Cape Town, Jan 12: South Africa reached 100/3 at lunch on the second day of the third and series-deciding Test against India here at Newlands on Wednesday. The hosts trail by 123 runs.
Jasprit Bumrah snared Aiden Markram with a peach at the start of first session, reducing South Africa to 17/2. The ball nipped back a long way and it took Markram’s off-stump. It was the South African’s misjudgment which gave India a dream start.
Bumrah seemed fully charged up as he left Keshav Maharaj clueless. The ball came a long way but it not only missed Maharaj’s off stump, also beat diving wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant.
India created another opportunity but KL Rahul put down Keegan Petersen, who was on four, at the third slip. It was a difficult one off Mohammed Shami.
South Africa continued to fightback, with Maharaj displaying his free-flowing cover drive. However, soon Umesh Yadav, who is playing his first Test match in the series, got the breakthrough.
The fast bowler castled Maharaj for 25, ending the South African’s resistance. Maharaj tried to play outside the line but the ball nipped back in and flattened his middle stump.
Shardul Thakur thought he had got Petersen and appealed for leg-before. When the on-field umpired turned him down, Thakur convinced his captain Virat Kohli to review it. The ball tracking showed it went over the stumps and India lost their review.
While Petersen was set, Rassie van der Dussen was settling in. Petersen displayed great composure, skill and technique against the Indian attack. Petersen (40 not out) and Van der Dussen (17 not out) saw off the first session.
