Cheteshwar Pujara and Bhuvneshwar Kumar said before the start of today’s play that 187 is more like a 300 at this ground, but people laughed that out feeling that was just a cover for the horror batting show but see the scorecard at the end of second day and you will realise that every ounce of that statement was true.
Plenty of misses, edges being beaten, lucky survives, DRS going against bowlers and still only 430 runs have been scored and 21 wickets have fallen. That speaks volume about the bowling conditions in Johannesburg, a not so healthy sign from the pitch for Test cricket— no less than the Nagpur wicket which drew erk from all over the world.
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Coming to the match, Jasprit Bumrah picked up his maiden five wicket haul as India overcame a tiring partnership between Hashim Amla and Kagiso Rabada to bowl out South Africa for 194, only 7 more than what they had got.
Had India been lucky in few umpiring decisions and the DRSs, that lead could have been in their favour but it is not a game of ifs and buts.
India started the day with the wicket of Dean Elgar before it took them ages to dismiss the night watchman Rabada. Rabada scored 30 useful runs. His departure opened the gate and Indian bowlers dashed through that to reduce the hosts to 125/6.
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But there was a familiar face warching all this— Hashim Amla. Like so often, he withstood swing, disciplined bowling effort and pains to mustre 61 runs. He was brilliantly supported by Vernon Philander, who was the second highest scorer for his team with 35. Couple of boundaries from Morne Morkel in the end meant that they went past India’s total but could not gain any significant lead.
In reply, India promoted Parthiv Patel to open the innings. More with the hope than anything else. He scored 16 runs at a strike rate better than 100 but could not help India end day without losing wicket. He was dismissed by Philander before KL Rahul and Murali Vijay guarded the balls, which were relatively easier than when they had come to centre last time.
India finished the day at 49/1, with a lead of 42 runs. Rahul(16*) and Vijay(13*) will start with the proceedings on the third day.