Page 22 - India Vs South Africa

IND vs SA: Rain continues to play spoilsport in post lunch session

The start of the fourth and penultimate day's play in the second Test between India and South Africa was on Thursday delayed due to rain. South Africa need 122 runs to win the match and restore parity in the three-match rubber, while the visiting Indians need eight wickets to emerge victorious and script their maiden Test series win in the Rainbow Nation. India scored 202 and 266 in their two innings and South Africa after having scored 229 in their first essay are 118 for 2 in pursuit of 240. "Rain continues to fall at Imperial Wanderers and no play is currently possible," CSA tweeted from its official handle just after completion of lunch. Before the scheduled start of play, there was light drizzle and the covers were on. India lead the series 1-0 after their win in the opening Test.

India set 240-run target to win second Test against South Africa

India set South Africa a tricky 240-run target to win the second Test after being bowled out for 266 in their second innings on the third day of the match here on Wednesday. Resuming at 85 for two, India called the shots with Cheteshwar Pujara (53) and Ajinkya Rahane (58) striking half-centuries. 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.

2nd Test:Pujara, Rahane score fifties as India reach 188 for 6 at lunch

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 reducing India to 188 for six

Was trying to ball in right spot, pitch was offering natural help: Shardul

Indian bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur expressed happiness after this breakthrough performance against South Africa in the ongoing second Test here at the Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

2nd Test: Shardul finishes with 7/61 as India bowl out South Africa for 229

India bowled out South Africa for 229 in their first innings on Day 2 of the second Test match at The Wanderers Stadium, here on Tuesday

Shardul Thakur gets maiden five-for as South Africa reach 191/7 at tea

India pacer Shardul Thakur grabbed his maiden five-wicket haul as South Africa lost the momentum towards the end of the afternoon session to reach 191 for 7 at tea on day two of the second Test. Thakur (13.1-3-43-5) with his happy knack of breaking partnerships more than compensated for Mohammed Siraj's hamstring injury as Keegan Petersen (62 off 118 balls) and the in-form Temba Bavuma (51 off 60 balls) laid the platform only to fritter away a promising start. The only silver lining for Proteas is that they are now only 11 runs short of India's first innings total of 202. In fact, just like skipper Dean Elgar (28 off 120 balls) and Petersen had a 74-run stand broken in the first session, Bavuma and keeper Kyle Verreynne (21) had added 58 runs in a fifth wicket stand before Thakur once again got into the act. If outswingers worked well in the first session, it was the scrambled seam off-cutters that did the trick in the post-lunch dismissals. In case of Verreynne, the ball cut back

SA Vs Ind, 2nd Test: Shardul's triple blow jolts hosts after a steady start

Pacer Shardul Thakur's triple blow brought the visitors back in the game as visitors got off to a steady start at lunch on day-2 of the second Test match here at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.Resuming the day at 35 for 1 captain Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen started steadily to take team's total beyond the 50-run mark. Petersen was more aggressive of the two as Elgar kept one end tight.The duo of Elgar and Petersen reached half-century partnership for the second wicket as pacers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj failed to take a wicket in the early hours. With pacers failing to take wicket captain KL Rahul introduced Ravichandran Ashwin and he too failed to give India the breakthrough.Shardul Thakur was then introduced into the attack and he finally gave India the breakthrough as dismissing Captain Elgar for 28 caught behind by wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant. Keegan Petersen did not get too bothered by losing his partner as he notched up his half-century.Petersen kept on .

SA v IND: Think KL getting formula of playing Test cricket, reckons Ashwin

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reckons that stand-in captain KL Rahul is getting the formula of how to play in Test cricket

Bumrah appointed vice-captain for second Test, Iyer misses out

Kohli is missing out on the match owing to an upper back spasm

SA vs Ind, 2nd Test: Visitors opt to bat, Kohli out due to back spasm

India's stand-in skipper KL Rahul won the toss and opted to bat first in the second Test of the three-match series against South Africa here at the Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on Monday.Speaking about the toss, Rahul said, "Unfortunately Virat has had an upper back spasm and hopefully he'll recover for the next Test. It is every Indian player's dream to captain his country. Really honoured and looking forward to this challenge. We have had a few good wins here and hopefully, we'll look to continue that. Hanuma Vihari comes in place of Virat. Just the one change. It was a good Test at Centurion overall. We really performed well as a team and are really excited about this match."On the other hand, Proteas skipper Dean Elgar said, (On Kohli missing out) "It doesn't really bother me, we have got a Test match to play. Two changes: Kyle Verryenne comes in for QdK and Duanne Olivier for Mulder. Losing Quinny is never ideal. He has been a big player for us. We have a lot of ...

1st Test: India beat SA by 113 runs to register first-ever win in Centurion

India beat South Africa by 113 runs in the opening Test to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series here on Thursday. Set a stiff target of 305, South Africa were bowled out for 191 just after lunch in their second innings on the fifth and final day of the series opener at the SuperSport Park. The hosts were 182 for seven at lunch, trailing by 123 runs. South Africa had finished the fourth day at 94 for four with skipper Dean Elgar unbeaten on 52 after Indian batters caved in on a track with uneven bounce, getting all out for 174 in just 50.3 overs. For India, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami finished with three wickets apiece while there were two apiece for Mohammed Siraj and Ravichandran Ashwin. Brief scores: India: 327 and 174 South Africa 197 and 191 all out in 68 overs (Dean Elgar 77; Jasprit Bumrah 3/50, Mohammed Shami 3/63).

Rahul strikes unbeaten ton, helps India make near perfect start in SA

The day belonged to Rahul, who showed remarkable resolve and application during his seventh Test hundred

If there is one bowler who can exploit SA conditions, it is Bumrah: Elgar

South Africa captain Dean Elgar feels the Indian pace attack has improved immensely, especially in overseas, and Jasprit Bumrah is best placed to exploit the 'spicy' conditions in the rainbow nation

India vs South Africa: Pacer Anrich Nortje ruled out of Test series

South Africa pacer Anrich Nortje was on Tuesday ruled out of the upcoming three Test series against India due to a "persistent" injury. Cricket South Africa (CSA) did not specify the nature of injury and also did not name a replacement for Nortje who has taken 47 wickets in 12 Tests, including three five-wicket hauls. The first Test is slated to begin in Centurion from December 26. "Proteas bowler, Anrich Nortje, has been ruled out of the three-match, Betway Test series against India, due to a persistent injury," CSA said in a statement. "He has unfortunately not recovered adequately for the expected Test match bowling loads and is currently consulting with specialists to manage and advise on his recovery. No replacement will be brought in," it added. Nortje is well known for his exploits in the Indian Premier League where he plays for Delhi Capitals. The Capitals have retained Nortje and not compatriot Kagiso Rabada ahead of the IPL mega auction next month. Rabada will be leadin

Test series between India and SA to be played without spectators: CSA

South Africa reported a record number of daily Covid cases last week in a fourth wave

Next three days of good intensity training crucial: Dravid tells Team India

Indian cricket team chief coach Rahul Dravid has stressed on "quality practice" and "good intensity" ahead of the team's opening Test against South Africa

1st Test between India and S Africa to be played without spectators: Report

The first Test between India and South Africa starting at Centurion on December 26 will be played without spectators amid Omicron concerns, according to a report.

SA vs Ind: Disappointing to lose points on slow over-rate, says Dravid

India head coach Rahul Dravid on Sunday said he was 'disappointed' that his team was docked a World Test Championship point for their slow over-rate in Centurion

Kohli to come before media on eve of his 100th Test, says Dravid

The Indian Test skipper has played 98 Tests to date

Kohli's India ready to roll over South Africa for elusive series win

For captain Virat Kohli, a Test victory at the Wanderers would reaffirm his status as one of the greatest Indian captains of all time in the traditional format