Shardul Thakur
Second Test: Shardul Thakur strikes thrice, SA 102/4 at lunch
Johannesburg/UNI: Shardul Thakur's three-wicket haul helped India put South Africa on the back foot 102/4 at lunch on Day 2 of the second Test match here at the Wanderers stadium on Tuesday.
Keegan Petersen and Dean Elgar batted brilliantly until 30 minutes to the end of first session. The South Africans frustrated Indian attack and added 53 runs for the second wicket before Shardul changed the course of the match.
Shardul got the much-needed breakthrough as Elgar was dismissed for 28 with a lovely ball that moved away off the seam and South Africa captain nicked behind to wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant.
Although South Africa owned one and a half hour of the play, India used just the half hour to turn the tables in their favour.
Petersen brought up his maiden Test half-century off 103 balls with a boundary and then added two more in the same over. But soon became Shardul's second victim as he was caught at second slip. Petersen fished an outside off but got a thick edge and was caught for a well-made 62.
At the stroke of lunch, Shardul delivered a game-turning spell. The pacer dismissed Rassie van der Dussen, who was caught behind cheaply for one.
The game has changed completely and South Africa are trailing by 100 runs. The Indian attack consisting Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj ensured to keep things tight and dried up the runs.
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