South Africa despite losing Ryan Rickelton early in the session to Kuldeep Yadav has consolidated their position really well to push India further back. Temba Bavuma and Trsitan Stubbs have put on 74 for the third wicket to push India back as South Africa went to Lunch at 156/2 in 55 overs. This is South Africa’s game as they have won the first two sessions. The pitch looks decent and India with all to do at the interval.
Kuldeep Yadav removes Ryan Rickelton early; but South Africa make steady progress in the first hour after Tea
Tristan Stubbs was the new batter in and joined Ryan Rickelton in the middle. Bumrah finished the unfinished over. Kuldeep Yadav had ball in hand from the other end and he removed Rickelton for 35 off 82 balls with 5 fours to his name. Kuldeep bowled a flighted leg break full and outside the off-stump that spun away. Rickelton was forward to drive away from the body and the loose shot with the ball spinning away and he got the outside edge to Pant who took a good catch. Captain Temba Bavuma came out to bat next.
Bavuma got off the mark soon. Bumrah bowled a decent over. Bavuma then hit Kuldeep for a boundary as he picked up the length early and lofted it over mid-off for a boundary. Kuldeep got Bavuma’s edge but the ball did not carry to Rahul at first slip. Bumrah continued and bowled a tight over. Kuldeep bowled another probing over. Siraj came back into the attack next.
Siraj gave away 4 leg byes to the batting side as a bonus. Stubbs then hit Siraj with soft hands through slip and gully for a boundary as the 100 came up for South Africa in 32.4 overs. Ravindra Jadeja came into the attack next. Jadeja bowled a quiet over. Siraj bowled a probing maiden over. Jadeja bowled another good over. Bavuma broke the shackles as he stood tall and hooked it away past the right of long leg for a boundary. Bavuma hit another boundary as he punched it through the point region for a boundary.
Kuldeep returned to the attack. He bowled a decent over. Jadeja bowled a decent over too. Kuldeep continued and bowled another solid over. Jadeja kept things under check. Kuldeep continued as Stubbs took the attack to him by stepping down the track and lofted it straight down the ground over long-on for the maximum. South Africa reached 129/2 in 42 overs when we all paused for the Drinks Break in this second session.
Tristan Stubbs & Temba Bavuma drive home the advantage as South Africa went into Lunch at 156/2 in 55 overs
Jadeja continued after the break and bowled a no ball as the 50-run stand came up between the two players. Kuldeep continued and bowled a maiden over. Jadeja continued and felt he had gotten rid of Bavuma LBW but the umpire said NO and replays confirmed that the ball was missing the leg stump. Good call and the review was burnt. Kuldeep bowled a decent over. Jadeja continued and bowled another good over.
Bumrah came back into the attack and started his spell with a maiden over. Jadeja continued and bowled a poor delivery on middle and leg stump as Bavuma flicked it away through midwicket for a boundary. Stubbs then took on Bumrah as he stood tall and played the short arm jab through midwicket and mid-on for a boundary. Bavuma completed 1000 Test runs as captain as well.
Siraj came back into the attack and had a collision with Stubbs which hurt his knee but no damage was done and he completed a good over. Bumrah continued and bowled another maiden over. Siraj continued and bowled a probing over. Washington Sundar came back into the attack and bowled a decent over. Siraj came and bowled the final over before the Lunch Break. He bowled a decent over as South Africa negotiated it well and went into Lunch at 156/2 in 55 overs with Bavuma on 36* and Stubbs on 32*. 15 extras given by the fielding side so far.
It’s been a hard toil for the Indian bowlers with Jasprit Bumrah being the pick of the bowlers with 1/17 in 12 overs. Kuldeep Yadav bowled well for his 1/27 in 12 overs. Mohammed Siraj bowled 11 overs for 34 runs. Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled 4 overs for 21 runs. Washington Sundar bowled 8 overs for 26 runs. Ravindra Jadeja bowled 8 overs for 17 runs.
What Lies Ahead in Evening Session
South Africa are on top and have the score at 156/2 in 55 overs as we have gone to the Lunch Break. The pitch is a decent one to bat on one feels. India are toiling hard but are not finding rewards. It is South Africa who have their noses in front and India has to take a flurry of wickets to come back in the game.
An important and intriguing final session of play is coming our way soon.
Also Read:Â IND vs SA: South Africa Makes A Solid Start In Morning Session