Pandya anchors India's fight back in Cape Town Test, South Africa lead by 142 runs
Cape Town, Jan 6 (IBNS): Countering the South African pace attack, Indian batsman Hardik Pandya played an aggressive knock of 93 runs to help his team to fight back against the host, who ended the second day of the First Test match with a lead of 142 runs in Cape Town on Saturday.
Pandya came to the crease at a time India were struggling at 76/5 with the hosts aiming to wrap up the innings of the visitors. But soon he counterattacked the South African bowling to help India to come back in the Test match.
Though he lost Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha in quick succession, Pandya partnered Bhuvneshwar Kumar to tackle the hosts.
Steyn-Morkel-Rabada, who were dominating the match till then, started to worry about the partnership of the two batsmen.
While Kumar held one side solid, Pandya played his strokes to add some quick runs to the scoreboard. The young all-rounder took no time to reach his 50 and was going strong for hiss econd international hundred.
Pandya, who was dropped once and survived a stumping in his innings, ultimately turned out to be a victim of of Rabada. Pandya's wicket had fallen in few minutes after Bhuvneshwar was dismissed by Morne Morkel at 25 (86).
The two had put together 99 runs for the eighth wicket.
Pandya's 93 runs from 95 balls consisted 14 fours and 1 six. India were eventually bundled out for 209 in the first innings.
Though India failed to equalise the South African total, reduced the trail boasting on Pandya's innings.
India had started the second day with a poor show in the first session. Adding to an overnight score of 28/3, Kohli and his men lost back to back wickets putting South Africa in the driver's seat.
Apart from Pandya and Bhuvneshwar, Cheteshwar Pujara was the only batsman who scored more than 20. Pujara had tried to put up a fight with his 26 runs innings from 92 balls.
Coming out to bat in the second innings, South Africa successfully survived the initial overs but lost two wickets by the end of the second day's play.
After showing his class with the bat, Pandya gave his team breakthrough with ball. He dismissed both the openers Aiden Markram (34) and Dean Elgar (25) to give India a sigh of relief at the end of the day.
South African batsman Hashim Amla and nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada are at the crease with their respective 4 and 2 runs.
South Africa lead India in the second innings by 142 runs.
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