Daijiworld Media Network
Mohali, Nov 7: Day three is usually the moving day of any Test match. Can India scramble together another 150-200 runs and take firm control? Or will the South Africans turn up and restrict India to a modest lead? Remember, no non-Asian team has chased more than 276 to win in the final innings of a Test match in India.
If the visitors dominated the first day of the Test series, it was India's turn to hit back on the second day. The hosts played an almost flawless game as they inched ahead of South Africa. Having been bowled out for just 201 in their first innings, it was vital that they bowled well. A lot depended on the spin trioka and they didn't disappoint. Ravichandran Ashwin was the leader of the pack, grabbing his 13th five-wicket haul and finished with 5/51. In the process, he also became the fastest Indian and the fourth joint fastest bowler to take 150 Test wickets. He was well supported by Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra as the spinners took all the 10 wickets.
Pitch Report: 'There are certain spots that are loosening. When the ball pitches on those areas, it will start helping the spinners more. The South Africans opted for a heavy roller yesterday - and batting was easy for the first hour. India might opt to do the same today, that will help batting become easier in the first session,' reckons Sunil Gavaskar
So, how does the two camps assess the situation? Claude Henderson, the South African spinning coach, believes his team is far away from losing this match. 'I think we need wickets tomorrow. They are 140-plus already, we need wickets early to try and create pressure. Anything above 200, I believe will be challenging but saying that, I have seen this team doing some special things,' he said. On the other hand, Ravichandran Ashwin was of the opinion that batting is getting easier on this surface and it's just the mindset of the batsmen that need to improve. 'I think it is better to bat from yesterday. Honestly, I think it's the batting that makes the wicket look what it is,' he said.
India's second innings was much better when compared to their first dig. Their task was made much simpler with the news that Dale Steyn wouldn't be bowling - probably for the rest of the match, with a mild groin strain. Shikhar Dhawan didn't make the most of the opportunity though - falling for a blob and registering his first pair in Test cricket. Murali Vijay was calm personified and Cheteshwar Pujara looked in good touch. The former was dismissed at the fag end of the day's play for 47, but Pujara went on and registered an attractive fifty. Virat Kohli has started well and India's lead is now worth 142 runs.
For the visitors, skipper, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers showed some fight. Amla was particularly impressive, showing exemplary technique and grit to dominate the Indian spinners. While the rest of the top-order were floundering against the spinners, Amla's determination and ability to play on such surfaces was a contrast. On the other hand, AB de Villiers started shakily and was lucky that umpire Dharmasena didn't detect a faint edge off Jadeja. He was once again reprieved after being caught by Kohli at slip, only for the replays to suggest that Jadeja had overstepped - by the slightest of margins. Once he settled down, the genius in him was in full flow. He swept, reverse swept and drove the spinners into distraction - as he registered a valuable half-century. It needed a cracker of a delivery from Mishra to uproot him from the crease, but not before he had taken his team close to India's first innings score. Eventually, South Africa were bowled out for 184, conceding a 17-run lead.
India are effectively 142/2 and that is a good score to have on the board in the second innings. However, they need to start from scratch tomorrow and the morning session will be crucial. With AB de Villiers showing how to bat on this surface, of course forget his first 30 odd balls, South Africa would have got an idea of how to go about in the chase. So India would want a target of at least 250. The third day of this Test also promises to be exciting. Join us back at 09:30 local time for all the action. Adios!
How many times we see the prelude not indicating how the song will turn out to be? This is a match of a similar kind. India, after messing up the first two sessions of the match, have now gained control over the proceedings. The Indian captain might be in for a belated birthday gift and he would be gleefully accepting it if everything goes well, for this gift did not look a possibility after he and his fellow batters had failed yesterday.
When South Africa came on to bowl, Dale Steyn did not turn up owing to a groin strain but Philander made up for it by once again getting rid of Dhawan cheaply. A pair at the venue where he started his Test career with a century on debut must have hurt the southpaw. Amla once again preferred Elgar over Tahir and the leggie could only come as a third spinner. Also, not giving Rabada the new ball was surprising. As far as the Indian batting in the second innings is concerned, it has looked solid so far. But we must not miss the fact that Vijay and Pujara were compact in the first innings as well. It is the batting to follow which will be a concern for Kohli. Vijay missed out on a well-deserved fifty, departing just before the end of the day's play. So now the onus is on Kohli and Pujara to carry forward the innings with patience. For any score above 250 in the fourth innings will be tough to chase for the visitors.
Stumps, Day 2: What a day it has turned out to be for India. After Amla and Elgar saw off the first hour, a desperate Kohli got his best bowlers - Ashwin and Jadeja - from both the ends. The move paid off and South Africa lost three wickets before lunch. AB de Villiers' final score might not tell the story of his stay in the middle. He was fidgety in the beginning and Jadeja all but managed to send him back. Had Jadeja not overstepped when de Villiers was caught by Kohli, India would have been leading by at least 50 more runs. Nonetheless, the hosts are still in a commanding position, courtesy another outstanding showing from Ashwin who has now 150 Test wickets to his name.