Shardul Thakur’s 7-fer on day 2 brings India right back into the game

(Cricket news) South Africa started day 2 of the 2nd Test against India at Johannesburg at 35/1 in reply to India's 202 in the first innings. The good news for India was that Mohammed Siraj was on the field despite limping off with a hamstring injury on day 1.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami started with their spells and didn't give Keegan Peterson and Dean Elgar any bad deliveries whatsoever. Despite creating so much pressure and bowling wicket taking balls Peterson and Elgar managed to hold on. Siraj came into bowl and it was pretty evident that he wasn't fit as his pace was significantly lower than usual. There was even a catching chance where he had to run backwards but couldn't. Had he been fully fit or had there been any other fielder the catch would've been taken. The Proteas batters got a few boundaries off Siraj and later Ravichandran Ashwin. 

Then entered Shardul Thakur who got rid of Dean Elgar with a beautiful ball from over the wicket. Keegan Peterson got himself to his maiden Test fifty showing incredible quality and grit but was dismissed on 62 by Shardul Thakur. Rassie van der Dussen was given out caught behind off Mohammed Shami. The decision was overturned after a review and the replays showed that the ball hadn't carried to Rishabh Pant despite the keeper claiming the catch. Moments after during the last over before Lunch Van der Dussen edged Thakur's ball which was caught by Pant. The umpire signaled out and Van der Dussen walked off but the replay showed that the ball had hit the grass. 

Van der Dussen was not called back and two new batters Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne walked out to bat. Bavuma scored his 2nd consecutive half centuryThe pair added 60 runs playing exquisite strokes before Thakur once again came in and picked up both their wickets. Shami came into the attack and picked up Kagiso Rabada's wicket. Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj got South Africa past India's total with their aggressive approach. Jasprit Bumrah picked up his first wicket of the match as he clean bowled Keshav Maharaj. Shardul Thakur got the last two wickets of Jansen and Lungi Ngidi as he finished with the figures of 7/61 his best in Test cricket. It was also the best figures by an Indian bowler against South Africa.

KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal came into bat as India trailed by 27 runs. Jansen picked up Rahul's wicket while Mayank Agarwal didn't offer a shot to Duanne Olivier's in-swinger and was given out LBW. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya who are potentially playing for their place in the side negotiated the rest of the overs very well and played some good strokes in the process. India ended the day on 85 for 2 with a lead of 58.

Also read: The progression of KL Rahul as a Test cricketer over the last year

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