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

The second day saw a total of 11 wickets going down. First the Indian innings was wrapped up in a short span of time, and although the session that followed yielded just the one wicket, the last session again saw South Africa losing their middle order to some good Indian bowling.

Here are 5 players who had a major say in the play of Day 2.

5. Morne Morkel

He had the best economy (1.47) of the South African bowlers, and he really helped tighten the noose with some planned bowling, never straying away from the line of the wicket. He was the first one to strike yesterday, getting Dhoni out with an edge that flew to the keeper.

He ended with figures of 3/34 in 23 overs, 12 of which were maidens, which gives a fair idea of the discipline with which he bowled. On a pitch that favoured pace bowling, he got all that was required out of the wicket. While the spinners Tahir and Duminy got a beating at the hands of the batsmen, the faster bowlers proved to be more effective, especially Morkel who didn’t give the batsmen many chances to score runs.

His services with the bat may be required tomorrow morning with SA already 6 down, and he will be required to take up the bowling attack along with Steyn in the next innings to ensure the game does not get away from them.

4. Mohammed Shami

He was selected for the tour following his good run of form in the series against West Indies. Playing in his first overseas Test ever, he bowled in the right areas and got the ball to beat the batsmen on a number of occasions. He opened the bowling along with veteran Zaheer Khan, and did not give away loose deliveries at all. He turned out to be India’s most economical bowler today (2.66).

He did not get any wickets in the 1^st or the 2^nd session of play, but in the last session of play, he managed to get a couple. He took a cue from Ishant and Zaheer, who struck right after tea to dismiss Amla, Kallis and Smith.

He got the important breakthroughs of de Villiers (lbw) and Duminy (caught out) in the same over (45^th of the innings), to reduce SA to 6 wickets down, at the score of 146. They were cruising at 130/1 at one stage, and this onslaught by the bowlers really helped India get back in the game.

Shami is most likely to open the bowling with either Zaheer or Ishant today as well, to try and bowl out South Africa as soon as possible.

3. Graeme Smith

He played a captain’s knock today, scoring a stylish 68 which included 11 boundaries. Though he was hit on the right knee by a ball that took the inside edge of the bat early on, he was not affected by it at all and played some nice shots to upset the Indian bowling.

His partnership with Amla looked like it would squander all of India’s chances, before they recovered and got some wickets. Smith got out leg before to Zaheer Khan, this being the 14th instance in international cricket he has got out to the bowler.

He looked confident while he batted which was not surprising since he got a double hundred in the last Test match he played, which was in October against Pakistan. His decision to put India in to bat did pay off well, but now he has to ensure that the opposition doesn’t get away the next time they bat, which can hurt South Africa’s chances of winning the game.

He will have to use his bowlers well and will also have to implement a good strategy to stop Pujara and Kohli who look in fine touch.

2. Ishant Sharma

He provided the much needed breakthroughs initially. He wrapped Alviro Petersen on the pads before tea, and struck twice just after tea. A beauty of an incoming delivery cleaned up Amla who had intended to leave the ball alone, which came nipping back and hit his stumps.

Kallis was dismissed leg before on the very next delivery to a delivery of sheer pace. At the end of the day’s play, Ishant had figures of 3/64 in his 20 overs.

Sharma’s bowling today brought India right back into the game when they were on the verge of being ousted totally owing to the steady partnership between Smith and Amla that added 93 for the 2^nd wicket.

Cool customer Amla’s was the most crucial wicket, because he could have been very dangerous and would have piled on the runs if not dismissed before he got going.

Petersen, who looked a bit out of sorts and was unable to middle the ball on many occasions, came as the first success for the Indians.

Captain Dhoni might tell Ishant to open the bowling when play resumes tomorrow, because he was the most successful bowler today against the Proteas.

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.