South Africa managed to score 118-2 and need 122 runs to win, as Dean Elgar remained not out on 46 at the close of Day 3 of the 2nd Test at the Wanderers.
Day 3 of the second Test between South Africa and India at the Wanderers witnessed riveting Test cricket, as the game hangs in the balance, with South Africa at 118/2, needing 122 more runs to win the Test.
India began Day 3 at 85/2, leading by 58 runs, with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane set at the crease. Both Pujara and Rahane employed a counterattacking approach against a South African bowling lineup that lacked firepower in the first session.
Pujara and Rahane scored at over four runs an over, rotating strike effectively and dispatching loose deliveries to the boundary. Both batters brought up well-deserved fifties, as they sought to drive home the advantage.
The partnership, and subsequently the rest of the Indian batting lineup, was dismantled by an inspirational spell of bowling from Kagiso Rabada, who injected life into the South African bowling attack. Rabada dismissed Pujara and Rahane in quick succession, after which he picked up the wicket of mercurial wicket-keeper-batter, Rishabh Pant.
Hanuma Vihari, batting at number 5, was solid in his defence and held up one end. He scored an unbeaten 40 off 84 deliveries. Ravichandran Ashwin and Shardul Thakur scored aggressive 16 off 14 balls and 28 off 24 balls, respectively.
India were dismissed for 266, leading South Africa by 240 runs. In addition to Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen picked up three wickets each, and Duanne Olivier picked up one wicket.
South Africa began their innings fairly aggressively, with Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram displaying serious intent in their approach to chasing down 240. Markram impressed with a 31 off 38 balls. His On Drives off Bumrah and Shami were illustrative of his ball-striking ability.
Markram was dismissed LBW off a Shardul Thakur in-swinger, which has been a pattern that has been observed with Markram, particularly because he marks an Off Stump guard and has had a tendency to play across the line. Keegan Petersen scored 28 off 44 deliveries, and looked like he was carrying on from his heroics in the first innings of the Test match, until he was dismissed LBW off Ravichandran Ashwin.
Dean Elgar was at his resolute best, taking multiple blows to his body, including a couple to his helmet, which required the immediate attention of the physio, as per the ICC’s concussion protocol. Elgar remained unbeaten on 46 off 121 balls. Rassie van der Dussen, who looked to better his first innings performance, was unbeaten on 11 off 37 balls.
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix
