South Africa have shown tremendous application to make sure they do not lose a wicket in the session and scored 69 runs. Senuran Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne have done really well to grind and now the onus on India to fight back who used all their bowlers barring Nitish Kumar Reddy. But none got success. Advantage South Africa as they have won 3 out of 4 sessions so far.
Senuran Muthusamy & Kyle Verreynne give South Africa a steady start in the first hour of play
Senuran Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne resumed proceedings for South Africa while Mohammed Siraj had to complete his unfinished over. Muthusamy negotiated the last ball well by taking a single. Jasprit Bumrah had ball in hand from the other end and bowled a maiden over. Siraj continued as Verreynne hit the first boundary of the day by pulling it to fine leg and deep square leg region for a boundary. The 250 came up for South Africa in 83.3 overs.
Bumrah continued and bowled another maiden over. Siraj bowled another maiden over as India tried to build some pressure on the Proteas batters. Bumrah continued and bowled another maiden over. Kuldeep Yadav came into the attack next and bowled a decent over. Siraj changed ends as Muthusamy hit him for a triple. Kuldeep bowled a maiden over again.
Siraj continued and bowled another good over but India failed to get the wickets. Kuldeep continued as Muthusamy broke the shackles by going down on one knee and swept it away past long leg for a boundary as the boundary came after 48 balls. Siraj overstepped but bowled a decent over. Kuldeep continued and bowled another decent over. Bumrah came back into the attack and found the outside edge of Muthusamy but the ball did not carry to KL Rahul at second slip. South Africa reached 275/6 in 95 overs when umpires called for Drinks as South Africa went through the first hour unscathed.
Senuran Muthusamy’s half-century powers South Africa forward in wicketless session
Kuldeep Yadav continued after the break as Verreynne hit the first ball which was short by rocking back and punched it to the left of mid-off for a boundary. Bumrah continued and bowled a decent over. Washington Sundar came into the attack for the first time on Day 2. Sundar bowled a decent over. Ravindra Jadeja came into the attack next and was welcomed with a boundary by Verreynne as the short ball outside off-stump was played late into the gap between slip and backward point for a boundary.
Sundar continued and bowled a decent over. Jadeja bowled as the Proteas batters milked him for ones and twos. Sundar bowled another good over. The 50-run stand came up between Verreynne and Muthusamy. Verreynne picked the length early outside off-stump as he hung back and used the pace of the bowler to cut and got it fine as the ball raced away to deep backward point as the 300 came up for South Africa in 102.4 overs.
Sundar continued and bowled a decent over. Jadeja thought he had gotten rid of Muthusamy when he was on 48 when the umpire gave him OUT. But the batter reviewed and on replays it was shown that the batter got the faintest of gloves and that saved him. India were not happy but they had to agree to the decision. It was a good probing over. Sundar continued and bowled a decent over.
Jadeja continued as Muthusamy completed a very good fifty off 121 balls as he got to his 3rd Test fifty. Sundar continued and bowled a decent over. Jadeja too kept things under check. Sundar bowled a maiden over. Kuldeep Yadav was given the last over before Tea Break. Muthusamy got the short and wide outside off-stump as he rocked back and cut it past the left of backward point for a boundary. The Proteas milked his bowling thereafter.
South Africa went to 316/6 in 111 overs when umpires called time and went to the Tea Break. Muthusamy was batting on 56* off 131 balls while Verreynne was unbeaten on 38 off 94 balls. It was hard toil for the Indian bowlers. All bowlers barring Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled but bowled without any luck and success. South Africa on top at Tea on Day 2.
What Lies Ahead in Afternoon Session
South Africa have won another session and are in pole position at 316/6 in 111 overs. They have won 3 out of 4 sessions played so far. They will look to go past 350 and beyond and bat very deep as well. India needs a flurry of wickets and need to bat well since the pitch will deteriorate as the game wears on. So, advantage South Africa at the interval.
Big important session coming our way for India. Can they bounce back? Only time will tell.
Also Read:Â IND vs SA: The Proteas Start Of With A Very Solid Performance In Tough Conditions