SA lose early wicket after bowlers restrict India to 202
Qatar Tribune
ANI Johannesburg South Africa bowlers dominated Day One of the second Test against India as the visitors were bowled out for 202 in the first innings on Mo...
ANIJohannesburgSouth Africa bowlers dominated Day One of the second Test against India as the visitors were bowled out for 202 in the first innings on Monday.At stumps, South Africaâs scorecard read 35/1 with Dean Elgar (11*) and Keegan Petersen (14*) at the crease. It was an enthralling day of Test cricket as 11 wickets fell on Day One of the second Test. After bundling India out for 202 in the first innings, South Africa got off to a bad start as they lost opening batter Aiden Markram in the fourth over.Mohammed Shami trapped Markram in front of stumps to give India a breakthrough. But Elgar and Petersen ensured the hosts didnât suffer any more hiccups as South Africa ended the day with nine wickets in hand.In the second session, South African pacers had tightened screws against the visitors to leave them tottering at 146 for 5 till tea. The hostsâ bowlers kept up the pressure as they dimissed KL Rahul and Hanuma Vihari post tea.Ravichandran Ashwin played a fighting knock of 46 runs in just 50 balls before India were bowled out for 202 in the first innings.In the first session, a disciplined bowling performance from South Africa kept India at bay as the visitors lost three wickets in the morning.Paceman Marco Jansen picked up four wickets for the hosts while Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier scalped three wickets each.Kohli misses Test due to spasmIndia skipper Virat Kohli missed out on Test with KL Rahul leading in his absence.Kohli missed out due to an upper back spasm which troubled him in the morning. KL Rahul who was named the vice-captain of the side in Rohit Sharmaâs absence leads India in Test cricket for the first time. Jasprit Bumrah has been named the vice-captain of the side.Batter Shreyas Iyer was also ruled out of the Test with a stomach bug.A statement from the BCCI read: âTeam India captain Mr Virat Kohli had a spasm on his upper back this morning. He wonât feature in the second Test against South Africa at The Wanderers.âThe BCCI medical team will be monitoring him during the course of this Test match. KL Rahul will captain the side in his absence. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain for the 2nd Test. Team India batsman Shreyas Iyer was also ruled out of selection for the 2nd Test owing to a stomach bug.âHanuma Vihari replaced Virat Kohli in the starting XI. India currently lead the three-match series 1-0, after a comprehensive victory in the first Test in Centurion. Rahul has found solutions he needed for Test cricket, says AshwinSeasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels Indian opening batter KL Rahul has found the solution to the âquestionsâ being thrown at him in Test cricket.Ashwin (46) and Rahul (50) were the only batters, who were able to middle the ball on Monday. âI think KL has got the formula of how to go about playing Test cricket. There is no one formula when it comes to playing Test cricket. Teams are analysing, there is a lot more footage available. Test cricket is all about you responding to the different questions being thrown at you,â said Ashwin at the end of the dayâs press conference.âKL has found the solution that he probably thought he needed to respond and it is working for him. He is one of those players, who got the raw material, the game. So very happy with the way he is batting,â he added.Ashwin scored 46 in just 50 balls but the spinner had no intention of going all out on South African bowlers.âThe moment I went there, I just responded to the balls which were thrown at me. There was no attempt to go and try and play at that (92) strike rate. I also thought of getting a hang of the pitch, initially, they started with the short balls, I had game plans I am glad it worked out,â Ashwin said while replying to a query.Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj went off the field minutes before the close of the play. Speaking about Sirajâs extent of injury, Ashwin said, âThe medical staff is assessing him overnight. I am hoping with the history, Siraj has, he will definitely come out and give his best.â