South Africa vs India, 3rd Test, Day 2 - 5 Talking Points

Day 2 of the third and final Test between South Africa and India ended with the Indian team walking back to the room feeling relatively content, a feeling that they must have longed for throughout the Tour. A decent bowling performance from India coupled with below-par batting from South Africa meant that the latter only ended the first innings with a slender lead of 7 runs.

It was then followed by a mini-session where India began their second innings with another bold move as Parthiv Patel and Murali Vijay were sent to open the batting. The former looked good while it lasted but what really was the positive for India was that they lost only one wicket at Stumps. The reason was a controlled, disciplined batting approach from Vijay and Rahul who looked at ease compared to how badly all other batsmen were troubled all day on the challenging wicket. Here are the 5 talking points for today:

1. Bhuvi runs through the Saffers

Why Bhuvneshwar Kumar must not be dropped again was first displayed in his cameo last night and was followed up by a stunning first spell where he ran through the Proteas top-order. He had already dismissed Aiden Markram for 2 runs on Day 1, and was quick to subject Dean Elgar with a similar treatment who was dismissed for 4 runs.

However, what really caught the eye and made sure the world bowed down to his skills when he bowled AB de Villiers for 5 runs. He shattered the middle stump with an inswinger and we saw one of those rare occasions where Bhuvi celebrates. There was initial support from Ishant Sharma in the new ball spell but it was Bhuvneshwar Kumar showing that he is India’s best new ball bowler by a mile. He ended the innings with figures 19-9-44-3 at 2.32 runs an over.

2. Bumrah’s maiden Test fifer

The fact that Jasprit Bumrah played all three Tests on the Tour ahead of Buvneshwar Kumar and even Umesh Yadav, was questioned by many before the start of the match. The greenhorn was quick to silence the naysayers with the five-for 54.

It started with the big wicket of Hashim Amla who had looked settled to perhaps reach the big one on a tricky pitch like this. It was followed by the quick dismissal of Faf du Plessis who was sent back for 8 runs. Quinton de Kock was the other specialist batsman to be dismissed by Bumrah. When he got into his rhythm, he made sure that the tail did not wag as wickets of Andile Phehlukwayo and Lungi Ngidi followed immediately.

3. Mighty Hash and the Rabada-Philander cameo

Hashim Amla started slow and steady, much like Cheteshwar Pujara and played a 61-run patient knock only he could have. The pitch was giving hell to other batsman and as a result, we saw a shuffling, moving Amla pulling a Steve Smith on India. Because of this clever tweak, the Indian bowlers found it difficult to formulate a plan against him. Kagiso Rabada, the nightwatchman, played a 30-run knock who too made sure that the opposition’s problem of bowling to left-handers continued.

All other batsmen apart from these two were dismissed for single digits but Vernon Philander with his 55-ball-35 became the second highest scorer of the match after playing a very valuable hand. Had it not been his knock, South Africa may well have ended the innings without clearing the deficit.

4. Parthiv Patel’s improvisation

After Wriddhiman Saha’s exit from the Tour because of a hamstring injury, there was confusion about who would play the Johannesburg test- Patel or Dinesh Karthik. However, Parthiv Patel justified his selection with his glovework as he displayed high-quality catching behind the stumps. With uneven bounce and swing popping their hands on regular intervals, he was vigilant behind the stumps.

He took four catches and some of them were pretty impressive, for instance, the low diving catch he took off Bhuvneshwar to dismiss Elgar and the catch he took off Bumrah to dismiss Phehlukwayo. It is safe to say that he utilized the time between the second and third test on keeping when the wicket was expected to produce bounce.

5. Indian batsmen finally look solid

While sending Parthiv Patel to open the innings alongside Murali Vijay in the second innings may not have a significant effect on the scoreboard since he scored 16 runs, he was definitely responsible for taking a bit of shine off the ball with his aggressive shots where he was batting at a SR of over 100. This in return paved way for Vijay and KL Rahul to capitalize on.

It appeared like the Vijay we waited in the entire Tour to turn up just arrived and was back to his strength of leaving the ball when needed. Rahul too looked much more confident as the two learned that seeing off the opening spells was the first step to bat on the tricky pitch. Their footwork improved, they left deliveries that had to be left and went occasionally went after the balls that they needed to and the intent that was much talked much started to appear. South Africa’s rare mediocre new ball bowling too worked in their favour.