The third and final Test match between South Africa and India at Newlands in Cape Town is evenly poised after Day 2. The visitor’s bowlers rolled the Proteas out for 210 after tea, 13 runs shy of India’s first innings total of 223.
The Proteas bowlers fought back before stumps but India finished solidly on 57 for the loss of two wickets, with a lead of 70 runs.
It looked perfect conditions for batting on a picturesque morning at Newlands but it was India’s bowlers who did most of the talking in the first hour of play on day two. Jasprit Bumrah, who made his debut here in 2018, bowled out opener Aiden Markram for eight with just the second delivery of the day.
Nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj tried to steady the innings alongside Keegan Petersen. He scored 25 runs but he too was bowled in spectacular fashion by seamer Umesh Yadav, playing in his first match of the series.
Petersen, again looking organised and composed with the bat in hand, picked up the mantle with Rassie van der Dussen. They shared in an unbeaten 55-run fourth-wicket partnership, to take the Proteas to lunch on 100 for the loss of three wickets, having reduced the deficit to 123 runs.
Yadav struck on the other side of the break removing Van der Dussen for 21, ending their 67-run stand. Petersen however continued his resistance. He went on to notch up a half-century, his second in Test cricket and his successive half-ton in the series.
Now alongside Themba Bavuma, he managed to further reduce India’s lead to 64 runs before Mohammed Shami struck twice in consecutive deliveries to dismiss Bavuma for 24 and Kyle Verreynne for a duck.
Bumrah claimed his third wicket on the cusp of tea, bowling Marco Jansen out for seven and the Proteas slumped to 176 for seven. Bumrah was again in the wickets shortly after the interval, now with the crucial scalp of Petersen for a career best 72, with the Proteas still 47 runs adrift.
Kagiso Rabada helped to get South Africa to the 200 mark but he holed out to mid-off for 15. Duanne Olivier and Lungi Ngidi also provided some rear-guard action, further reducing the deficit to 13 runs with South Africa on 210.
Bumrah took the final wicket of Ngidi for three as he finished with figures of five for 42, his seventh five wicket haul in Tests.
Rabada and Jansen brought the Proteas right back into the contest before stumps. The pair dismissed openers Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul for seven and 10 runs respectively to help reduce the visitors to 24 for two.
