Rain has once again delayed the start of the third day’s play of the second cricket Test between India and South Africa at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, here.
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India’s decision to send South Africa in to bat in the second test paid off as the hosts took three wickets in the opening session, with offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin claiming two. Openers Stiaan van Zyl and Dean Elgar were found wanting when they were up against a disciplined line and length from Ishant and his new-ball partner Binny, who got considerable movement in the morning.
Vijay had a huge stroke of luck when Tahir spilled a simple catch at square leg off the bowling of Morkel and that about summed up South Africa’s day.
Once De Villiers was out off the last delivery before tea, mopping up the tail was a mere formality for India. Jadeja, as well as Ravi Ashwin, took four wickets.
De Villiers, who went to lunch unbeaten on 19, brought up South Africa’s 100 with a superb cover drive off fast bowler Varun Aaron and reached his half-century with a single off Ashwin. Given what has transpired in this match so far, it looks like it would be tough for the teams to bowl the opposition out quickly enough to get a result over the next 190 overs or so. Ashwin refused to oblige, the dip on the ball taking it away from du Plessis, who flicked at it hopelessly. As De Villiers showed how to play on a sub-continental track. The ball was hitting the middle stump.
Elgar perished in the first over after lunch, JP Duminy (15) could not shine on his return to the squad and Dane Vilas (15) fell to a soft dismissal to compound South Africa’s crisis after lunch. Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay were all set to pile on the agony for them before rain washed out the entire second day and gave them a chance to stay in the match.
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With two full days lost to the weather and the forecast for the rest of the week foul, it would be a surprise if the outcome of this game is anything other than a draw.
