SA vs Ind, 2nd Test Day 2: Virat Kohli's unbeaten 85 takes India to 183-5 at stumps
![Virat Kohlis unbeaten 85 helped India reach 183-5 at stumps on Day 2. (Photo: BCCI) Virat Kohlis unbeaten 85 helped India reach 183-5 at stumps on Day 2. (Photo: BCCI)](https://images.deccanchronicle.com/dc-Cover-8io8utd98dlllj83d3vrbvcjg1-20180114210831.Medi.jpeg)
Centurion: India struggled their way to 183-5 at stumps on Day 2 of the second Test against South Africa, with Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya currently batting.
Earlier in the day, the Men in Blue managed to bowl out the Proteas for 335, with Ravichandran Ashwin taking four wickets, while Ishant Sharma took three wickets.
In reply, India started on a decent note, but lost KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara, with the Proteas bouncing back successively.
After a poor show in the first Test, Virat Kohli bounced back with an unbeaten knock of 85, including a 79-run partnership with Murali Vijay, who scored 46.
Rohit Sharma, too, had a forgettable outing, as he managed to score less than a dozen of runs (10).
Debutant Lungi Ngidi claimed his maiden Test wicket, when he dismissed Parthiv Patel, thanks to a catch by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.
Kohli is currently involved in a 19-run partnership with Hardik Pandya, and the duo will hope for a smooth start on Day three with a fresh mindset.
India 164-5 from 53.4 overs
WICKET! Lungi Ngidi claims his maiden Test wicet, as he dismisses Parthiv Patel for 19.
India 132-4 from 45.5 overs
WICKET! Kagiso Rabada has removed Rohit Sharma, who walks back after scoring just 10 runs. Another forgettable outing for the 30-year-old batsman.
India 107-3 from 36.5 overs
WICKET! Murali Vijay has departed for 46, falling just four runs short of his 16th Test fifty.
WICKET!!! And Maharaj finally delivers for SA by dislodging Vijay for 46. A top-edge taken by De Kock and India are 107/3 #ProteaFire #SAvsIND #SunfoilTest pic.twitter.com/rxiBa6j5vX
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 14, 2018
India 107-2 from 35.1 overs
FIFTY! Captain Virat Kohli has got to his 16th Test fifty, as he takes India further ahead. Will he convert this to a century?
Kohli gets to 50 shortly after the India bring up their own 100. Du Plessis searching a breakthrough here with this partnership now worth 79 #SAvIND #FreedomSeries pic.twitter.com/mCG7wsXmpL
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 14, 2018
Tea break report
Captain Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay took India to safety at tea break on Day 2 of the second Test against South Africa on Sunday, with the scoreline reading 80-2.
And that Philander over ends the second session on day 2 at Centurion. India lost two early wickets, but Kohli (39) and Vijay (31) have fought back with a 52-run stand to leave the score on 80/2. India trail by 255 #SAvsIND #SunfoilTest pic.twitter.com/3x4zjSb5JV
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 14, 2018
After a decent start by openers Vijay and KL Rahul, the former departed for 10 runs, courtesy a wicket by Morne Morkel off his own catch.
Cheteshwar Pujara was the next to depart in just two balls, as he was run-out by debutant Lungi Ngidi.
However, Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay ensured that the visitors did not lose a wicket since then until the end of session.
The duo will hope that the team does not collapse further in the rest of the day, and put up an effort in fighting back, when play resumes after tea break.
India 64-2 from 21 overs
Captain Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay have taken India back to safety, and will hope that they do not lose another wicket.
India 28-2 from 9.5 overs
WICKET! Cheteshwar Pujara departs in no time, as he is run-out by Lungi Ngidi. Another huge blow for the visitors
WICKET!!! Brilliant by debutant Ngidi as he gets Pujara run out for a duck with a direct hit. Two in two balls and India are 28/2 #ProteaFire #SAvIND #FreedomSeries pic.twitter.com/moZVE2Aipj
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 14, 2018
India 28-1 from 9.3 overs
WICKET! Morne Morkel completes a fantastic catch off his own bowling to dismiss KL Rahul. South Africa get their first Indian victim.
WICKET!!! SA strike with an excellent caught and bowled by Morkel accounting for Rahul for 10. India are 28/1 #ProteaFire #SAvsIND #SunfoilTest pic.twitter.com/XIgBlP6V00
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 14, 2018
South Africa innings
Virat Kohli and his men restricted South Africa to 335 at lunch break, as the visitors bounced back during the first session on Day 2 of the first Test here on Sunday.
It was Mohammed Shami who struck early in the day, as he removed Keshav Maharaj, courtesy of a catch by Parthiv Patel.
Following Keshav’s dismissal, Faf du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada put up a 42-run partnership, after which the latter was dismissed for 11 by Ishant Sharma.
However, by then, the Proteas had already crossed the 300-run mark, and du Plessis was the sole fighter.
But, South Africa’s hopes of getting more runs on the board were dashed as captain du Plessis was clean bowled by Ishant Sharma.
Morne Morkel's wicket soon followed as the hosts were bundled out for 335.
Innings Break! South Africa all out for 335 (Markram 94, Amla 82; Ashwin 4/113) #SAvIND #FreedomSeries pic.twitter.com/EGkzljOSBv
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 14, 2018
South Africa 335-10 after 113.5 overs
WICKET! And that's it for the Proteas. Morkel is the final one to depart after he slices a delivery off Ashwin straight to Murali Vijay at long off. Just one over to go before the lunch break.
Wicket! Ashwin gets the final wicket, his fourth of the innings, with Morkel out for six. SA all out for 335 in 113.5 overs. Good effort this morning. India will come out to bat in a few minutes #SAvIND #FreedomSeries pic.twitter.com/lVXs4BH4qb
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 14, 2018
South Africa 333-9 after 113 overs
WICKET! And the South African skipper departs. Beautifully bowled this by Ishant. Pitches it fuller and the ball reverse swings into du Plessis who invites for the drive. Gets a big gap between bat and pad that sees his middle stumped castled. Just a single wicket remaining for the hosts now.
Wicket! Sharma strikes again by bowling Du Plessis for 63. Debutant Lungi Ngidi is the last man in. SA 333/9 #SAvIND #FreedomSeries
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 14, 2018
South Africa 324-8 after 111 overs
WICKET! Rabada finally departs after being given two lifelines at the crease. Ishant bowls a short and prompts the batsman to play the pull shot. Hardik Pandya at deep mid-wicket shows his athleticism and takes a difficult catch diving forward.
Wicket! Muted celebrations by India as they end the 8th-wicket stand on 42 after Sharma gets Rabada for (11). Good catch by Pandya running in from the fence. SA 324/8 #SAvIND #FreedomSeries pic.twitter.com/1Bi2kNca75
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 14, 2018
South Africa 324-7 after 110 overs
FIFTY for Faf Du Plessis! The Proteas captain has cleverly steadied his team's ship despite losing partners at the other end. After the loss of Maharaj, he is building a crucial partnership with Rabada now.
Here's a half century for @faf1307, the 17th of his career, as SA move on to 317/7. Rabada has 10 and the frustration grows for India #ProteaFire #SAvIND #SunfoilTest pic.twitter.com/9KNHVFUJqz
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 14, 2018
South Africa 282-7 from 98.5 overs
WICKET! Mohammed Shami has struck early on Day 2, as he removes Keshav Maharaj for 18, courtesy a catch by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. This is Shami's 100th Test wicket.
Wicket! India have their breakthrough, the first of the morning, as Shami draws an edge from Maharaj (18) to Patel. It's 282/7 #SAvIND #FreedomSeries pic.twitter.com/v9XfhLfGNo
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 14, 2018
It's another glorious day at SuperSport Park. Faf du Plessis 24* and Keshav Maharaj 10* leading the fightback this morning. SA 269/6 #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/4XHf7y9WNu
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 14, 2018
Preview:
Virat Kohli and co will look to bowl out hosts South Africa in the first session of the second Test on Day 2 here on Sunday.
After a strong start by the hosts, the visitors bounced back to restrict them to 269-6 at stumps on Day 1.
Aiden Markram (94) and Hashim Amla (82) were the stars of the Proteas innings, as both of them showcased fantastic knocks.
Ravichandran Ashwin bagged three wickets, whereas Ishant Sharma took one wicket.
Captain Faf du Plessis and Keshav Maharaj are currently the batsmen on crease, batting at 24 and 10 respectively.
Ishant Sharma had taken his lone wicket of AB de Villiers, who departed for 20 runs.
South Africa will depend on the current duo to put up a challenging total, as they hope to bounce back at the start of Day 2.