Day 2, India vs SA 3rd Test: Kohli-Pujara Take India to Stumps; Lead by 70 Runs

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Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara during their stand

Image: ICC

Jasprit Bumrah picked 5 wickets while Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami picked two each on Day 2 against South Africa to turn the contest in India's favour in the final Test at Newlands. Shardul Thakur picked 1 as India took a 13-run lead

After India's pacers did their thing, South Africa's Kagiso Rabada dismissed Mayank Agarwal and Marco Jansen sent KL Rahul packing.

However, India captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara were patient in their approach from then on in and took the team to stumps with the score at 57/2 and a 70 run lead ahead of Day 3.

Having picked up a wicket on Day 1 to get things going for India, Jasprit Bumrah turned on the style very early on Day 2, as early as the second delivery of the day, when he hit the top of off stump with Aiden Markram looking on shocked.

The opener was dismissed for 8 as India made the perfect start to the morning session at Newlands, which was baked in bright sunlight.

Keshav Maharaj, who was joined by Keegan Petersen, played a few exquisite drives in the first hour and frustrated the Indian bowlers, who were also holding some probing lines and lengths for the better part of the early exchanges.

Petersen survived a chance as KL Rahul dropped a low catch in the slip cordon and went on to add 28 runs with Maharaj for the third wicket. And just as they looked like they'd trouble India a bit, Umesh Yadav went right through gap between bat and pad and knocked over Maharaj's middle stump, sending him back for 25 just before the first drinks break of the day.

Since then, Shardul Thakur too has had a couple of close shouts as India keep the pressure and the decibels around the batters, Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen, up.

With about half an hour to go for Lunch, R Ashwin came into the attack as Rassie Van der Dussen and Petersen stayed resolute.

India unable to get a third wicket before Lunch, turned to Bumrah in search of one, but Van der Dussen and Petersen held out, putting on 50 runs together to thwart the bowlers.

The duo did not let India pick another wicket in the morning session and took South Africa to Lunch with the score at 100/3, and 123 runs behind the visitors. South Africa finished the first session with the momentum with them but India's bowlers will come back eyeing quick wickets in the afternoon.

After Lunch, SA's batters ran a few streaky singles as Rassie Van der Dussen and Petersen looked to settle in again. The duo's fantastic partnership not only steadied the ship but also frustrated India no end.

The duo put on 67 runs for the fourth wicket before Umesh had Van der Dussen edging to Kohli in the slips. The captain wasn't going to drop that, especially after India had missed a couple of run out chances just before, and Van der Dussen walked back for 21.

After Van der Dussen's dismissal, Temba Bavuma joined Petersen in the middle and continued to knock off the runs, quickly ensuring India's total would be less than 100 runs away.

The duo were resolute, not playing any loose shots, and keeping India's bowlers at bay, while also bringing out the occasional exquisite drive for a boundary.

The batters weren't giving away anything and played watchfully as the afternoon progressed and India's bowlers searched for a breakthrough, while SA inched closer to the visitors' total.

However, with Tea approaching, Kohli turned to Mohammed Shami, who responded brilliantly, catching the edge of Temba Bavuma's bat only for Virat Kohli to take a brilliant catch in the slips. Bavuma was gone for 28 and after a dot ball, Shami struck again, sending the wicketkeeper batter Kyle Verreynne back to the hut for 0, caught behind by Rishabh Pant.

Shami's quick wickets swung the momentum in India's direction as South Africa lost their sixth wicket while Petersen soldiered on at the other end.

Marco Jansen joined Petersen, and was greeted by Jasprit Bumrah, who was more than happy to have a go, after he and the tall pacer had exchanged some angry words in the second Test. Petersen at the other end had moved on to his highest Test score in his short career in the afternoon session.

Off the final over of the afternoon session, Bumrah had his man, cleaning up Marco Jansen for 7, making that his third wicket as SA ended the session with 7 wickets gone and 47 runs still to get to get over India's total.

Soon after the players came back out, India struck again even as Petersen looked to build on. Bumrah continued his spell and got the leading edge off Petersen and Pujara completed the catch as the batter walked back to the hut for 72 well made runs. SA, who had looked good for a lead earlier in the day, were 8 down and in a spot of bother.

Kagiso Rabada added a handy 15 after that before being caught by Bumrah of Shardul Thakur with the score at 200.

Bumrah then wrapped up the innings with a five-wicket haul, dismissing Lungi Ngidi for 3, as India took a slender 13-run lead.

India openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal had their task cut out with SA's pacers being in form in the series.

Mayank and Rahul did not have the best start in the second innings, as Rabada and Olivier bowled some probing lines and lengths.

Rabada was the first to strike, squaring up Mayank, who edged it to Dean Elgar for 7.

A few deliveries later, Rahul was dismissed too, for 10, by Jansen. Rahul edged it to the slips where Aiden Markram didn't drop it.

Cheteshwar Pujara was joined by Virat Kohli, and along expected lines both showed immense patience during the final half hour, ensuring India would not be three down before stumps on day 2. South Africa's pacers bowled with control and probed, but the two experienced hands added 33 runs before Stumps were drawn.

Kohli remained unbeaten on 14 while Pujara was on 7 with the score at 57/2 and a lead of 70 runs.

Day 1 Recap

On Day 1, India won the toss and batted first but it was South Africa who had the better of the early exchanges with Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen picking important wickets. India captain Virat Kohli played an uncharacteristically slow and defensive innings, scoring 79 and helping the team reach 223 in the first innings. Ajinkya Rahane failed to impress while Cheteshwar Pujara also could not make use of a start.

With the ball, India had bowled 8 overs in the evening and Jasprit Bumrah was able to dislodge SA captain Dean Elgar for 3. The Proteas had Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj batting at Stumps and were 206 runs behind.

A win for India in the final Test will see them create history as they've never won a Test series in South Africa. The series is delicately poised at 1-1.