2nd Test: India set 240-run target for South Africa on a tricky Johannesburg pitch

India set a
240-run target for South Africa on a tricky Wanderers wicket in Johannesburg to
win the second Test and the series after being bowled out for 266 in their
second innings on the third day of the match on Wednesday.

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Under-fire
senior batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane added a lifeline to their
respective careers with crucial half-centuries but South Africa came back
strongly in the second Test by bowling out India after the lunch break.

The match
now hangs in balance again after Rishabh Pant’s indiscreet shot put India in a
spot after Pujara (53 off 86 balls) and Rahane (58 off 78 balls) in a rarely
seen counter-attacking mode added 111 runs in just 23.2 overs.

Also Read: Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara bat for their cricketing lives

Having
understood that time is indeed running out for them, both the batters decided
not to try and hang around as they looked for scoring opportunities. The half
volleys were driven imperiously and the width was dispatched disdainfully
square off the wicket.

When Marco
Jansen bowled one short, Rahane uncorked the slash over point for a six.
Pujara’s 50 came off 62 balls while Rahane’s half-century was completed in 67,
signalling that they were trying to show ‘intent’ and put the team’s interest
above everything else. They hit 18 fours and a six between them.

Also Read: Watch: Shardul Thakur gives Marco Jansen a taste of his own medicine, a nasty bouncer on chest

There was a
time when India were 155 for two with a lead of 128 and it seemed that South
Africa’s propensity to bowl too short or too full was proving to be damaging.

Rabada fired for South Africa

But then
Rabada, South Africa’s best exponent of fast bowling since Dale Steyn, produced
a piece of inspiration that is so synonymous with the traditional format.

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Rabada
found that ideal back of length where there is a crack and it landed there to
deviate sharply, taking Rahane’s edge into keeper Kyle Verreynne’s gloves.

Pujara then
got one from Olivier in the off-stump channel to be plumb despite lunging far
forward.

Also Read: Shardul Thakur claims seven wickets, best figures by Indian in South Africa

However,
the man who disappointed one and all was Pant, who first got a snorter from
Rabada that hit his helmet viser when he tried to defend awkwardly and then he
charged like a raging bull trying to convert a short ball into half volley. The
result was an edge to keeper.

‘Irresponsible batting’

The
legendary Sunil Gavaskar called it “irresponsible batting and said that no
excuse and nonsense of playing natural game” can be provided when people
like Rahane and Pujara were “taking blows” for the team.

Resuming at
85 for two, India called the shots with Cheteshwar Pujara (53) and Ajinkya
Rahane (58) striking half-centuries.

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Once they
were dismissed by Kagiso Rabada, the Indian innings seemed to have lost
momentum with Rishabh Pant falling without opening his account.

However,
Hanuma Vihari (40 not out) and Shardul Thakur (28) defied the Proteas attack to
swell India’s overall lead.

Pacers
Rabada (3/73), Lungi Ngidi (3/43) and Marco Jansen (3/67) shared nine wickets
between them.

If India
manage to defend the total, they will seal their maiden Test series triumph in
South Africa.

Brief Scores: India: 202 and 266 in 60.1 overs (A Rahane
58, C Pujara 53; K Rabada 3/73, M Jansen 3/67, L Ngidi 3/43).

South
Africa 1st innings: 202.