SPORTS

India and South Africa played out an intense second and penultimate Test, at The Wanderers, Johannesburg, where Dean Elgar-led Proteas won the clash by 7 wickets on a rain-marred fourth day on Thursday (January 6). When play resumed, SA resumed from 118-2, in pursuit of 240, chances for a win was bright for both sides, however, skipper Dean Elgar's 96 not out propelled his side to a seven-wicket win as the series got levelled with one match to go.

Talking about the J'burg Test, KL Rahul-led India fought hard throughout the course of the second Test sans Virat Kohli -- who was out due to upper back spasm -- despite being bundled out for 202 in the first essay Conceding a 27-run lead, India managed 266 in their second innings to setup a competitive 240-run target for the hosts. Nonetheless, Elgar's resistance proved too hard to break for the Indian bowlers as the series is now levelled at 1-1.

The 2nd Test between India and South Africa is nicely poised and although India’s bowlers are capable of turning things around quickly, given the current scenario of the match, the hosts appear likely to level the series in Johannesburg. Chasing a target of 240, South Africa have progressed to 118/2, needing another 122 to win with two days remaining. Result is a foregone conclusion in this Test, just who registers a W against their name remains to be seen.

The highest total South Africa have posted in this series is 229 – in the first innings – but if they are to make it 1-1, the hosts will have to better it. Weighing in on the situation of the match, West Indies legend and former pacer Ian Bishop finds it hard to believe that South Africa have managed to put over 100 runs on the board having lost only two wickets.

South Africa are in hot pursuit of India’s target of 240 runs. They are looking solid with the score reading 34/0. Earlier half centuries from Pujara and Rahane made sure India set a target of 240 runs. Kagiso Rabada accounted for both the well-set batters and also extinguished the threat of Rishabh Pant on 0. The game is nicely poised with India leading by 161 runs and four. Team India is in a dire need of runs and Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are at the crease to fulfill it. After bundling out New Zealand for 229, the visitors have taken a 58-run lead in the second innings. At stumps on day 2, India posted 85 for 2 with Rahane batting on 11 and Pujara unbeaten on 35.

The third day of the ongoing Test is going to be another test of the Indian batting that collapsed against the South African attack on the opening day. The openers – KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal – are already back in the hut and the limelight on the Pujara and Rahane who have been receiving flaks for their rough patch. The duo has got a great opportunity to shut their critics by putting India on the driver seat.

There was debate and controversy at the Lunch break on Day 2 of the 2nd Test between South Africa and India in Johannesburg over a catch taken by Rishabh Pant to dismiss Rassie van der Dussen in the final over before the break. While Shardul Thakur appealed for a caught-behind wicket, umpire Marais Erasmus gave it out and the South Africa batter walked off the park bringing an end to the hard-fought first session.

However, it emerged that South Africa captain Dean Elgar and team manager Khomotso Masubelele had a chat with the umpires in the umpire room during the Lunch break to discuss the dismissal of van der Dussen after replays suggested the ball might have hit the ground before Pant collected it.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane's saga of failures compounded a shoddy batting performance by India even as stand-in skipper KL Rahul impressed with a defiant show amid the ruins on the opening day of the second Test against South Africa here on Monday.

Rahul's patient 50-run knock on a day when India missed Virat Kohli due to back spasms and Ravichandran Ashwin's cavalier 46 at the rear end ensured that India scored 202 in their first innings on a bouncy Wanderers track.

At stumps, Mohammed Shami sent back Aiden Markram even as Dean Elgar (11 batting) and Keegan Peterson (14 batting) took South Africa to 35 for 1. It could have been two down had Rishabh Pant snapped Peterson off Jasprit Bumrah, which seemed a regulation catch.