South Africa vs India 2013-14: Indian pacers strike to restrict South Africa on Day 2

All the Indian pacers did brilliantly today

A spirited show from the Indian pace trio saw India restrict South Africa to 213/6 at the end of Day 2 after being bowled out for 280 in the morning. On a pitch that had a bit of juice, the Indian pace trio of Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami tore into the South African batting line up with a delectable display of seam bowling.

India posted 280 on the board and South Africa started steadily with Alviro Petersen and Graeme Smith adding 37 for the first wicket. However, it was the Indian bowlers who dominated the proceedings. All the three bowlers went past the edge of the batsmen but it was Ishant Sharma who struck first when he had Petersen trapped in front for 21.

That brought Hashim Amla to the crease and he was greeted with a nasty bouncer from Ishant Sharma that almost knocked his head off. Ishant Sharma, who has been the point of immense criticism over the last two months, bowled an inspired spell and with great support from Zaheer Khan and Shami, kept the Proteas in check.

However, the wickets refused to come as both Amla and Smith scratched around and survived close calls. Smith even had a catch dropped off Zaheer Khan in the first slip by R. Ashwin. But the duo settled in and added 93 runs for the 2nd wicket and just when, the match seemed slipping away from the Indians, Ishant Sharma struck back with the wicket of Hashim Amla.

Amla, batting on 36, decided to shoulder arms to an incoming delivery from Sharma only to watch it jag-back sharply and knock over his off stump. Jacques Kallis followed him back, the very next delivery, as he was unable to keep out a deadly in-swinger from Sharma and was wrapped on the pads.

Graeme Smith, who struggled and poked his way to a 50, was the next one to go as Zaheer Khan finally trapped his in front of his stumps. That opened the flood gates and Md. Shami came back into the attack to dismiss JP Duminy and AB de Villiers.

Shami made Duminy (2) poke at the first delivery of his spell and then had de Villiers LBW for just 13. The situation looked very gloom for the Proteas but an unbeaten partnership of 67 runs between Faf du Plessis and Vernon Philander provided some stability to their innings. Philander remained not out on 47 while du Plessis is on 15.

Earlier, India started the day at 255/5 with MS Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane as the unbeaten batsmen. The overcast conditions and a damp pitch provided a boost to the South African pacemen and Dale Steyn and company looked charged up to knock the Indians off for as low as possible.

Rahane and Dhoni looked determined at the crease and put in a real hard shift to survive the first half hour. However, it all went awry for the Indians when Dhoni edged one from Morkel. The Indian captain departed for 19 and it triggered a massive collapse. From being 264/5, India went crashing to 280 all out as India lost their last 5 wickets for 16 runs in 4.1 overs.

Vernon Philander, who didn’t have the best of days on day 1, bounced back with a stunning spell of swing bowling where he pitched up the ball and made it nip around considerable. Rahane (47) was his first victim of the day followed by Zaheer Khan. However, his delivery to knock over Ishant Sharma was the best of his spell and he ended his spell by picking up 4 wickets. Morne Morkel, too, added to his wicket tally and ended with three wickets as the South Africans uprooted the Indian tail.

Day 2 was dominated by the seamers from both side and the match is nicely balanced on an even keel. South Africa would like to prolong the innings as long as possible while India would look to wrap up the South African innings to gain a substantial lead.

Brief Scores:

1st innings

Ind 280 all out (Kohli 119, Rahane 47, Philander 4/61)

South Africa 213/6 (Smith 68, Philander 47*, Amla 34, Shami 2/47, Ishant 3/64)

India lead by 67 runs