South Africa vs India 2013: 1st Test, Day 2 - Heroes of the day

1. Vernon Philander

He dominated the proceedings, first with his devastating bowling and some resistance with the bat near the close of play. He started with the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane, who played well for his 47 before nicking the ball to wicket keeper de Villiers who completed a simple catch.

Zaheer Khan was cleaned up on the very next delivery with a leg before that was way too plumb to be given not out. A clueless Ishant Sharma’s off-stump was shattered in his next over, completing his tally of 4 wickets, and he completed the day being SA’s highest wickets taker, giving away just 61 in the 27 overs that he bowled.

His 48 with the bat (which included 5 boundaries) that came in the last session has ensured that South Africa can possibly come close to the Indian target tomorrow, if not overtake it. He came in at a time when the score was 146/6, and he has hung in the middle since and his unbeaten partnership with du Plessis that has yielded 67 for the 7^th wicket has reversed the damage to some extent that the Indian bowlers caused just after tea.

He will want to continue batting tomorrow as long as possible, while India on the other hand will have to devise a plan to take his wicket, and also to see off his bowling so that they don’t give him as many wickets a second time.