India resumed the innings on Day 3 with their overnight score of 85/2 against South Africa in the 2nd Test Match at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. India’s middle order played well to put up a decent score but since the fall of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, the Men in Blue struggled against the attack of the hosts. The lower order then resisted the South Africa bowlers and were able to set a target of 240 runs for The Proteas.
South Africa are eyeing to level the series
The middle-order duo of Ajinkya Rahane (58 runs) and Cheteshwar Pujara (53 runs) put on a great show as the pair registered half-centuries to take India’s lead past the 100-run mark. They were dismissed by Kagiso Rabada, who also took the wicket of Rishabh Pant.
Apart from Rabada, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi also picked three wickets each while Duanne Olivier took one. Towards the end, it was a good show by Indian lower-order batters as the last five wickets cost South Africa 99 runs. It was Hanuma Vihari who remained at the crease with his 40-run knock as India were bundled out for 266 runs in their second innings.
In the chase of 240 against India, South Africa started on a strong note. South Africa captain Dean Elgar added 47 runs for the first wicket with Aiden Markram before Shardul Thakur picked the first wicket in the fourth innings, dismissing Markram. T
he hosts then lost their second wicket as India’s ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin removed Keegan Petersen after the No.3 batter added 46 runs with skipper Dean Elgar for the second wicket at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. Elgar is looking strong at the crease against the Indian bowling attack.
At Stumps Day 3, South Africa stand at 118/2 and will be eyeing to conclude the proceedings with a win on Day 4. It is to be seen if the visitors are able to make a turnaround and clinch a victory to bag the series by 2-0 lead.
