for 16. Do join us tomorrow for an intriguing day's play. Till then, take care and goodbye.
India's Parthiv Patel experiment ends early via a stupendous forward-diving catch by Aiden Markram, who ran forward from the slips to lunge and catch a bat-pad off Parthiv (16). Philander the wicket-taker. India 17/1 in five overs, leading by 10.
India, 9/0, have erased South Africa's slim 7-run lead and the new opening pair of Patel and Vijay is looking to leave anything even slightly outside the off-stump. Parthiv has been the busier of the two as Vijay has taken 15 balls to open his account.
An unexpected and interesting move by India. They have sent out Parthiv Patel to open with Murali Vijay. KL Rahul will now bat not higher than No. 5, with first-innings half-centurions Pujara at No. 3 and Virat on No. 4. India trail by 7 runs and still close to 30 overs left in the day; however, we may not see that many delivered.
A five-for by Jasprit Bumrah (5/54), and South Africa have been bowled out for 194, taking a slender first-innings lead of seven runs. It's the maiden five-wicket haul for Bumrah in Tests, having made his debut in this series only. Bhuvneshwar finished with figures of 3/44. Amla was the top-scorer for the hosts. He made 61.
Phehlukwayo (9) is done in by Bumrah's fullish delivery that struck the South African right in front. He went for a review but it proved futile. India now a wicket away from bowling out the hosts, who are 194/9, leading 7 runs.
Morkel (9*) frustrating India with some carefree batting, hits Bumrah for two fours in the over to take South Africa into the lead. They are 189/8, and now lead India by 2 runs.
Shami gets his first wicket of the innings. Philander (35) goes for the hook but finds Bumrah at deep fine-leg, running to his right and taking a well-judged catch. South Africa 175/8, still 12 runs behind India.
India have got the much-needed break. The 44-run stand comes to an end. Jasprit Bumrah removes Hashim Amla for 61. Amla flicks it straight into the hands of Hardik Pandya at deep square leg. South Africa 169/7, still trail India by 18 runs. Third wicket for Bumrah.
150 up for South Africa. Vernon Philander takes a four off Ishant Sharma off the last ball of the 56th over. South Africa 152/6, now trail India by 35 runs. Amla 56*, Philander 18*.
At tea, this Test is very much in the balance with the hosts' score reading 143/6, largely due to Hashim Amla still being there on 54. They are only 44 runs behind India's first-innings total of 187 but with just four wickets left to play with. India came back strongly in the 23 overs bowled over the last two hours, taking 3 wickets for 62 runs - thanks to Bhuvneshwar (3/34) and Bumrah (2/37).
India are turning it on at the Wanderers. Bumrah gets the sixth South African batsman walking back, removes De Kock caught by Patel off an inside edge. Even taking a lead, after scoring 187, looks like a possibility now for India, with SA 129/6. Amla completes his fifty, in the meanwhile; his 37th in Tests.
An error of judgment by Faf du Plessis, and Bumrah knocks his off-stump over. The SA captain decided to shoulder arms, believing the ball will bounce over or away from the stumps, but it did just enough to hit the stumps. This match is even now with SA 108/5, still trailing India by 79. Amla, the lone warrior, is on 43* and joined by De Kock.
Hashim Amla (43*) is having a ball with DRS. Given out by umpire lbw but went upstairs straight away for a review. It was a vociferous appeal by the bowler Bhuvneshwar and the umpire nodded in the affirmative. Amla, however, seemed confident, and rightly so. The ball hit him outside the off-stump, which leaves every other parametre redundant. SA 107/4.
Cleaned up! Bhuvneshwar has gone through the defences of AB de Villiers (5) to leave South Africa 92/4. The delivery had a nice shape about it, moving in further after it pitched to find the gap between bat and pad. De Villiers almost humbled by Bhuvi.
The Indians appear to be totally clueless. Ishant Sharma traps AB de Villiers in front of the wickets, appeals and the umpire says no. Virat Kohli asks what he thinks of the whole affair. Ishant appears to be saying "not much." However, replays show the ball is hitting the stumps. That means if the Indians had gone upstairs, they would have had their fourth wicket and arguably the biggest of the South African innings. South Africa 82/3 after 32 overs.
At lunch on Day 2, South Africa have their noses in front at 81/3, just 106 runs behind India's first-innings total of 187. Amla (32*) has carried the innings so for the hosts, who scored 75 runs in the session losing two wickets to Bhuvneshwar and Ishant. Nightwatchman Rabada contributed a valuable 30. De Villiers (0*) is accompanying Amla.
Ishant ends India's frustration by removing Rabada (30), but the nightwatchman did his job by playing out almost the complete first session on a new morning. A stupendous catch by Rahane in the wide slip. SA 80/3 in 30 overs, behind India by 107 runs as lunch looms.
Amla (18*) survives a close call. Shuffled a bit too much across the off-stump facing Ishant, who hit him above the knee roll as the ball jagged back in. India were confident and Kohli went for the review, but it stayed with the umpire's 'not out' call. SA 62/2, behind India by 115 runs.
Must be said that Rabada is surprising India with his shots and has moved on to 20. Amla too has got his eye in and is now on 18* as the South African scorecard crosses the fifty mark. The hosts are 55/2 in the 10th over, replying to India's first-innings total of 187.
South Africa are 18/2 in 17 overs. That tells how difficult it is to score on this wicket if the pacers find the right line and length, which the Indian fast bowlers have done today. But credit to Rabada as he continues to guard one end, batting on 7 off 41 balls. Amla is on 2 off 15.
Bhuvneshwar strikes! And it's the specialist batsman Dean Elgar (4), not the nightwatchman Rabada, walking back, which is even better for India. Caught behind by Patel. South Africa 17/2, trailing by 160.
Bhuvneshwar is going to start proceedings for India and will hope to get the banana swing that the SA bowlers got on the first morning. They are 6/1, behind India by 181 runs with Dean Elgar and nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada resuming the innings.
