South Africa's wicketkeeper Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, right, attempts a run out against India's batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, left, during first day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. AP Durban: Opener Murali Vijay marked his return to form with a fluent unbeaten 91 as India gained early control of the series-deciding second cricket Test against South Africa with a solid batting display here today.
India vs South Africa, 2nd Test: Match Updates
The 29-year-old Vijay, who had not managed to get a big score for some time now, was just nine runs short of what could be his fourth Test century as the visitors reached a comfortable 181 for one before bad light stopped play at the Kingsmead.
Vijay found an able ally in Cheteshwar Pujara (batting 58) as the duo stitched an unfinished 140-run second wicket partnership to wrest the initiative from the South Africans who toiled hard on an unresponsive pitch.
Electing to bat, the Indians lost Shikar Dhawan (29) early but Vijay and Pujara, who scored 153 in the epic drawn Test in Johannesburg, ensured that they did not suffer any further damage by batting cautiously.
Riding on Vijay and Pujara's exploits, India went into tea on a commanding position at 163 for eight. Coming out to bat post tea, the two batsmen had disappointment in store as only eight overs were bowled in the final session of play before bad light interrupted the proceedings, eventually forcing the umpires to call off the remaining day's play.
Earlier, resuming India's innings at 76 for one in the post-lunch session, Vijay and Pujara further increased their 35-run partnership for the second wicket, playing with consummate ease.
Despite the sun hiding behind clouds after the break, there was nothing more than a hint of movement on the bouncy pitch for the South African pace battery. The two batsmen made good use of the conditions, playing watchfully yet at the same time scoring at a decent pace.
India crossed the 100-run mark in the 30th over. The last 10 overs bowled by the Proteas in the post-lunch session had cost 48 runs without producing a wicket.
South Africa's Jacques Kallis waves to the crowd in his last match before retirement during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.
India's Shikhar Dhawan bats during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's Murali Vijay bats during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's Vernon Philander bowls during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's Murali Vijay ducks a bouncer from South Africa's Dale Steyn during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's batsman Shikhar Dhawan plays a shot during first day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa.South Africa's bowler Morne Morkel throws the ball during the first day of the second Sunfoil Series Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's Dale Steyn (R) reacts during the first day of the second Sunfoil Series Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's Morne Morkel celebrates the wicket of India's Shikhar Dhawan during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's Shikhar Dhawan loses his wicket to South Africa's Morne Morkel during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium, Kingsmead in Durban.India's batsman Shikhar Dhawan leaves the field after being dismissed for 29 runs during first day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - AP South Africa's Jacques Kallis bowls in his last match during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's Cheteshwar Pujara is hit on the leg during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's Robin Petersen bowls during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's fans show their support for Jacques Kallis during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's Murali Vijay celebrates his fifty runs during the first day of the second Sunfoil Series Cricket Test match between India and South Africa at the Sahara Stadium, at Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's bowler Morne Morkel, center, unsuccessfuly appeals for LBW against India's batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, right, as teammate wicketkeeper Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, left, watches during first day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa.South Africa's fans during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's wicketkeeper Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, right, attempts a run out against India's batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, left, during first day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - APSouth African cricket fans sing during first day of their cricket test match between South Africa and India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - APIndia's batsman Murali Vijay avoids a bouncer during first day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - APSouth Africa's bowler Vernon Philander, left, fields off own bowling after India's Shikhar Dhawan, right, plays played a shot during first day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. AP South Africa's player Jacques Kallis looks on during first day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - APSouth Africa's player Jacques Kallis bowls during first day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - APIndia's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, centre, with teammate India's Virat Kohli, left, waves in the players pavilion as the match is stopped due to bad light during first day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - AP India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, right, with teammate India's Virat Kohli, left, gestures in the players pavilion as the match is stopped due to bad light during first day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - AP Match is stopped due to bad light during the first day of the cricket test match between South Africa and India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - AP South Africa's player Jacques Kallis looks on as the match is stopped due to bad light during first day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - AP
No comments:
Post a Comment