Thakur 7-61 but South Africa lead by 27

Shardul Thakur has taken a career-best 7-61 but India have been unable to prevent South Africa claiming a valuable 27-run first innings advantage in the second Test at the Wanderers.

Having dismissed India for 202 late on the first day the hosts battled their way to 229 before being dismissed shortly before the close on Tuesday.

Keegan Petersen scored a maiden Test fifty, his 62 being the highest first innings score by either side on a tricky pitch.

Temba Bavuma also scored a half century, making 51. His 60-run fifth-wicket partnership with Kyle Verreynne (21) steadied the hosts’ innings after Thakur claimed three wickets in five overs to tip the balance of play back towards India.

Thakur returned in the middle session to break the Bavuma-Verreynne partnership, dismissing both batters. He then came back again to wrap up the innings after the tail had begun to frustrate India.

His figures were the best by an Indian bowler against South Africa in Tests.

Mohammad Shami took 2-52 and Jasprit Bumrah the remaining wicket. Mohammad Siraj, who left the field with a hamstring strain late on Monday, was fit to resume but only bowled six overs in the day and was down on pace.

Thakur took the wickets of captain Dean Elgar, Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen, with the last ball before lunch, his figures then reading 3-11.

Elgar and Petersen offered stoic resistance for the first 90 minutes of the morning as the South Africans resumed on 1-35 overnight, but both survived precariously in the face of accurate bowling.

Elgar took 55 minutes and 32 balls before adding to his overnight score of 11 in a patient display of concentration while Petersen was able to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Elgar’s innings ended as he got an outside edge to Thakur and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant for 28 off 120 balls

Having played carefully to 50 Petersen opened up and paid the price for one expansive shot too many as he was caught in the slips.

Van der Dussen, whose place in the Test team is under threat, struggled again with the hostile bowling and got an inside edge to Pant to depart for just one. Replays suggested the ball may not have carried but the dismissal was not referred to the third umpire.

Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj both made 21 as the tail edged South Africa into what could prove a telling lead.

India are 1-0 up in the three match series and looking for a first series success in South Africa.

With Reuters

Thakur 7-61 but South Africa lead by 27
Independent Information