India lead by 58 runs at stumps after bowling South Africa out for 229 on Day 2 at the Wanderers

[Joseph Gomes]

Indian Test Team is so good that even their weakest links (Pujara/Rahane) also come to party at times when needed! Kohli might not have done much with the bat for few years, but his captaincy & aggression has also helped...

Kohli has made the team believe they can beat any opposition anywhere. Not sure how he did it, every other team is a home bully

 

[MP2011]

Maharaj will bowl the last over of the day.

 

[Buffet]

Take one wicket here otherwise, these two are taking the game away.

 

[MP2011]

Another excellent shot from Pujara.

 

[MP2011]

It's stumps.

We are ahead by 58 runs.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

I really want Rahana and Pujara to score runs and win this test match.

 

[Devadwal]

This is very good partnership so far 41 of 52 balls
India lead is 58

 

[Buffet]

These two shifted the momentum. India was behind and now ahead.

SA is still in the game, but SA can't allow so many easy runs.

 

[MP2011]

Pant's innings will be so important tomorrow and may decide the fate of this test.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

SA still favourites. Wanderers is a funny track that can flatten out towards the end of the test match and we have seen huge scores in the 4th innings as well.

 

[Mp812]

These two shifted the momentum. India was behind and now ahead.

SA is still in the game, but SA can't allow so many easy runs.

3rd day.....whichever team wins most sessions on 3rd day will most likely end up winning the match

 

[AutoCrat]

Pujara and Rahane might just about have put India in the driver's seat with that counter attack. Vihari and Pant need to show some character tomorrow and solidify India's position.

 

[Thanos]

I wish India had a lead of some 25-30 run in first inning instead of deficit.
I would've slept peacefully tonight.

 

[Rana]

South Africa are going to lose this Test also.

Congratulations India in advance

 

[Buffet]

SA still favourites. Wanderers is a funny track that can flatten out towards the end of the test match and we have seen huge scores in the 4th innings as well.

+1

It becomes easier to bat in 4th inning some time here. 200-250 can be scored.

 

[Buffet]

I wish India had a lead of some 25-30 run in first inning instead of deficit.
I would've slept peacefully tonight. ��

Just a game. Sleep peacefully.

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

Still anybody's game. A batting collapse can happen anytime. Any lead is golden on this pitch.

 

[sam_ahm]

This test is very evenly poised, may be India slightly ahead considering South Africa's batting has been vulnerable and India's attack is spot on.

South Africa, after being 80/1 should have tried to push on and get close to 300, India have done really well to come back into the game and the momentum now is on India's side.

 

[Napa]

+1 . They're a weak lineup. 170 max if siraj remains injured

Siraj won’t be bowling..

Fantastic series going on. The match is even with Siraj not like to bowl here.

Nah, they have only two front-line Bowler here for this surface. Yeah, I know Thakur took a bagful, but he is still not front line. 175, with Siraj, not bowling, I will feel SA should get it.

Can you stop reminding this (abt Siraj) to us in every alternate comment.
It hurts .

Posters keep believing that Siraj is a more important bowler than Thakur. However, even BEFORE this innings Thakur had cosiderably better stats than Siraj, and even other bowlers in his short Tests' career.

BEFORE THIS INNINGS, Thakur got a wicket every 41.1 balls at an average of 23.75

https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/shardul-thakur-475281

compared to 50.9 balls for Bumrah, 49.4 balls for Shami and 54.9 balls for Siraj (at an average of 27.94).

Kohli also underestimates Thakur, preferring to bowl Siraj.

 

[Saurav]

SA slightly ahead.

 

[Amjid Javed]

India favs to win from here. SA need 2 early wickets atleast tomorrow.

 

[Advaith]

In this pitch Philander would have made life hell for Indian batsmen without giving any scoring opportunity..Thakur though don't look as talented as Philander but similar kind of customer.. Bowlers need to operate at 130-135 speed to get maximum swing in this pitch..

 

[JaDed]

Posters keep believing that Siraj is a more important bowler than Thakur. However, even BEFORE this innings Thakur had cosiderably better stats than Siraj, and even other bowlers in his short Tests' career.

BEFORE THIS INNINGS, Thakur got a wicket every 41.1 balls at an average of 23.75

https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/shardul-thakur-475281

compared to 50.9 balls for Bumrah, 49.4 balls for Shami and 54.9 balls for Siraj (at an average of 27.94).

Kohli also underestimates Thakur, preferring to bowl Siraj.

Siraj is a better bowler than Shardul , batsmen are much more cautious when they play Bumrah Shami Siraj.

 

[MenInG]

The second Test stood delicately poised following India's fightback that dimmed South Africa's dominance, in parts, at the Wanderers on the second day.

The visitors, who were bowled out for 202 in the first innings, will feel they wrested some momentum from the Proteas, who gained a 27-run lead after being bowled out for 229 in reply.

The tourists had Shardul Thakur (7/61) to thank for their claw-back after he ripped through the Proteas, breaking their most crucial partnerships and preventing Dean Elgar's men from disappearing into the horizon.

India was 85/2 at stumps, with a 58-run lead going into day three.

Marco Jansen took destructive opener, KL Rahul, out early for 8 (21), Aiden Markram catching a contentious nick at second slip.

Rahul's partner in crime, Mayank Agarwal, also departed when he was trapped in front, offering no shot to a Duanne Olivier stumps-bound missile.

But India's batters scored freely until the close of play, going at a run rate of more than four per over as Cheteshwar Pujara (35*) and Ajinkya Rahane (11*) finished unbeaten at stumps.

The pair, who have been under pressure from Indian critics for recent below-par performances, gave a hint of their pedigree, which will destroy the Proteas' chances if they continue unchecked on day three.

South Africa can ill-afford to give India a lead their feeble batting order will battle to overhaul.

Proteas star batsman Quinton de Kock says "a lot of contributing factors" played a role in his decision to retire from Test cricket at the age of 29.

Although they finally crossed the 200-run frontier, the Proteas' batting frailties followed them from Centurion to Johannesburg, where they squandered a chance to secure a healthier lead.

Two half-centurions, Temba Bavuma and Keegan Petersen, failed to hammer home their advantage after getting themselves set on a wicket that had plenty runs on offer.

On days like these, the Wanderers Stadium looked a shell of its former vibrant self.

Without fans in its vast grandstands, no kids running around in the family area and bereft of beer-drinkers at Castle Corner, the traditional experience of being at the iconic Bullring was lost.

It felt as if the summer sun was going to waste as its bountiful rays landed on commercial brandishes rather than sunscreen-soaked skin.

This part of the treasure chest the coronavirus has stolen from humankind.

Regardless of the diluted stadium experience, the handful onlookers were treated, late on, to Jansen's ungainly but effective blows at the end of SA's first innings.

The youngster, who was elevated to No 7 after Duanne Olivier replaced Wiaan Mulder in the order, had a jolly good time hacking Indian bowlers to various parts of the ground.

He wasn't expected to make too many runs - his primary role being his left arm quicks - so the opportunity was almost a "free hit", a chance to earn himself a proper all-rounder's reputation.

Thakur - who else? - eventually removed Jansen for a handy 21 (34), getting him caught by Ravichandran Ashwin from extra cover.

Thakur wasn't done ending the fun.

He captured Lungi Ngidi's scalp to complete a magnificent seven allotment. He had never taken a five-for before taking those career-best figures.

Scores in brief:

India: 202 all out (KL Rahul 50, Ravichandran Ashwin 46, Marco Jansen 4/31, Duanne Olivier 3/64, Kagiso Rabada 3/64)

SA: 229 all out (Keegan Petersen 62, Temba Bavuma 51, Shardul Thakur 7/61, Mohammed Shami 2/52)

https://www.news24.com/sport/cricke...-india-dim-proteas-initial-dominance-20220104

 

[Advaith]

Need two fifties from Indian batsmen to give 180 + target here ..very difficult to chase more than 220 here I guess..

 

[Napa]

Siraj is a better bowler than Shardul , batsmen are much more cautious when they play Bumrah Shami Siraj.

You mean Thakur gets into the batsmen’s heads and makes them play him casually even though he has a superior SR and average? That makes him the greatest bowler of all

 

[Sidilicious]

Posters keep believing that Siraj is a more important bowler than Thakur. However, even BEFORE this innings Thakur had cosiderably better stats than Siraj, and even other bowlers in his short Tests' career.

BEFORE THIS INNINGS, Thakur got a wicket every 41.1 balls at an average of 23.75

https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/shardul-thakur-475281

compared to 50.9 balls for Bumrah, 49.4 balls for Shami and 54.9 balls for Siraj (at an average of 27.94).

Kohli also underestimates Thakur, preferring to bowl Siraj.

Thakur has been a star for India in the last year or so. No one can deny that. But we cant just look at those stats and say that Thakur is a better bowler than Siraj. The consistency and variety Siraj has shown for someone one year into international has been remarkable. He has helped create pressure that has also helped other bowlers like Thakur take wicket.

Thakur as an overall package has been phenomenal when the team has needed him. He has booked the spot as the Pace bowling all rounder which we all thought Pandya could have been.

 

[Varun]

Rahane's record of batting on a new morning is horrendous.

Hope he doesn't get out within the first 5 overs as usual.

 

[Napa]

Thakur has been a star for India in the last year or so. No one can deny that. But we cant just look at those stats and say that Thakur is a better bowler than Siraj. The consistency and variety Siraj has shown for someone one year into international has been remarkable. He has helped create pressure that has also helped other bowlers like Thakur take wicket.

As Thakur has a much better bowling strike rate and average (currently 33.2 and 19.17) compared to Siraj (currently 56.5 and 28.61) I would think Thakur would create more pressure on the batsmen.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/shardul-thakur-475281/bowling-batting-stats

https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/mohammed-siraj-940973/bowling-batting-stats

The batsmen do their research on bowlers and surely know that Thakur was India's top wicket taker in the Gabba Test (7 wickets), took the wickets of top English batsmen at Oval etc.

Siraj comes across as passionate and therefore gets a lot of attention from the media and his captain Kohli.

Not saying Siraj has not been good for India, he has been. But Thakur with a 60% better S/R (33.2 vs. 56.5) and a 50% better average (19.75 vs. 28.61) has been a bigger contributor.

Thakur as an overall package has been phenomenal when the team has needed him. He has booked the spot as the Pace bowling all rounder which we all thought Pandya could have been.

Pandya seems to have regressed, with his off field antics. Thakur goes about his work quietly and makes critical contributions to big Indian victories.

 

[Devadwal]

India are 85/2. If you reverse it, it reads 2/58, which is India’s effective score.

 

[shamaan]

Game is in the balance.

 

[Savak]

I remember in 2014-15 when SA were at the peak of their powers with ABD, Faf, Steyn, Morkel, Phillander, Amla and other players in their midst and the team was unbeatable at home and had even beaten Australia in Australia but Daryll Cullinan had sent the alarm bells ringing that he feared for the future given the lack of quality players coming through the ranks in the U19 team, domestic teams. Most posters dismissed his concerns back then citing South Africa's strong school system, domestic structure but his fears have proven to be spot on today.

Who could have predicted watching the South African team in the 90's, 2000's and early 2010's that this would be their ordinary state today.