Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara resumed the Indian innings at 28/3 vs South Africa on Day two of the opening Test on Saturday at Newlands, Cape Town. The South African bowlers after getting off to a great start on the first day, were fired up and looked to take wickets early on day two. Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn started the proceedings as they produced beautiful deliveries to flabbergast the Indian batsmen. Rohit and Pujara struggled to counter the South African attack as they failed to connect the ball to the middle of the bat. There were many instances where the ball would just go past the outside edge of the bat and the batsmen were left clueless. However, Rabada got the first breakthrough by dismissing Rohit, who struggled throughout the day in front of the fiery bouncers and swinging away deliveries. Pujara, for India, resisted the bowling attack so far in the innings. It will be interesting to see India's approach post-lunch. With no surprise, Faf du Plessis will look to get more wickets. (Live Scorecard)
Live action and updates of Day 2 of 1st Test between India and South Africa straight from Cape Town
17:17 IST: Four! Hardik is changing gears now. Pummels Philander for the third boundary of the over.
17:16 IST: Four! Short of length and wide of off-stump, Pandya stands back and cuts Philander with power.
17:14 IST: Four! Hardik reads the half-tracker from Philander early, gets in position and powers the ball over the cover fielder for a boundary.
17:12 IST: OUT! South Africa is on fire. Dale Steyn traps Saha in front of the wicket for a duck. Saha was left clueless with the fierce pace of the in-swinging delivery. India in trouble.
17:08 IST: Four! Back of a length delivery, Pandya plays with soft hands as he guides the ball past gully.
16:59 IST: Four! Steyn bowls on the pads of Hardik Pandya, he flicks it with power through mid-wicket for a boundary.
16:58 IST: Wriddhiman Saha is the new man in.
16:57 IST: OUT! India are collapsing after lunch. Ashwin (12) trying to poke at a ball which was going away from the body, edges it back to the keeper, who takes a brilliant catch. India six down.
WICKET | Another wicket for Philander as he gets Ashwin (12) brilliantly caught behind by De Kock. India 81/6 #SAvIND #FreedomSeries #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/GpYZo7gMDz
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2018
16:51 IST: Safe! Hardik Pandya edges a Dale Steyn delivery and Quinton de Kock, behind the stumps, along with other fielders appealed together, the umpire raises the finger. However, Pandya takes the review and gets the decision over turned as Ultraedge showed that the ball did not nick the bat. Close call.
16:43 IST: Four! Hardik Pandya is the new man in and gets off the mark with a boundary.
16:42 IST: Oh my! What a great start by South Africa in the second session, Vernon Philander removes Cheteshwar Pujara on the very first ball of the post-lunch session. Pujara pokes at a moving away delivery and Du Plessis takes a regulatory catch at the slips.
WICKET | Philander with the first ball of the second session gets Pujara 26 caught at third slip by captain Faf Du Plessis. India 76/5 #SAvIND #FreedomSeries #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/i0yYnQfU4V
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2018
16:40 IST: Welcome back o the post-lunch session.
16:02 IST: Stay tuned for the post-lunch session.
16:00 IST: That is lunch! India 76/4 (Pujara 26*, Ashwin 12*) trail by 210 runs.
Situation at lunch break here at Newlands on Day 2 of the #FreedomSeries #SAvIND #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/VSn3ZEfkly
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2018
15:56 IST: 35 overs gone, India 74/4 (Pujara 26*, Ashwin 10*) trail South Africa by 212 runs.
15:48 IST: Dale Steyn is back in the bowling attack. Faf is looking for more wickets.
15:45 IST: Four! Pujara guides the back of a length Rabada ball past the man at gully.
15:39 IST: Four! Morkel strays on the leg-side and Ashwin guides the ball through square leg to collect his second boundary.
15:38 IST: South African bowlers are wreaking havoc in the middle. India are finding it difficult to counter the constant pace, bounce and moving away deliveries.
15:27 IST: Four! Ashwin fends off a fierce bouncer down the leg side to collect his first boundary. Some skills from the South African bowlers, keeping the opposition on their toes at all times.
15:25 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin is the new man in. Big challenge he has in front of him.
15:24 IST: WICKET! Rohit's stay comes to an end in the middle as he falls prey to Rabada's in-swinging delivery. Was beaten for pace as the ball angled in into the middle as the bat was late to come down. Rohit was trapped right in front of the wicket. India lose fourth.
WICKET | Rabada gets the breakthrough for the Proteas as he traps RG Sharma leg before wicket. India 57/4 #ProteaFire #SAvIND #freedomseries pic.twitter.com/Z9VTpRAfUi
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2018
15:16 IST: TWO close shaves for India! Kagiso Rabada appeals for a caught behind, gets nothing from Michael Gough, who shakes his head. Looks at Faf for a review but the captain is not interested. And then, Rabada bowls on the leg-side, gets a bit of carry as the keeper and captain go up in the air with the appeal but the umpire turns it down as the ball brushed the thigh pad.
15:13 IST: 50 up for India! Rohit Sharma looking to drive, edges the ball between the third slip and the gully for a boundary.
26.2. | 50 up for India with a boundary from RG Sharma. India 53/3 #SAvIND
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2018
15:10 IST: Four! Morkel strays on the pads and Pujara stands tall, clips thorugh backward square leg. Welcome boundary for India as they are not coming easy.
25.4. Morkel bowls it full and Pujara takes advantage and hits it for four down suare leg. India 49/3
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2018
Pujara 15*
RG Sharma 7#SAvIND #FreedomSeries #ProteaFire
15:08 IST: Rabada starts off with a maiden.
15:05 IST: Kagiso Rabada introduced in the attack. More fire-power from Faf as he is looking for a wicket. Three slips and a gully.
15:00 IST: Drinks. First hour of the day has been played and India are looking wobbly but solid. This session saw 13 overs being bowled with just 17 runs coming in India's favour. Philander, Steyn and Morne Morkel have been troubling Rohit and Pujara with bouncers and deliveries which are moving away. While the hosts showed brilliant display of bowling skills, India batsmen stood their ground and negotiated the attack carefully.
Drinks Break | India 45/3
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2018
Pujara 11*
RG Sharma 7*
3SAvIND #FreedomSeries #ProteaFire
14:53 IST: Pujara plays Philander with soft hands towards backward point and steals a quick run. This is the first run Philander conceded in the day, off his 34th delivery
14:48 IST: Morne Morkel starts off with a decent over, concedes three runs. But the bowler did not fail to trouble Rohit with his bowling variations.
14:40 IST: Four! Steyn strays on the pads again, Pujara looking to guide it fine, misses but the ball takes a slightest of edge of Pujara's pads and beats the keeper enough to run away for a boundary.
14:36 IST: Cracker of a delivery! Philander goes wide of the crease and pitches the angled ball around off. Rohit looks to defend, gets beaten yet again and extra bounce took the ball over the stumps. Unbelievable from Philander. Rohit waers a nervous smile as he appreciates the ball.
14:35 IST: SAFE! Lucky to miss the edge as Rohit gets beaten. Full length delivery from Philander around off, the ball shapes it was so close to the outside edge.
14:30 IST: Four! First boundary of the day. Steyn strays on the pads, Pujara tucks it past short leg.
14:21 IST: First runs of the morning, Rohit guides the ball wide of backward point for two runs.
14:20 IST: Yet another maiden over from South Africa. India have been cautious in their approach so far.
14:16 IST: Three maiden over for South Africa in a row. Rohit Sharma has been rock solid in his defence while facing Steyn till now.
14:08 IST: Another maiden over from Vernon Philander. Cheteshwar Pujara on the other hand seemed itchy to get the first runs of the day.
14:05 IST: South Africa starts the proceedings with a maiden over and Vernon Philander comes in the attack to support Steyn from the other end.
first over for the day is a maiden from Dale Steyn. Philander coming in from the Wynberg End. India 28/3 #SAvsIND #ProteaFire #FreedomSeries
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2018
14:00 IST: Right then! India resume their innings with Rohit Sharma facing Dale Steyn for the first ball of Day 2.
Proteas are out on the field as the Indian pair of Pujara and RG Sharma get ready to resume their innings. 28/3 #ProteaFire #FreedomSeries #SAvIND
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2018
13:30 IST: It will interesting to see if Rohit Sharma stands tall and plays his natural game and turn the game on its head.
13:10 IST: Both teams are ready for the second day of the opening Test. India still trail by 258 runs.
All ready for Day 2 of the Sunfoil Test at Newlands #SAvIND #FreedomSeries #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/KlbFT1NKpA
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 6, 2018
13:00 IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the 1st Test, Day 2 between India and South Africa straight from Cape Town.
This was after Indian bowlers led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4/87 in 19 overs) had South Africa 286 all out in 73.1 overs -- a total India would consider as 50 too many after the UP seamer had the Proteas reduced to 12 for 3 inside six overs. It was in the post-tea session where Keshav Maharaj (35) and Kagiso Rabada (26) took their 8th wicket partnership to 37 runs. This helped push South Africa past the 250-mark. Their stand was finally broken when R Ashwin ran out Maharaj in the 63rd over.
