Related Links : India’s Tour of South Africa 2010/11 : India Player Pages : South Africa Player Pages : Scorecard of 2nd Test at Durban
South Africa have grabbed the initiative of going 2-0 up at Durban after having India at 183 for 6 on a rain-hit first day’s play of the Second Test. Like the first Test, this match too got delayed due to rain and just the 56 overs were possible which were more than enough for the Proteas to wipe out the backbone of the Indian batting. Dale Steyn with late outswingers rattled up the Indians on what was a greenish wicket at Kingsmead.
The crucial toss went SA’s way and India was forced to bat first under overcast conditions once the match got underway after an hour’s delay. The hosts remained unchanged while India made three changes – Murali Vijay coming in for Gautam Gambhir (who had injured his hand during net practice), Cheteshwar Pujara for the out-of-sorts Suresh Raina and a fit Zaheer Khan for Jaidev Unadkat.
The first few overs with the brand new ball from Steyn and Morkel were too good for the Indian openers – Sehwag and Vijay but they somehow managed to see the first half-an-hour atleast. But a wicket was coming anytime for the Proteas with the pitch doing quite a lot and also the ball swirling around in the air. Sehwag’s exit came in the 11th over when his rash drive off Steyn resulted in a thick edge which was snapped up by Kallis at second slip. Sehwag by then chanced his arms to score 25 from 32 balls with 4 fours.
South Africa soon made the score 43 for 2 by the 13th over as Steyn forced Murali Vijay (19 from 42 balls) to edge his forward defence to the keeper. It was a lovely late outswinger that curled in to make the batsman play but got it to move away in the air to catch the edge. There was a promising fightback from the experienced duo of Dravid and Tendulkar after this to take the visitors to 74 for 2 in 19 overs at Lunch.
Just the five balls after lunch, it was back to trouble for India as the aggressive Sachin Tendulkar got sucked up in a false drive to a widish juicy away swinger from Lonwabo Tsotsobe to get caught at second slip. Tendulkar was the big fish as he had the shots especially the upper cut to counter the wicked pace attack of the Proteas but he lasted only 22 balls making 13 and leaving India at 79 for 3.
India once again looked to get back on track with Laxman joining Dravid but it was only matter of a time before one of the bowlers found the nick out of the grassy pitch. And it was Dravid once again failing to make a big score after doing all the hard work. It was Steyn once again to provide the wicket for SA as he got a bouncy outswinger which Dravid nicked behind to the keeper after a 68-ball 25. Laxman joined him back to the pavilion after looking very good with his attacking shots and it was one of them which led to his exit. A full blooded pull fetched from outside off saw Laxman getting caught brilliantly by the diving Tsotsobe at short wide mid wicket. Laxman scored 38 from 73 balls with 4 fours and a pull shot for a six over backward squareleg. He got out to Dale Steyn leaving India at 130 for 5 in 41 overs.
MS Dhoni walked into the middle with the confidence of scoring 90 in the previous Test Match and with Cheteshwara Pujara looked impressive for the repair job. But in the 50th over, Pujara threw his wicket away getting a top edge to his over ambitious pull shot off Lonwabo Tsotsobe to be caught by Boucher. Pujara looked comfortable otherwise against the quicks in his 45-ball stay to score 19.
India went to Tea at 168 for 6 in 53 overs and was expected to get bowled out after the break. However, conditions weren’t good for the final session to carry on and just the three overs were bowled in which India collected 15 more runs. Harbhajan Singh looked responsible in his 15* from 25 balls in the company of Skipper MS Dhoni who is on 20* from 31 balls (with 2 fours).
India finished the day at 183 for 6 in 56 overs and they need to get to 300 to compete in this Test Match. Dale Steyn had a great day with figures of 14-3-36-4. Tsotsobe bowled better than the previous match to pick up 2 for 40 while Morne Morkel was unlucky not to pick up a single wicket despite being on top of the batsmen.