India vs South Africa 2nd Test Match : Johannesburg - Page 5

India 2nd Innings--- 77/2  

Huge responsibility on these two batsmen's shoulders. 

Stumps -  India 85/2 in 20.0 overs 

If there is a hallmark of a champion side, then that is winning in unfamiliar conditions and that is exactly what India has been doing in recent times. They beat Australia in Australia; they performed brilliantly in England and now have started in the best of manners against South Africa. What a win that was in the first game, a full day was washed out but the visitors still managed to squeeze in a result and they did so quite convincingly. 

That's stumps, and India will be breathing a lot easier than when Rahul and Mayank fell. Pujara has rattled along to 35 off just 42 balls, Rahane holding on at 11. Their partnership has realised 41 runs in just 8.2 overs. They could be playing for their places in the XI, and both have been upto the challenge so far. Their reward is they get to do it all over again tomorrow. India are 85 for 2 - effectively 58 for 2 - so this is still a game on even keel. South Africa looked like they would move into the ascendancy at various points of the day, but India found their hero in Shardul Thakur, who took a remarkable 7 for 61 to keep South Africa's lead to just 27. Shami and Bumrah had bowled with venom at the start of the innings, but without rewards - Thakur then came and stole the show. For South Africa, Keegan Petersen and Temba Bavuma both made classical fifties, but fell soon after. Tomorrow promises to be as engrossing a battle

Cricinfo

What an enthralling first session we have had. Pujara and Rahane batted freely, scoring quick half-centuries, in the first hour of the day. Then Rabada struck back for South Africa, removing not just Rahane and Pujara but also Pant, who played a reckless shot. Ashwin hit a couple of boundaries and moved to 16 before edging one down the leg side in the last over before lunch. The lead is 161 but now India have only four wickets in hand. However, both Vihari and Thakur can bat. If they can take the lead past 200, 

Cricinfo

Day 3 - Session 1: India lead by 161 runs.

India 217 for 6 in their second innings.

They need to make more runs.  This is only day 3 and they need to at least set a target of 250+ runs to have any chance at winning this match.

Cheers..

Wow, they heard me.  Now India is 225 for 6.😊

Good job Team India!👍🏼

Cheers..

Congratulations to Pujara and Rahane for their half centuries.🥳

Cheers..

Oh no!  Thakur is out for 28.  Half his runs were made in the last 4 balls.

Cheers..

India 226 for 7, with a lead of 199 runs.

Cheers..