SA on top despite Pandya heroics

CAPE TOWN: Hardik Pandya went on a thrilling counter-attack but could not prevent South Africa from finishing on top on the second day of the first Test at Newlands on Saturday.

Pandya scored a swashbuckling 93, then took two wickets, but South Africa built on a first innings lead of 77 and were 65 for two at the close, an overall lead of 142 on a pitch which has helped fast bowlers.

India had slumped to 92 for seven in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 286 when Pandya found a determined ally in Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

While 24-year-old Pandya went for his shots, Kumar took 34 balls to score his first run but then played some fine strokes of his own, scoring 25 in an eighth wicket partnership of 99 which more than doubled their team’s total.

The partnership frustrated the South African bowlers and kept them in the field long enough for Dale Steyn to give South Africa another injury scare.

Steyn, in his first Test match since suffering a fractured shoulder in Australia in November 2014, had taken two for 51 when he pulled up with a bruised heel and left the field three balls into his 18th over.

Pandya hit 14 fours as well as a six off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj’s second ball of the match.

Kumar was caught behind off Morne Morkel when Pandya was on 85.

Score Board

South Africa won toss

South Africa 1st Innings 286 all-out (De Villiers 65; Kumar 4-87)

India 1st Innings 209 all-out

(H Pandya 93; K Rabada 3-34)

South Africa 2nd Innings

A K Markram c Kumar b Pandya 34

D Elgar c Saha b Pandya 25

K Rabada not out 2

H M Amla not out 4

Extras 0

Total (2 wickets; 20 Overs) 65

To bat: A B de Villiers, *F du Plessis, †Q de Kock, V D Philander, K A Maharaj, D W Steyn, M Morkel

Fall: 1-52, 2-59

Bowling: Kumar 6-3-16-0; Bumrah 4-0-14-0; Shami 5-1-15-0; Pandya 4-0-17-2; Ashwin 1-0-3-0

Test debut: J J Bumrah (India)

Umpires: M Gough (England) and R Kettleborough (England). TV Umpires: P Reiffel (Australia). Match Referee: C Broad (England)