Dean Elgar and Keegan Pietersen ensured that South Africa did not suffer any major losses on Monday as the hosts reached 35/1 at stumps as their bowlers bundled out India for 202 on the opening day of the second Test here.
At stumps, South Africa were 167 runs behind India at the Wanderers here on Monday. On a day when eleven wickets fell for a total of 237, South Africa found themselves on top after a solid bowling performance that helped them restrict India to 202.
After being dismissed for a modest score, Mohammed Shami gave India their first breakthrough as Aiden Markram fell in front of the wicket. Shami skids the ball from a good length and Markram tries to defend but is beaten up and hit on the pads.
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Shami continued to trouble skipper Dean Elgar, defeating him on several occasions and hitting fours as Jasprit Bumrah kept the pressure up from the other end. Keegan Pietersen hit two fours off Shami.
During the 18-over spell, Elgar and Pietersen were beaten on several occasions but did well to survive. Bumrah almost had the wicket of Pietersen if Rishabh Pant had caught a tough catch with his right glove. Elgar was beaten four times by Mohammad Siraj in an over. But an over before the stumps, Siraj grabbed the right hamstring and went off the middle of his over.
Earlier, India, who were 146/5 at tea, added 56 runs for the loss of five wickets to finish on a modest total of 202. Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin added ten more runs to their partnership in the second session. He scored 40 runs in 48 balls for the sixth wicket, with the off-spinner being the more aggressive of the two.
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But Marco Jensen ends the partnership, sweeps Pant out with a delivery towards the off stump and comes on to take the inner edge to Vereen. In the next over, Duane Olivier took his third wicket as Shardul Thakur slapped Pietersen straight through the body into the street.
Ashwin continues to counter-attack, clipping Rabada through mid-wicket with the full face of the bat, and leans forward to drive Olivier through mid-on. Shami cuts Rabada vigorously but goes straight back to the bowler, who takes a brilliant catch and gets out.
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Ashwin, at the age of 44, survived an occasion when Bavuma nearly pulled a screamer over deep cover. But on the very next ball, Ashwin takes a short delivery from Jensen to upper-cut and it completely misses Pietersen on point.
Bumrah pulled out a long handle to dismiss Rabada for 14 including two fours and a six and took India past 200. Rabada then ended the Indian innings by strangling Mohammad Siraj.
Brief Scores: India 202 in 63.1 overs (KL Rahul 50, Ravichandran Ashwin 46; Marco Jensen 4/31, Kagiso Rabada 3/64) 35/1 in 18 overs against South Africa (Keegan Pietersen 14 not out, Dean Elgar 11) not out , Mohammed Shami 1/15), South Africa trail by 167 runs
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