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South Africa opener Dean Elgar’s century and on-debut David Bedingham’s half-century helped the hosts dominate the proceedings on Day 2 of the Centurion Test after KL Rahul’s century helped India post 245 on the board. Before bad light stopped play at the SuperSport Park, the Proteas managed to take an 11-run lead with Elgar unbeaten at 140.
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Earlier, starting at an overnight score of 208/8, Rahul scored his first boundary off the third over of the day. Rahul did the bulk of the scoring. Against Kagiso Rabada who took a five-wicket haul on Day 1, Rahul hit the first six of the day. Gerald Coetzee broke the partnership in the 66th over with the wicket of Mohammed Siraj. He contributed five runs from 22 balls in the crucial 47-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
In the same over, Rahul managed to take a single via byes as Kyle Verreynne lacked match awareness. On the last ball of the over, Rahul smashed the length ball for a six to reach his century from 133 balls. It is his second Test century in Centurion. Krishna managed to play a maiden over against Marco Jansen. In the next over, Rahul decided to take on Nandre Burger but got bowled. His 101-run knock was laced with 14 fours and four sixes. It took India's score to 245 despite a batting collapse.
As South African openers walked out to bat, Siraj got the early breakthrough. Aiden Markram was drawn into a front foot defense. The outside edge carried to Rahul as Markram departed for a single-digit score. Elgar and Tony de Zorzi kept Indian bowlers at pay. Krishna and Shardul Thakur struggled to find their lengths and were hit for boundaries. Elgar reached his half-century from 79 balls in the 23rd over.
As the partnership neared 100, Virat Kohli adopted Stuart Broad's tactic to switch the bails in-between deliveries and it worked. Jasprit Bumrah got the wicket of De Zorzi who edged it to the third slip fielder. De Zorzi contributed 28 runs from 62 balls in the 93-run partnership. Bumrah in his next over got the wicket of Keegan Petersen for a single-digit score. Petersen dragged the ball back to his stumps.
After Bumrah’s double blow, Bedingham decided to counterattack. He made a statement by hitting Krishna for a six with a pull over the deep square leg boundary. A few overs later, Elgar reached his Test ton from 140 balls with a boundary off Thakur in the 42nd over. He scored his first Test ton at home against India. Bedingham continued to attack and smashed Thakur for a maximum. At the end of the second session, South Africa were 194/3.
The partnership reached 100 a few overs into the third session. Bedingham reached his half-century from 80 balls. He became the fourth Proteas batter to score a fifty or more on debut against India. Siraj broke the fourth-wicket partnership in the 51st over. The fuller delivery went through the gap between bat and pad and knocked back the middle stump. Bedingham scored 56 runs from 87 balls including seven fours and a couple of sixes. Elgar and Bedingham shared a 131-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
In the next over, Krishna made Verreynne his maiden Test wicket. The extra bounce got the better of him and the edge carried to Rahul. The review worked in India's favour as the on-field decision was overturned. Temba Bavuma did not walk out to bat on Day 2 as he picked up a strain in his left hamstring. Jansen walked out to bat at no.7 and prevented more wickets from falling. Bad light stopped play when South Africa were 256/5 after 66 overs. Elgar remained unbeaten for 130 off 211 balls including 23 fours.
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