The second day of the first test between India and South Africa at Cape Town saw Hardik Pandya shine with both bat and ball. Team India was struggling at 92 for 7, but Hardik Pandya’s counter-attacking knock 93 kept the South African lead to 77. South African openers Markram and Dean Elgar added 52 runs but Hardik Pandya took 2 wickets to keep alive in the match.
Starting on the overnight score of 28 for 3, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara played with caution against top quality pace bowling of Rabada, Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Philander. Both batsmen left the ball and looked confident. Rohit Sharma was dismissed by Rabada for 11. India went on the lunch break at 76 for 4. In the first session, Team India scored just 48 runs.
The second session got off to a worse start losing Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Wriddhiman Saha. Team India was struggling at 92 for 7. The all-rounder Hardik Pandya was in aggressive mood putting pressure on the South African bowling line. Pandya completed his 2nd half-century off 46 balls. Bhuvneshwar Kumar did not give his wicket away. At the end of the second session, India were 165 for 7.
In the third session, Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar continued to play the South African attack with lots of confidence. The eighth-wicket partnership of Kumar and Pandya added 99 runs. Hardik Pandya missed a well-deserved scoring 93 runs off 95 balls. Team India was bowled out for 209 giving South Africa 77 runs lead.
Rabada, Philander picked 3 wickets each while Steyn and Morkel took 2 wickets. Steyn went off the field due to an injury.
Markram played with positive intent while Dean Elgar struggled against the Indian Pacers. It was a good display of batting by South African openers. Hardik Pandya dismissed both Markram and Dean Elgar. South Africa ended day 2 on 65 for 2.
South Africa 286 in 73.1 overs (AB de Villiers 65, Faf du Plessis 62, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4/87) and 65 for 2 in 20 overs ( Markram 34, Dean Elgar 25, Hardik Pandya 2/17) lead
India 209 in 73. 4 overs ( Hardik Pandya 93, Pujara 26, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 25, Rabada 3/34, Philander 3/33 ) by 142 runs.
