South Africa vs India 2018: 2nd Test Day 2: 5 things we learnt from the day

The much-anticipated second day of this second Test was an exciting one. India managed to bowl South Africa out for 335, just minutes before the lunch interval. Faf du Plessis’ 63 helped the hosts reach that score whereas Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma scalped out the Proteas lower-order.

After a good start, India lost two quick wickets but Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay steadied the ship for some time. But wickets at regular intervals meant South Africa kept plugging away and just about managed to nose ahead in this Test.

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#5 India continue to drop catches

When the play on the second day began, South Africa were 269/6 and India needed to skittle out the hosts quickly. They had already dropped a couple catches on the first day and that allowed Hashim Amla (who was let off on 14 and 30) to score 82.

India started off very well on the second morning. They didn’t give away too many runs.

However, the last over of the first hour saw a lot of things happen. Kagiso Rabada had been blocking pretty well against the pacers but was struggling against Ashwin. In the 104th over of the innings (bowled by Ashwin), India dropped two chances of consecutive deliveries.

First, it was Kohli who dropped a low and a tough chance at slip. Then, it was Pandya at cover who dropped a sitter. But it was Shami who charged from short third man and that resulted in Pandya getting distracted.

The third drop was a few overs later and it was again off Ashwin. This time it was Parthiv Patel who dropped a straightforward chance. And that made it the third drop of the session (and fifth of the innings).

#4 Disciplined Indian attack bowls the hosts out for 335

Ishant Sharma picked up the important wicket of Faf du Plessis today.

At 246/4, South Africa looked in total control on the first day. But some brilliance in the field from Hardik Pandya turned the day around for India and it helped the visitors share the honours for the opening day (with the Proteas 269/6).

India started the proceedings well on day 2 as they bowled tight lines and didn’t allow Faf du Plessis and the South African lower order to get away. In the first hour, the hosts scored only 23 runs in the 14 overs that were bowled.

However, they weren’t helped by their fielders as three catches went down. But the bowlers (pacers and Ashwin) continued to bowl good lines and kept chipping away with wickets and eventually bowled the Proteas out for 335.

Ishant Sharma, in particular, who bowled well on the first day got his reward for some tight bowling as he managed to bounce out Rabada and clean bowled skipper du Plessis to finish with 3/46. Ashwin got the final wicket and ended with 4/113 to cap off a good first innings outing.

#3 Pujara’s moment of madness

Pujara completely misjudged the run and eventually was run out.

After bowling South Africa out for 335, the Indian openers began well. Murali Vijay and KL Rahul (who replaced Shikhar Dhawan) off cautiously, but they looked solid at the crease. Rahul, in particular, was batting well, but a checked drive brought about his downfall (caught and bowled by Morne Morkel).

Cheteshwar Pujara is a key man in the Indian batting line-up and at 28/1, India would’ve expected him to bat long. However, the first ball he faced he clipped a straight delivery to the right of mid-on and took off for a single. However, a little bit of hesitation and some brilliant piece of fielding from debutant Lungisani Ngidi meant India’s No. 3 needed to return to the dressing room without troubling the scorers.

Ngidi ran across from mid-on and hit directly at the stumps to catch Pujara short. Even a desperate dive couldn’t help the latter’s cause. Pujara hit it straight to the man at mid-on and set off even though he’s not the quickest, he took a chance which cost him dearly.

Hence, that was Pujara’s moment of madness as his runout put India in a spot of bother at 28/2. It was also the first golden duck of his Test career.

#2 Kohli-Vijay rebuild but South African pacers chip away with wickets at regular intervals

Rabada bowled with great intensity and was very consistent.

After India lost two wickets in two balls, they were in a spot of bother at 28/2. However, skipper Virat Kohli’s arrival at the crease calmed a few nerves as he looked solid.

Vijay who looked a touch iffy at the start had settled down well and was looking good as well. He looked assured and was also rotating the strike well. The Tamil Nadu opener was also driving well on both sides of the wicket.

However, half an hour into the third session, Vijay looked a little scratchy against Keshav Maharaj as the latter tightened the screws as he bowled 8 consecutive dot balls to the right-hander. Thus, it made Vijay do something different. He went back to a flatter delivery and looked to cut. But the extra bounce foxed him and he nicked off. He got out for 46 and South Africa managed to break a solid 79-run partnership.

After Vijay’s dismissal, South African pacers bowled well and managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals. The fact the almost every bowler got a wicket indicates that it was a very good all-around effort from the bowling unit.

Ngidi (the debutant) was pretty impressive. He bowled at a good speed and was very consistent with his line and length and was rewarded with the wicket of Parthiv Patel. Rabada was once again brilliant as he dismissed Rohit Sharma for the second time this series (both times LBW).

Hene, the Proteas fast bowlers were right on the money even on an unresponsive surface and their consistency helped them get wickets at regular intervals.

#1 Kohli stands tall

Kohli's well compiled 85 not out has kept India in the hunt.

Virat Kohli as captain has been facing a lot of criticism regarding the team selection. Thus, he needed to do something special with the bat to silence the critics.

In the first Test, Kohli looked in good touch in the second innings but fell prey to a wonderful set-up from Philander. When the skipper strode out to bat in the second Test, India were in trouble at 28/2 (having lost two wickets off two deliveries).

The confidence with which he started his innings eased a lot of nerves in the dressing room. He looked very calm and was looking solid. He left the ball well, defended solidly, ran hard between the wickets and as usual drove the ball beautifully. He largely remained patient and kept the good deliveries out. He was occasionally beaten but he didn’t let that bother him as the Indian captain looked very focused and determined.

Not only was he batting well, he was communicating very well with his partners. He was applauding his partners every now and then. At the fag end of the day, when Pandya walked out to join him, Kohli was giving him some tips and was also trying to indicate what the bowler was trying to do.

Thus, even though wickets fell around him, he looked very determined and ended the day with a sublime unbeaten 85. Thus, he will be crucial to India’s chances in this Test which is slightly in the favour of the South Africans at the moment.