After having a not-so-good performance with the bat, Team India bounced back well with the bowl and all-rounder Shardul Thakur made headlines with his maiden five-wicket haul. While the team was struggling to pick wickets, the right-arm pacer claimed three wickets very quickly that too inside 14 runs.
Meanwhile, his spell turned the table soon as well in their tally of 202 runs at the Wanderers. With a minimum total on the board, they needed quick wickets with the new ball. While the opener Aiden Markram got out by Mohammed Shami for 7, skipper Dean Elgar tried his best to score. At 88/1, the Proteas were in a strong position when Shardul Thakur came to bowl.
He removed Dean Elgar, Keegan Petersen, and Rassie van der Dussen before lunch. As they were reduced to 102/4, trailing by 100 runs, the visitors needed to restrict the hosts as well. And, Shardul Thakur eventually picked up his maiden 5-wicket haul as he dismissed Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne in the post-lunch session as well.
As far as the three-match Test series is concerned, India won the opening Test by 113 runs in Centurion. While India have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, they have a fair chance to win the series in South Africa and if they can manage to do this, it will be a memorable one as well.
Here is how Twitterati reacted:
SA batters facing charged up Lord Shardul today 😆 Well bowled @imShard 👊🏼 #SAvIND #LordShardul pic.twitter.com/jZqGOGSnZ1
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 4, 2022
Lion-hearted display by Shardul Thakur. Best figures by an Indian against South Africa, thoroughly deserved his seven wickets for persistence and intelligence. Has single-handedly brought India back into the second Test. Over to the batters now. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/Jn5oN0Aen0
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 4, 2022
Kyaaaaaa Baat hai thaaaakuuuurrrr @imshard well done.. So happy to see you performing like a champion.. 7wickets haul #INDvsSAF @BCCI pic.twitter.com/eNJtmfHffE
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 4, 2022
The lord is spitting fire at the bull ring 🔥 @imShard #IndianCricketTeam #SAvsIND
— DK (@DineshKarthik) January 4, 2022
Shardul Thakur just keeps do his thing.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) January 4, 2022
Lord Shardul and team India believe in fair play. That's why Lord never bowls to new batsmen, he's only brought on once there is a partnership and the batsmen are set. Lord still gets them out though 😄 #SAvIND
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 4, 2022
Not just saying cos shardul got wicket but why did he bowl after Siraj? Siraj was struggling with hamstring yesterday, If that wouldn’t have happen totally understand making shardul bowl last.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 4, 2022
How does shardul do this time and again? Wow.. #SAvIND
— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) January 4, 2022
There are only three things which are truly inevitable:
1) Death
2) Taxes
3) Lord Shardul Thakur @imShard #INDvsSA— Shikhar (He/Him) (@Shikhar__T) January 4, 2022
Shardul Thakur has a kneck for taking big wickets at crucial times of the game. Superb bowling performance after being overlooked all morning. #SAvIND
— Ongama (@imongamagcwabe) January 4, 2022
Batsmen are building partnership
Le Lord shardul thakur to batsmen pic.twitter.com/V9LXZfkPNc— Gaurav Bang (@Gaurav_bang88) January 4, 2022
Shardul Thakur … Dark HORSE 🐎 among INDIAN Pacers….least expectations but maximum returns#INDvsSA #SAvsIND
— Cricket Commentary (@sfdepanc) January 4, 2022
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